27-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA - SNOWCAP HUMMINGBIRD (Microchera albocoronata)

This is a tiny hummingbird, 6.5 cm long and 2.5 g in weight, with a short black bill and black legs. The adult male snowcap is unmistakable. It has the shining white cap which gives this species its English and scientific names, a deep purple body, and white outer tail feathers. The adult female is bronze-green above, dull white below, and has dull white outer tail feathers. She has more white below than other female hummingbirds. Juvenile snowcaps resemble the adult female, but are duller, have greyer underparts, and bronzed central tail feathers. The purple plumage of young males starts on the underparts as a striking dark central line.

It is a resident breeder in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and western Panama. Its habitat is the canopy and edges of wet forest, and it will also use adjacent more open woodland. It occurs mainly on the Caribbean mountain slopes, breeding mainly at heights of 300–800 m. After breeding, most descend to the adjacent lowlands, but some may wander up to heights of 1400 m.

The male snowcap defends his feeding territory against others of the same species, but is readily displaced by larger hummingbirds. They usually visit small flowers of vines, trees and epiphytes for nectar, and also take some insects, especially when feeding young.

The nest is a small cup of plant down and cobwebs decorated with green moss or lichen, which is attached to a small twig or vine. The two white elongated eggs are incubated for just over two weeks, and the female feeds the young on regurgitated nectar and insects.

27-3-2017 VILLA LAPAS, COSTA RICA - STREAKED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes maculatus)

The Streaked Flycatcher, Myiodynastes maculatus, is a medium-sized passerine bird, a member of the tyrant flycatcher family. It measures approximately 22 cm in length and weighs around 43 grams. Its plumage is characterized by a strong black bill, a brown head with a hidden yellow crown patch, and a distinctive white supercilium above a dusky eye mask. The bird's upperparts are brown with darker streaks on the back, while the wings are adorned with rufous and white edges. The rump and tail boast wide chestnut edges. Its underparts are a yellowish-white, streaked with brown.

When identifying the Streaked Flycatcher, look for its strong black bill and the concealed yellow crown patch on its brown head. The white supercilium and dusky eye mask are also key features. The upperparts display darker brown streaks, and the underparts are yellowish-white with brown streaking. The sexes appear similar, but juveniles can be distinguished by their brown, rather than black, coloration. The subspecies M. m. solitarius exhibits black streaking above and below, rather than brown.

This species is typically found at the edges of forests and cocoa plantations, where it can be seen perching conspicuously.

The Streaked Flycatcher breeds from eastern Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, southward to Bolivia and Argentina. The southern subspecies, M. m. solitarius, migrates to Venezuela and the Guianas during the austral winter, from March to September.

The Streaked Flycatcher is a conspicuous bird, known for its noisy sqEEE-zip call. It is an adept aerial hunter, performing a variety of aerobatic maneuvers to catch insects in mid-flight or off plants. It occasionally joins mixed-species feeding flocks, capitalizing on prey flushed by other birds.

The call of the Streaked Flycatcher is a distinctive and noisy sqEEE-zip, which can be heard across its habitat.

The female Streaked Flycatcher constructs an open cup nest made of twigs and grasses, often placed in a tree hollow or sometimes within a bromeliad. She incubates a typical clutch of two to three creamy-white eggs, marked with red-brown spots, for about 16 to 17 days until hatching. Both parents are involved in feeding the chicks, which fledge after another 18 to 21 days.

The Streaked Flycatcher closely resembles the less widespread Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher. However, it can be differentiated by its heavier bill, lighter yellow belly, pink basal half of the lower mandible, and a creamy supercilium, as opposed to white.

The diet of the Streaked Flycatcher consists mostly of large insects such as cicadas, locusts, and beetles, but it also includes lizards and berries. During the winter, the southern migrants seem to consume a considerable amount of fruit, such as those from the Tamanqueiro tree.

The Streaked Flycatcher is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that it is not currently considered threatened.

27-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - BLACK CHEEKED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes pucherani)

The black-cheeked woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani ) is a resident breeding bird from southeastern Mexico south to western Ecuador.

This woodpecker occurs in the higher levels of wet forests, semi-open woodland and old second growth. It nests in an unlined hole 6–30 m (20–98 ft) high in a dead tree. The clutch is two to four glossy white eggs, incubated by both sexes.

The binomial commemorates the French zoologist Jacques Pucheran.

The black-cheeked woodpecker feeds on insects, but will take substantial quantities of fruit and nectar.

This common and conspicuous species gives a rattling krrrrrl call and both sexes drum on territory.

The adult is 18.5 cm (7.3 in) long and weighs 63 g (2.2 oz). It has black upperparts with white barring on the back, white spotting on the wings and a white rump. The tail is black with some white barring, and the underparts are pale buff-olive with a red central belly. There is a black patch through the eyes and on the cheeks, a yellow forehead, and a red nape. The crown is red in the male and black in the female. Young birds are duller, have less white above and less red on the belly.

Medium-sized woodpecker of evergreen forests and their edges in tropical lowlands. Less numerous than the larger and more conspicuous Golden-fronted Woodpecker, which occurs in the same areas. Distinctive, with a large black mask, white patch behind the eyes, black upperparts with narrow white bars and a large white patch on the rump. The male has an entire red crown. In the female the front is greyish and the back is red.

The  Central American woodpecker  or  black-faced woodpecker  ( Melanerpes pucherani ) is a Neotropical bird of the genus Melanerpes whose range extends from Mexico to Peru (recently discovered in the latter country). Its scientific name is a tribute to the French zoologist Jacques Pucheran.

This species is a rather noisy bird and is often seen in large family groups. Its name  Melenerpes  means black woodpecker and is derived from the Greek roots  melas =  black  and herpes =  climber . 

The male is 17–19 cm long and weighs 42–68 g. It has a long, black bill with a paler base of the lower mandible and a slightly curved culmen. The iris of its eyes is brown, it has brown to grey orbital skin and greenish-grey legs. The male has a golden-yellow forehead, a red crown and nape, and a broad black mask that surrounds the eyes and continues down the cheeks to the back. It has black upperparts with white barring on the mantle and white spots on the wings. Its rump is white and its tail is black with the central feathers variably barred with white. It has a small white postocular spot, cheeks, chin and upper throat of the same colour. Its breast and lower throat are olive-buff with a grey tint. The rest of its underparts are barred with buff and black with the centre of the belly red. The underside of its wings is also barred with black and white and its tail is yellowish-brown. The female is slightly smaller than the male, with a buff-white to yellow forehead, black rest of the crown and red nape. Juveniles are duller and brownish with more diffuse barring above and paler and less extensive red on the belly.

27-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA - WHITE NECKED JACOBIN (FEMALE) (Florisuga mellivora)

The white-necked jacobin (Florisuga mellivora ) is a medium-size hummingbird that ranges from Mexico south through Central America and northern South America into Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. It is also found in Trinidad & Tobago.

Other common names are great jacobin and collared hummingbird.

The white-necked jacobin is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long. Males weigh 7.4 to 9 g (0.26 to 0.32 oz) and females 6 to 9.2 g (0.21 to 0.32 oz). The male is unmistakable with its dark blue head and chest and white belly and tail; the tail feathers have black tips. A white band on the nape separates the blue head from the bright green back and long uppertail coverts. Females are highly variable, and may resemble adult or immature males. The majority of females have green upperparts, a blue-green throat and breast with white "scales", a white belly, and a mostly green tail with a blue end. Immature males vary from female-like, but with more white in the tail, to male-like with more black there. Immature females also vary but usually have less white in the tail and are somewhat bronzy on the throat and chest.

The nominate subspecies of white-necked jacobin, F. m. mellivora, is found from southern Veracruz and northern Oaxaca, Mexico, through southern Belize, northern Guatemala, eastern Honduras and Nicaragua, eastern and western Costa Rica, and Panama into South America. In that continent it is found in much of Colombia and Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, most of Venezuela, the Guianas, the northwestern half of Brazil, and the island of Trinidad. F. m. flabellifera is found only on the island of Tobago. The nominate has been recorded as a vagrant in Argentina and on the islands of Aruba and Curaçao.

The white-necked jacobin inhabits the canopy and edges of humid forest and also semi-open landscapes such as tall secondary forest, gallery forest, and coffee and cacao plantations. It is usually seen high in trees but comes lower at edges and in clearings. In elevation it usually ranges from sea level to about 900 m (3,000 ft) but has also rarely been seen as high as 1,500 m (4,900 ft).

The white-necked jacobin's movement pattern is not well understood. It apparently moves seasonally as flower abundance changes, but details are lacking.

The white-necked jacobin feeds on nectar at the flowers of tall trees, epiphytes, shrubs, and Heliconia plants. Several may feed in one tree and are aggressive to each other, but they are otherwise seldom territorial. Both sexes hawk small insects, mostly by hovering, darting, or sallying from perches.

26-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA - ORANGE BILLED SPARROW (Arremon aurantiirostris)

The orange-billed sparrow (Arremon aurantiirostris) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae. In Central America it is found in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. In northwestern South America the orange-billed sparrow is found in Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru. The species are black and as the name suggests, have an orange bill. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

The Orange-billed Sparrow, Arremon aurantiirostris, presents a striking appearance with its contrasting plumage and distinctive bill coloration. This bird is a member of the Passerellidae family, known for its robust build and skulking behavior.

When observing this species, look for the characteristic black plumage that adorns its body. The most notable feature, from which it derives its name, is the vibrant orange bill, a vivid splash of color against the darker feathers.

The Orange-billed Sparrow favors the lush environment of subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. These verdant habitats provide the cover and resources it requires.

This bird has a broad range across Central and South America. It can be found in the forests of Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Its range extends into northwestern South America, including Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru.

26-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA - BALTIMORE ORIOLE (FEMALE) (Icterus galbula)

The Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula) is a small icterid blackbird, a migratory breeding bird common in eastern North America. The male's vibrant orange and black plumage is reminiscent of the coat-of-arms of the 17th-century Lord Baltimore, hence the name. This medium-sized passerine typically measures 17–22 cm in length with a wingspan of 23–32 cm. Adults are characterized by white bars on the wings, with males boasting a more pronounced orange hue on the underparts, shoulder patch, and rump, while females and juveniles display a more subdued yellow-brown and dull orange-yellow coloration.

Males are distinguished by their black head and back with bright orange to yellow-orange underparts and a solid black tail. Females and juveniles are less boldly colored, with a mix of brown and orange hues. All adults have distinctive white wing bars, which are useful for identification from a distance or in flight.

Baltimore orioles favor open woodland, forest edges, and partially wooded wetlands. They are also found in orchards, farmland, urban parks, and suburban areas with woodlots. During winter, they inhabit flowering canopy trees, often over shade coffee plantations.

The Baltimore oriole breeds from the Canadian Prairies and eastern Montana eastward through southern Canada and the eastern United States, migrating to winter in Central America and northern South America. They are rare vagrants to Western Europe.

Outside of mating season, Baltimore orioles are solitary. They are monogamous, though extra-pair copulation is not uncommon. Males establish territories in the spring and perform various displays to attract females. After mating, the female weaves a remarkable hanging nest where she lays her eggs.

The male's song is a series of sweet whistles, while calls include a nasal "veeer" and a low chatter. Females also sing, especially when defending their nests. Both sexes emit specific warning calls during confrontations.

Baltimore orioles are generally monogamous and solitary outside the breeding season. The female constructs a hanging, pouch-like nest at the end of a branch, where she lays 3-7 eggs. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after about two weeks.

The Baltimore oriole may be confused with the Bullock's oriole, but the latter has a more western distribution. Other similar species include the Scott's and Audubon's orioles, which differ in their coloration and range.

Orioles primarily feed on insects, berries, and nectar. They are adept at foraging in trees and shrubs and are known to sip at hummingbird feeders. They play an important ecological role by consuming pests such as the forest tent caterpillar moth.

The Baltimore oriole is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, its population has experienced a decline due to factors such as habitat loss and Dutch elm disease, which has reduced nesting sites.

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)

The Great egret (Ardea alba) is a large, widely distributed wading bird. Like all egrets, it is a member of the heron family, Ardeidae, and its close relatives are pelicans. The Great egret is sometimes confused with the Great white heron of the Caribbean, which is a white morph of the closely related Great blue heron.

This elegant heron is completely white with its magnificent plumage, reminding lace. The bill of the Great egret is sharp, long and yellow in color. The bird has long, black feet and legs. During the breeding season, the bill becomes a bit darker while the legs get lighter. This bird possesses a very long neck, exceeding the length of its body. The bird has a notable kink of its neck, curving the necks into a "S" shape when flying. Male and female egrets generally look similar, though females are a bit smaller than males. Young egrets usually look like non-breeding adults. During the breeding season, these birds grow long, lacy shaped feathers known as "aigrettes”, stretching them in an impressive display.

These birds are widely distributed throughout the world including North and South Americas, Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. In Africa, they can be found only outside the breeding season. Great egrets prefer living near any water body, occurring along streams, lakes, in saltwater and freshwater marshes, muddy areas, and ponds. Just like other heron species, these birds are most frequently found in wetlands and wooded swamps.

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON (JUVENILE) (Nyctanassa violacea)

The Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is a stocky wading bird, with a robust build and a notable large head in proportion to its body. It possesses a hefty bill, set deep under its eyes, and exhibits a wingspan of 101 to 112 cm. The species displays sexual dimorphism, with females slightly smaller than males.

Adults are characterized by a smooth grey-blue body with a black scaled pattern on the wings. Their long legs, which turn coral, pink, or red during courtship, are initially yellow. The head is strikingly black and glossy, with white cheeks and a pale yellow crown that extends from the bill, between the eyes, to the back of the head. This distinctive feature gives the bird its common name. In flight, the Yellow-crowned Night Heron can be distinguished by its long, slow wing beats and legs that extend straight below the tail.

This heron favors shallow waters such as marshes, wooded swamps, and lakeshores for inland populations, and thickets, mangroves, and cliff-bound coasts for coastal populations. It is also found in periodically flooded areas and tolerates a range of water types from fresh to brackish and saline.

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON (Nyctanassa violacea)

The Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is a stocky wading bird, with a robust build and a notable large head in proportion to its body. It possesses a hefty bill, set deep under its eyes, and exhibits a wingspan of 101 to 112 cm. The species displays sexual dimorphism, with females slightly smaller than males.

Adults are characterized by a smooth grey-blue body with a black scaled pattern on the wings. Their long legs, which turn coral, pink, or red during courtship, are initially yellow. The head is strikingly black and glossy, with white cheeks and a pale yellow crown that extends from the bill, between the eyes, to the back of the head. This distinctive feature gives the bird its common name. In flight, the Yellow-crowned Night Heron can be distinguished by its long, slow wing beats and legs that extend straight below the tail.

This heron favors shallow waters such as marshes, wooded swamps, and lakeshores for inland populations, and thickets, mangroves, and cliff-bound coasts for coastal populations. It is also found in periodically flooded areas and tolerates a range of water types from fresh to brackish and saline.

The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is endemic to the Americas, with a distribution that closely follows the availability of crustaceans. Its range extends from the southeastern United States to Peru and Brazil in coastal regions.

This species is known for its nocturnal feeding habits, particularly during the breeding season when it feeds its young. It is territorial when foraging but will tolerate others at a safe distance. The heron selects prey visually, employing various hunting strategies, including stalking and standing still before lunging with its bill.

The heron's vocal repertoire includes a loud, sharp squawk used as an alarm or aggression call, a soft chu-chu-chu by begging chicks, and a range of calls during courtship, such as the yup-yup greeting and a concluding whoop from the male.

Breeding is synchronized with the emergence of crabs in spring, varying geographically. The heron forms mating pairs, with some arriving at breeding grounds already paired. Nesting occurs in trees, bushes, or on rock ledges, with both parents involved in nest-building and care of the young.

Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Herons can be confused with juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons. However, the former tend to stand straighter, have heavier bills, longer legs, and finer spots and streaks on their plumage.

The diet is predominantly crustaceans, with crabs and crayfish being the mainstay. It also consumes insects, fish, worms, amphibians, molluscs, lizards, snakes, small rodents, and birds. The heron's bill size and shape are adapted to the specific prey available in its region.

The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population trend. However, it faces threats such as habitat loss, human disturbance, and in some regions, illegal hunting. Conservation efforts are generally part of broader wetland conservation projects.

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - AMERICAN WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus)

The American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) is a striking wader of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. It is a medium-sized bird with a predominantly white plumage, which contrasts with its bright red-orange down-curved bill and long legs. The tips of its wings are black, a detail most apparent when the bird is in flight. Sexual dimorphism is present, with males being larger and possessing longer bills than females.

Adult American white ibises have distinctive pink facial skin and black wingtips visible in flight. In non-breeding condition, their bill and legs are a vivid red-orange. During breeding, the bill darkens at the tip and the legs take on a purple hue. Juveniles are brown and white, with the white becoming more prevalent as they mature. The species is relatively short-legged and bulky for its size, with a wingspan ranging from 90 to 105 cm.

The American white ibis frequents a variety of wetland habitats, including shallow coastal marshes, mangrove swamps, and inland wetlands such as marshes, ponds, and flooded fields. It adapts well to both natural and man-made water bodies.

This ibis is found from Virginia through the Gulf Coast of the United States, extending south through the coastal New World tropics. Its breeding range includes the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, as well as the coasts of Mexico and Central America. The non-breeding range extends further inland and includes the Caribbean and parts of South America.

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)

The snowy egret, a small white heron, graces the wetlands with its pure white plumage, save for the striking yellow lores that sit between its long black bill and piercing eyes. Its legs are a dark black, contrasting with its bright yellow feet. During the breeding season, the bird boasts elegant, long, shaggy plumes, known as aigrettes, that adorn its nape and neck. The immature birds, while still white, have a less vibrant appearance with greenish legs.

When identifying the snowy egret, look for the following characteristics:

Body length: 22.1–26.0 inches (56–66 cm)

Weight: 13.1 ounces (370 g)

Wingspan: 39.4 inches (100 cm)

Adults are pure white with yellow lores, black legs, and yellow feet.

Immature birds have duller greenish legs.

During breeding, look for the distinctive long, shaggy plumes on the neck.

Habitat

The snowy egret is a versatile inhabitant of wetlands, including marshes, riverbanks, lakesides, pools, salt marshes, and estuaries. It is not typically found at high altitudes or directly on the coast.

This bird is native to the Americas, with a year-round presence in South America, the West Indies, Florida, and coastal regions of North and Central America. In the southern United States, it is migratory, breeding in various states. It has also been recorded as a vagrant in Europe, Iceland, Scotland, the Azores, and South Africa.

Snowy egrets are active foragers, often seen running or shuffling their feet in shallow water to flush out prey. They may sway their heads, flick their wings, or vibrate their bills to disturb prey. They are also known to hover, or "dip-fish," and sometimes forage in mixed species groups.

During the breeding season, snowy egrets form mixed colonies with other heron species. Males perform elaborate courtship displays to attract mates. They defend their nesting territory vigorously and participate in nest building with materials provided by the male. Clutches typically consist of up to six pale bluish-green eggs, with chicks hatching after about 24 days and leaving the nest after approximately 22 days.

The diet of the snowy egret includes fish, crustaceans, insects, small reptiles, snails, frogs, toads, and worms. They employ various hunting techniques, from active pursuit to ambush, and are known to forage in open fields alongside domestic animals.

Once hunted to dangerously low levels for their plumes, the snowy egret is now protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States. Populations have since rebounded, and the species is classified as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with a stable and increasing population trend.

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)

The Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja, is a striking member of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. This species is notable for its vibrant pink plumage and distinctive spoon-shaped bill. Adult birds exhibit a bare greenish head, which takes on a golden buff hue during the breeding season. Their neck, back, and breast are white, with a central tuft of pink feathers when breeding. The rest of the body is a deep pink, and the bill is grey. The Roseate Spoonbill measures 71–86 cm in length, with a wingspan of 120–133 cm, and weighs between 1.2 and 1.8 kg.

To identify the Roseate Spoonbill, look for its elongated legs, bill, neck, and spatulate bill. The adult's greenish head and white neck contrast with its pink body. In flight, unlike herons, spoonbills keep their necks outstretched and alternate between stiff, shallow wingbeats and glides.

The Roseate Spoonbill is typically found in shallow fresh or coastal waters, where it can be seen swinging its bill from side to side while walking steadily, often in groups.

This species is locally common in Texas, Florida, and southwest Louisiana in the United States. Its range extends through South America, primarily east of the Andes, and into coastal regions of the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and the Gulf Coast of the United States. The bird's range has expanded in the 21st century, with sightings as far north as South Carolina and occasional reports in Michigan and Wisconsin.

The Roseate Spoonbill is a gregarious bird, often seen feeding in groups. It sifts through mud with its bill to find food, and its presence can attract other bird species that benefit from the spoonbill's foraging.

Roseate Spoonbills nest in shrubs or trees, often mangroves, and lay two to five whitish eggs with brown markings. Immature birds have paler pink plumage, white feathered heads, and a yellowish or pinkish bill.

The diet of the Roseate Spoonbill includes crustaceans, aquatic insects, mollusks, frogs, newts, and very small fish. It competes for food with other freshwater birds and may be followed by egrets that take advantage of the spoonbill's foraging.

Once nearly driven to extinction by plume hunting, the Roseate Spoonbill is now considered to be of Least Concern.

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Calidris melanotos)

The Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, is a small, migratory wader with a distinctive appearance. In its breeding plumage, the adult boasts a grey-brown back, with the hue ranging from brownest in summer males to grayest in winter. A sharp demarcation line on its grey breast gives this bird its common name, and is particularly noticeable when the bird faces an observer. The species measures approximately 21 cm in length, with a wingspan of 46 cm. Its legs are a yellowish color, and it has an olive bill with a darker tip. Juveniles display a more vivid pattern with rufous tones and white mantle stripes.

To identify the Pectoral Sandpiper, look for the clear dividing line on its breast, a weaker supercilium, and a grayer crown compared to similar species. The bird's yellowish legs and olive bill with a darker tip are also key identification features.

The Pectoral Sandpiper is found in freshwater habitats during migration and winter. It prefers grasslands and mudflats where it can forage for food.

This species is a long-distance migrant, with breeding grounds in the boggy tundra of northeast Asia and North America, ranging from Alaska to central Canada. In the winter, it migrates to South America, southern Australia, and New Zealand. It is also a regular migrant to western Europe, including Ireland and Great Britain.

The Pectoral Sandpiper is known for its remarkable migration patterns, which may be shifting due to global warming. It forages by sight on grasslands and mudflats, sometimes probing for food. The male performs a courtship display by puffing up his breast, which contains a fat sac during the breeding season to enhance his performance.

The species constructs a steep-sided scrape nest lined with a substantial amount of material. The nest is deep enough to protect the eggs from heat loss due to cool breezes in its breeding latitudes. The female typically lays a clutch of four eggs.

The Pectoral Sandpiper can be confused with the sympatric Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), but can be distinguished by its breast pattern, weaker supercilium, and grayer crown.

The diet of the Pectoral Sandpiper consists mainly of arthropods, including flies, their larvae, spiders, crustaceans, and other invertebrates, as well as seeds.

Despite being listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Pectoral Sandpiper has experienced a significant decline in numbers, with a 50% decrease since 1974.

28-3-2017 CARARA NAT PARK, COSTA RICA - COMMON BASILISK (Basiliscus basiliscus)

The Common basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus) is a type of lizard that lives in Central America and South America. It is also known as the Jesus Christ lizard for its ability to run on the surface of the water.

The Common basilisk can be distinguished from similar species within its range by its large size and the high fin-like crest along its back. Most common basilisks are brown and cream in color. Males also have high crests on the head and tail. Both sexes are brown to olive, and have a white, cream, or yellow stripe on the upper lip and a second stripe along either side of the body; these stripes have higher contrast in juveniles and fade as the lizards age. The common basilisk has a large mouth with saw-like teeth on the inner sides of the jaw. While it is most known for its ability to run on water, it is also an excellent climber and swimmer, and has been known to stay underwater for up to half an hour.

Common basilisks are found throughout Central America and in northwestern South America. They range from southwestern Nicaragua to northwestern Colombia on the Pacific side, and from central Panama to northwestern Venezuela on the Atlantic side. In Costa Rica, they are mostly found on the Pacific side of the country. Common basilisks inhabit tropical dry lowland forests, and wet and moist forests near streams, lakes, and rivers.

Common basilisks are solitary and diurnal lizards. They spend their time foraging or basking in the sun. At night, they sleep in trees up to 20 m (66 ft) high. While Common basilisks are most known for their ability to run on water, they are also excellent climbers and swimmers and can stay underwater for up to half an hour. When disturbed, Common basilisks escape by speeding to the nearest edge of the water - and continue sprinting. They run on only their hind legs in an erect position, holding their forelegs to their sides. Common basilisks are adroit on water because their feet are large and equipped with flaps of skin along the toes that allow them to catch tiny air bubbles. When moving quickly, basilisks can cross the surface of the water before sinking. On the water, they run an average speed of 24.1 km/h (or 15 mph), which is just a little slower than their speed on land. Younger basilisks can run 10-20 m (33-66 ft) on water, while adults cross only a few meters before sinking. Adults do not move slowly, but they weigh more and cannot sprint for as long a time. Once a basilisk submerges, it continues swimming until it is sufficiently far from its pursuer - if the predator has followed past the bank. Although Common basilisks stay close to water to escape terrestrial predators, they swim only when necessary because some other aquatic animals would eat them given the chance.

19-3-2017 BUTTERFLY WORLD, FLORIDA - DORIS LONGWING BUTTERFLY (Heliconius doris)

Heliconius doris, the Doris longwing or Doris is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is known for being a polymorphic species which participates in various Müllerian mimicry rings throughout Central America and the Amazon rainforest. It is a species of special interest in biological science for the genetic basis and role of polymorphism (biology) in ecology and evolution.

It is commonly found from sea level to 1200 metres in forest clearings.

The larvae primarily feed on granadilla species. Adults feed on nectar from Lantana flowers, with the females also collecting pollen from Psiguria and Psychotia flowers.

19-3-2017 BUTTERFLY WORLD, FLORIDA - RED BORDERED PIXIE (Melanis pixe)

 Melanis pixe, the red-bordered pixie, is a species in the butterfly family Riodinidae. It was described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1836.

Melanis pixe has a wingspan of about 40 millimetres (1.6 in). The upperside of the wings is black. The tip of forewing is yellow orange and the base has a red spot. The hindwing outer margin has a band of red spots. Eggs are laid in groups of 10 to 30 on the host tree leaves, stems, or bark and the caterpillars feed on the leaves.

This species is found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas south to Costa Rica.

The larvae feed on Albizia caribea, Inga species and Pithecellobium species (including Pithecellobium dulce).

Subspecies

pixe Mexico sanguinea (Stichel, 1910) Costa Rica - Panama

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - BOAT TAILED GRACKLE (MALE) (Quiscalus major)

The boat-tailed grackle (Quiscalus major) is a striking bird, with the male boasting a glossy, iridescent black plumage and a distinctive keel-shaped tail, measuring 37–43 cm in length. The female, considerably smaller at 26–33 cm, is cloaked in tawny-brown with darker wings and tail. Both sexes exhibit a robust physique, but it is the male's long dark bill and pale yellowish or brown iris that often catch the observer's eye.

Adult males are entirely black with a shimmering iridescence and a pronounced tail. Females are smaller, with a shorter tail and brownish coloration. The wingspan ranges from 39–50 cm. Juvenile males resemble the adults but lack the iridescence, while immature females are duller with possible blotches on the breast. Eye color varies geographically, with Gulf Coast and inland birds having dark eyes, and Atlantic birds pale eyes.

The boat-tailed grackle is a coastal denizen, favoring saltwater marshes and, in Florida, inland waters. It is not uncommon to find them in urban settings, rummaging through refuse or perched in parking lots.

This bird is a permanent resident along the coasts of the Southeastern United States, with a presence that extends to several Gulf Coast cities and towns.

The boat-tailed grackle is a ground forager but will also search for food in shallow waters and shrubs. It exhibits a boldness, at times pilfering food from other birds.

The vocal repertoire of the boat-tailed grackle includes a harsh "jeeb" and an array of grackle-like chatters and squeaks, each call as distinctive as the bird itself.

Nests are well-concealed cups situated in trees or shrubs near water, with an average clutch size slightly exceeding three eggs.

The great-tailed grackle is similar but has a longer tail and lacks the domed head of the boat-tailed grackle. The common grackle is smaller, with a shorter tail and no domed head, and often shares habitat with the boat-tailed grackle along the Atlantic coast.

An omnivorous bird, the boat-tailed grackle's diet includes insects, minnows, frogs, eggs, berries, seeds, grain, and occasionally small birds.

The boat-tailed grackle is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.

28-3-2017 CARARA NAT PARK, COSTA RICA - CLAY COLOURED THRUSH (Turdus grayi)

The clay-colored thrush (Turdus grayi) is a common Middle American bird of the thrush family (Turdidae). It is the national bird of Costa Rica, where it is well known as the yigüirro (Spanish: [ʝi'ɣwiro]). Other common names include clay-colored robin.

It ranges from South Texas (where it is rapidly expanding its range) to northern Colombia. West and north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, it is limited to the Atlantic slope, except for a population around Oaxaca City, Mexico that probably originates from escaped cage birds. In much of its range it is familiar in yards and gardens, similar to some other thrushes such as the American robin, the Eurasian blackbird, and the song thrush.

In general appearance and habits it resembles other Turdus thrushes such as the American robin. It is about the same length or slightly smaller: 23–27 cm (9.1–10.6 in), and weighs 74–76 g (2.6–2.7 oz) on average. The plumage is brownish, somewhat lighter below than above, lightest on the flanks. Birds from humid regions are darker than those from dry regions. The throat is faintly streaked. Immature birds have faint mottling on the back and underparts. The bill is greenish-yellow with a dark base, the legs are pinkish or flesh-colored, and the irises are reddish—all useful identification points.

The clay-colored thrush (Turdus grayi ) is a common Middle American bird of the thrush family (Turdidae). It is the national bird of Costa Rica, where it is well known as the yigüirro (Spanish: ). Other common names include clay-colored robin.

Clay-colored robins are diurnal birds that are permanently resident in warm climates of their range. They usually forage on the ground or near it, singly or in pairs, but may also gather in flocks to feed high in fruiting trees. Clay-colored robins move on the ground by hopping, and upon landing, they often flick their tails back and forth. Their song, rather low-pitched and with a slow steady tempo, consists of many slurred musical phrases that are often repeated irregularly. The flight call is like the American robin's but harsher.