25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - STREAK HEADED WOOD CREEPER (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii)

The streak-headed woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii) is a passerine bird in the subfamily Dendrocolaptinae of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Mexico, Central America, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, and on Trinidad.

The Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Lepidocolaptes souleyetii, is a passerine bird belonging to the subfamily Dendrocolaptinae within the ovenbird family Furnariidae. This slim, medium-sized woodcreeper is notable for its longish, slender, and decurved bill, measuring 19 to 21 cm in length and weighing between 23 to 31 grams.

Adults of the nominate subspecies, L. s. souleyetii, exhibit a face adorned with thin whitish buff and dark brown streaks, with more pronounced streaking on the sides of the neck. They possess a whitish buff supercilium and eyering, while their crown and nape are dark brown with bold whitish buff streaks. The back and wing coverts range from rufous-olive to cinnamon-brown, and the flight feathers, rump, and tail are cinnamon-rufous to rufous-chestnut. The underparts are grayish olive to buffy brown with distinctive black-edged whitish buff streaks.

The Streak-headed Woodcreeper inhabits a variety of wooded landscapes, from deciduous and humid forests to gallery forests, secondary forests, plantations, and even open areas with scattered trees. It can also be found in mangroves and arid scrublands.

This species is distributed across a broad range, from Mexico, Central America, and Trinidad to Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.

The Streak-headed Woodcreeper is a year-round resident that forages mostly alone or in pairs, adeptly hitching up trunks and branches in search of prey. It does not typically join mixed-species feeding flocks.

25-3-2017 TUIS CARTAGO, COSTA RICA - TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)

The turkey vulture, known scientifically as Cathartes aura, is a bird of prey that is the most widespread of the New World vultures. It is a large bird, with a wingspan of 160–183 cm (63–72 in), a length of 62–81 cm (24–32 in), and weight ranging from 0.8 to 2.41 kg (1.8 to 5.3 lb). The adult turkey vulture is recognized by its bald red head, dark plumage, and a relatively short, hooked, ivory-colored beak. The underwing coverts are silvery-gray, providing a contrast against the darker wing linings.

When observing the turkey vulture in flight, look for its distinctive silhouette with wings held in a shallow V-shape. The bird often rocks or tips from side to side, allowing the silvery-gray flight feathers to catch the light. The small, red head is proportionally small compared to its body, and the beak is short and hooked. The legs and feet are pinkish in color, often stained white due to urohidrosis, a cooling behavior where the bird defecates on its own legs.

The turkey vulture, known scientifically as Cathartes aura, is a bird of prey that is the most widespread of the New World vultures. It is a large bird, with a wingspan of 160–183 cm (63–72 in), a length of 62–81 cm (24–32 in), and weight ranging from 0.8 to 2.41 kg (1.8 to 5.3 lb). The adult turkey vulture is recognized by its bald red head, dark plumage, and a relatively short, hooked, ivory-colored beak. The underwing coverts are silvery-gray, providing a contrast against the darker wing linings.

When observing the turkey vulture in flight, look for its distinctive silhouette with wings held in a shallow V-shape. The bird often rocks or tips from side to side, allowing the silvery-gray flight feathers to catch the light. The small, red head is proportionally small compared to its body, and the beak is short and hooked. The legs and feet are pinkish in color, often stained white due to urohidrosis, a cooling behavior where the bird defecates on its own legs.

Turkey vultures inhabit a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts. They are often found in areas that juxtapose with woodlands, which are important for nesting and roosting.

The turkey vulture's range extends from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It is a permanent resident in the southern United States, with northern populations migrating as far south as South America.

Turkey vultures are gregarious and roost in large community groups. They are known for their soaring flight, utilizing thermals to stay aloft with minimal flapping. On the ground, they have an ungainly, hopping walk and require significant effort to take flight. They are also known for their horaltic pose, where they spread their wings to dry, warm their body, or bake off bacteria.

Lacking a syrinx, the turkey vulture's vocalizations are limited to grunts or low hisses.

Breeding season varies with latitude, starting in March in the southern United States and extending into August in northerly latitudes. Turkey vultures nest in protected locations such as cliffs, caves, or hollow trees, laying one to three cream-colored eggs with brown or lavender spots. Both parents incubate and care for the altricial chicks by regurgitating food.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - RUFOUS TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia tzacatl)

The rufous-tailed hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl, is a medium-sized member of the hummingbird family, Trochilidae, known for its distinctive chestnut-brown tail. This avian jewel measures between 9 to 11 cm in length and weighs around 5 grams, with males and females exhibiting slight variations in plumage.

Adult males of the nominate subspecies boast a green crown and upperparts, save for the chestnut-brown lores and uppertail coverts. The tail is predominantly chestnut-brown with bronze-green tips. The throat and upper breast shimmer with green, and the lower breast transitions to gray, leading to a white belly and chestnut-brown undertail coverts. Females have a paler gray lower breast and more pronounced scalloping on the throat. Juveniles display a cinnamon wash on the lower breast and sides, with cinnamon-tipped lower back and rump feathers. The bill is a striking combination of black and red, with the outer half of the maxilla black and the inner half red, while the mandible is red with a black tip.

This species thrives in open landscapes such as clearings, gardens, and forest edges, as well as in low, brushy secondary forests. It is also a frequent visitor to feeders.

The rufous-tailed hummingbird is found from east-central Mexico through Central America and Colombia, extending into Ecuador and Venezuela. It occupies a range of elevations from sea level up to 2,500 meters in Ecuador, though such high altitudes may be seasonal or local.

Renowned for its territorial nature, the rufous-tailed hummingbird is a fierce defender of feeding territories, including flower patches and feeders, where it will chase away other hummingbirds and large insects.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - MONTEZUMA OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius montezuma)

The Montezuma oropendola, Psarocolius montezuma, is a strikingly dimorphic bird, with males significantly larger than females. Adult males boast a chestnut body contrasted by a blackish head and rump, and a vivid yellow tail save for two central dark feathers. Their facial features include a bare blue cheek patch and a pink wattle, with a brown iris and a long bill that is black at the base and red at the tip. Females are similar in plumage but are smaller with a less prominent wattle. Juveniles appear duller with a paler bill. This species is known for its remarkable sexual size dimorphism, with males being twice the body mass of females.

When identifying the Montezuma oropendola, look for the male's large size, about 50 cm in length, and the bright yellow tail with dark central feathers. Females are notably smaller, measuring 38 cm. The distinctive blue cheek patch, pink wattle, and two-toned bill are key features to observe.

This tropical bird inhabits the forest canopy, edges, and old plantations, preferring the Caribbean coastal lowlands and some Pacific slopes.

The Montezuma oropendola ranges from southeastern Mexico to central Panama, with notable absences in El Salvador and southern Guatemala. It is also found in Nicaragua, Honduras, and parts of Costa Rica.

Males exhibit a female-defence mating system, where the dominant male mates with most females in a colony after an elaborate bowing display. They are known to be aggressive in defending receptive females from other males. Females forage on thinner branches, while males prefer thicker branches, likely due to their size difference.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - CROWNED WOOD NYMPH (Thalurania colombica)

The Crowned Woodnymph, known scientifically as Thalurania colombica, is a dazzling species of hummingbird belonging to the emeralds tribe, Trochilini. This avian jewel exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males adorned in violet and green, while females wear a more subdued palette of greens and grays.

Male Crowned Woodnymphs measure between 9.5 to 11.5 cm in length and weigh a mere 4 to 5.5 grams. They boast a violet forehead, crown, upper back, and belly, with a dark bronzy green nape and a bluish green lower back and rump. Their throat and chest shimmer in glittering green, and they possess a deeply forked, blue-black tail. Females, slightly smaller at 8.5 to 9.2 cm and weighing 3.5 to 4.2 grams, have bright green upperparts and a pale gray underbelly, with their tails featuring blue-black with white-tipped outer feathers.

These birds favor the interiors, edges, and clearings of humid primary and mature secondary forests. They are also found in semi-open landscapes such as coffee and cacao plantations and gardens, but avoid open scrublands.

The Crowned Woodnymph is found from Belize and Guatemala to far-northern Peru, with seven recognized subspecies distributed across this range.

This species exhibits altitudinal movement post-breeding in Costa Rica and local movements to follow flowering events. Both sexes defend rich nectar sources, with females showing more aggression in territory defense.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - NORTHERN TROPICAL PEWEE (Contopus bogotensis)

The northern tropical pewee (Contopus bogotensis) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is found in southeastern Mexico to northern South America from northern Colombia to northeastern Brazil. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

A small, average-looking flycatcher, found at forest edges and open woodlands in tropical areas at low elevations. Its behavior is similar to that of the North American flycatchers: it usually perches on a conspicuous, prominent branch to drop for insects, and returns to the same branch, calling as it perches, and sometimes flicking its tail. It does not flick its wings and tail like other flycatchers in the genus Empidonax. The Eastern and Western Flycatchers occur as migratory birds in the Tropical range during the fall and spring, but they have wings that extend beyond the tail when perched and their calls are different.

26-4-2017 XERACO, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (MALE) (Carduelis carduelis)

The European goldfinch, or simply goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), is a small, vibrant passerine bird belonging to the finch family. This charming avian species is adorned with a striking red face, encircled by black markings near the eyes, and a black-and-white head. The back and flanks exhibit a warm buff or chestnut brown, while the wings are black with a prominent yellow bar. The tail is black, and the rump is a contrasting white. Males and females are similar in appearance, though the male boasts a slightly more extensive red mask.

Upon closer inspection, one can discern the male goldfinch by its larger, more vivid red mask that extends just beyond the eye. The female's red face does not reach past the eye, and her shoulder feathers are brown, as opposed to the male's black. The bill is ivory-colored, long, and pointed, and the tail is forked. Juveniles can be identified by their plain heads and greyer backs, but the yellow wing stripe is a clear indicator of their species.

The European goldfinch favors open, partially wooded lowlands and is a resident in the milder western parts of its range. In colder regions, it migrates to escape the harsh weather.

Native to Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia, the European goldfinch has also been introduced to various regions across the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, and Uruguay.

The European goldfinch is known for its sociable nature, often forming flocks in the winter. It is a frequent visitor to bird feeders, particularly in the colder months.

The goldfinch's song is a delightful, silvery twittering, while its call is a melodic tickeLIT. Its song comprises a tinkling medley of trills and twitters, always including the tri-syllabic call phrase.

The female goldfinch solely constructs the nest, which is often situated several meters above ground, camouflaged by leaves. The nest is made of mosses and lichens, lined with plant down, and secured with spider silk. Eggs are laid at daily intervals, typically resulting in a clutch of 4-6 eggs. Incubation lasts 11-13 days, with the female being fed by the male. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge 13-18 days after hatching.

Goldfinches have a preference for small seeds, such as those from thistles and teasels, but will also consume insects when feeding young. They are particularly drawn to bird feeders offering niger seed.

The European goldfinch has a long history of being kept and bred in captivity due to its attractive plumage and pleasant song. It has also been featured in various works of art and literature, symbolizing different cultural and religious themes.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - WHITE LINED TANAGER (Tachyphonus rufus)

The White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus) is a medium-sized bird of the tanager family, Thraupidae, with a length of approximately 18.5 cm (7.3 inches) and a weight of 33 g (1.2 oz). The species exhibits sexual dimorphism. The male is resplendent in glossy black plumage, save for the white underwing coverts and a small white patch on the upperwing, which are most visible during flight. The female, in contrast, is cloaked in a rufous garb, with a slightly paler underside.

When identifying the White-lined Tanager, look for the male's striking black plumage with white accents on the wings, which can be seen as he takes to the air. The female is distinguishable by her uniform rufous coloration, which sets her apart from the male.

This species favors semi-open habitats, where it can often be found gracing gardens with its presence.

The White-lined Tanager is a resident breeder with a range that extends from Costa Rica in the north, down through South America to northern Argentina, and includes the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

The White-lined Tanager is known to be territorial; typically, only one nesting pair is observed in a given area. They are not commonly seen joining mixed feeding flocks, preferring to keep to themselves.

The male's song is a distinctive and rapid "cheeru," which can be heard during the breeding season.

During courtship, the male White-lined Tanager engages in a display of his underwing white spots, opening and closing his wings in front of the female. The female then takes on the role of incubating the clutch, usually consisting of two to three cream eggs with brown blotches, for a period of 14 to 15 days. On average, the species raises two broods per season.

The diet of the White-lined Tanager is varied, including a wide selection of fruits, particularly those of epiphytes. They also partake in nectar and insects such as beetles, ants, and grasshoppers, foraging in a restless yet unwary manner.

The IUCN Red List currently classifies the White-lined Tanager as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - CRIMSON COLLARED TANAGER (Ramphocelus sanguinolentus)

The crimson-collared tanager (Ramphocelus sanguinolentus) is a rather small Middle American songbird. It was first described by the French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson in 1831, its specific epithet from the Latin adjective sanguinolentus, "bloodied", referring to its red plumage.

This species is sometimes placed in a genus of its own as Phlogothraupis sanguinolenta, and a genetic study suggests that it is less closely related to the other Ramphocelus tanagers than they are to each other. Its closest relative is the masked crimson tanager.[citation needed]

Crimson-collared tanagers average 19–20 cm (7.5–8 in) long. The adult plumage is black with a red collar covering the nape, neck, and breast (remarkably similar to the pattern of the male crimson-collared grosbeak). All tail coverts are also red. The bill is striking pale blue and the legs are blue-gray. In adults, the irides are crimson, contrary to what is shown in Howell and Webb. Females average slightly duller than males, but are sometimes indistinguishable from them. Juvenile birds are similar except that the hood is dull red, the black areas are tinged with brown, and the breast is mottled red and black. Young birds also have a duller bill color.

Vocalizations are high-pitched and sibilant. There are several calls; one rendered as ssii-p is given both when perched and in flight. The song is jerky and consists of two-to-four-note phrases separated by pauses, tueee-teew, chu-chee-wee-chu, teweee.

The crimson-collared tanager ranges from southern Veracruz and northern Oaxaca in Mexico through the Atlantic slope of Central America, to the highlands of western Panama. It inhabits the edges of humid evergreen forests and second growth, where it is often seen in pairs at middle to upper levels.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - CHESTNUT HEADED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius wagleri)

The chestnut-headed oropendola (Psarocolius wagleri) is a New World tropical icterid bird. The scientific name of the species commemorates Johann Georg Wagler, who established Psarocolius, the oropendola genus.

The male is 35 cm (14 in) long and weighs 225 g (7.9 oz); the smaller female is 28 cm (11 in) long and weighs 125 g (4.4 oz). The wings are very long. Adult males are mainly black with a chestnut head and rump and a tail which is bright yellow apart from two dark central feathers. The iris is blue and the long bill is whitish. Females are similar, but smaller and duller than males. Young birds are duller than adults and have brown eyes. The populations south of an area around the border of Honduras and Nicaragua are sometimes separated as a subspecies P. w. ridgwayi, but the separation of this form has been questioned.

The distinctive songs of the male include a gurgle followed by a crash guu-guu-PHRRRRTTT. Both sexes have loud chek and chuk calls.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus)

The great kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus, is a vibrant and robust member of the tyrant flycatcher family, Tyrannidae. It is the sole representative of its genus, easily recognized by its size, which ranges from 25 to 28 cm in length, and its weight between 53 to 71.5 grams. The species exhibits a striking head pattern with a black crown, a bold white supercilium, and a hidden yellow crown stripe. The upperparts are a warm brown, while the wings and tail display rufous fringes. Its bill is notably short, thick, and black.

To identify the great kiskadee, look for the distinctive head pattern, the strong white supercilium, and the concealed yellow crown stripe. The brown upperparts, rufous fringes on the wings and tail, and the stout black bill are key characteristics. It can be distinguished from the similar boat-billed flycatcher by the latter's more massive bill and olive-brown back.

The great kiskadee is quite adaptable, inhabiting open woodlands with tall trees, areas of human habitation, and even urban environments. It thrives in a variety of settings, from grasslands to cultivated lands.

This species has a broad range, found from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas through Central America, and down to southern Argentina. It has been introduced to Bermuda and Tobago, where it has established populations.

The great kiskadee is an omnivorous and opportunistic feeder, known for its aggressive and alert demeanor. It hunts from perches, sallying forth to catch insects in flight or pouncing on small vertebrates. It is also known to dive into shallow waters for aquatic prey. Its presence is often announced by its loud and exuberant calls.

The call of the great kiskadee is a distinctive and exuberant "BEE-tee-WEE." Its vocalizations have inspired its onomatopoeic name in various languages, such as "bem-te-vi" in Brazil and "bien-te-veo" in Spanish-speaking countries.

Great kiskadees are monogamous and territorial during the breeding season. They construct large, domed nests with side entrances, often in exposed locations. The female lays a clutch of 3 to 4 light yellowish cream eggs, which are incubated solely by her while the male stands guard.

The great kiskadee's diet is varied, including insects, small vertebrates, and occasionally seeds and fruit. It has been observed feeding on a range of prey, from small snakes and lizards to spiders, millipedes, and land snails. It is also known to visit feeding stations for supplementary food.

The great kiskadee is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. It is not a common target for the pet trade and has proven adaptable to various environments, contributing to its stable population status.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - BLUE GREY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus)

The blue-gray tanager (Thraupis episcopus ) is a medium-sized South American songbird of the tanager family, Thraupidae. Its range is from Mexico south to northeast Bolivia and northern Brazil, all of the Amazon Basin, except the very south. It has been introduced to Lima (Peru). On Trinidad and Tobago, this bird is called blue jean.

The blue-gray tanager is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) long and weighs 30–40 g (1.1–1.4 oz). Adults have a light bluish head and underparts, with darker blue upperparts and a shoulder patch colored a different hue of blue. The bill is short and quite thick. Sexes are similar, but the immature is much duller in plumage.

The song is a squeaky twittering, interspersed with tseee and tsuup call notes.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - BLACK CHEEKED WOODPECKER

The Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes pucherani, is a vibrant member of the woodpecker family, Picidae, measuring 17 to 19 cm in length and weighing between 42 to 68 grams. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism in the pattern of the head. Males boast a golden yellow forehead with a red crown and nape, while females display a white to buffy white forehead, a black central crown, and a red hindcrown and nape. Both sexes share the characteristic black eye region extending down the neck, complemented by a white line behind the eye.

To identify the Black-cheeked Woodpecker, look for the distinctive black and white bars on the upper back, white lower back and uppertail coverts with a buff tinge, and black flight feathers with white tips and bars. The tail is black with white bars on the central feathers. The bird's underparts are olive-buff with a gray tinge, featuring buffish white with wavy bars and a central red belly spot. Juveniles are duller with more diffuse barring and a smaller red belly spot.

This woodpecker inhabits the interiors and edges of humid to wet evergreen forests, mature secondary forests, abandoned plantations, and clearings with scattered trees. It can also be found in gardens, even those distant from forests.

The Black-cheeked Woodpecker is native to southern Mexico, extending south on the Caribbean slope into Costa Rica, and from there on both slopes in Panama, through western Colombia and western Ecuador, slightly reaching into Peru.

As a year-round resident, the Black-cheeked Woodpecker is known for its active and agile foraging behavior, often seen probing, pecking, gleaning, and hawking from the forest's midlevel to the canopy. It typically forages alone or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks.

The most common call of the Black-cheeked Woodpecker is a series of short rattling trills, "churrr, churrr, churrr, churrr" or "cherrr." It also produces a longer rattle, a loud "krrrr," and a higher-pitched "chirriree" or "keereereek." Both sexes drum, though infrequently.

Breeding season spans from March to July, with nests excavated in dead trunks or branches, typically 4 to 30 meters above ground. Both sexes share incubation duties for the clutch of two to four eggs, with a 14-day incubation period and fledging occurring about three weeks post-hatch.

The Black-cheeked Woodpecker forms a superspecies with the Golden-naped Woodpecker (M. chrysauchen), and while similar, can be distinguished by its unique head pattern and distribution.

The diet consists of a wide variety of arthropods, including spiders, beetles, ants, and aerial insects, as well as plant material like fruits, berries, seeds, catkins, and nectar from large flowers in trees.

The IUCN has classified the Black-cheeked Woodpecker as Least Concern, with a very large range and an estimated population of at least 50,000 mature individuals. Although the population is believed to be decreasing, no immediate threats have been identified, and the species is present in several protected areas. However, numbers do decline with extensive deforestation.

26-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA - GREY HEADED CHACHALACA (Ortalis cinereiceps)

The grey-headed chachalaca, Ortalis cinereiceps, is a medium-sized bird that bears a resemblance to turkeys, with its small head, robust legs, and an elongated, broad tail. Adults typically measure between 48 to 58 cm in length and weigh between 490 to 540 grams. Their plumage is rather understated, with grayish-brown tones dominating the upper parts and a paler hue below. A distinctive dark grey head is complemented by a red dewlap, while the blackish tail features a buff tip. The primary flight feathers exhibit a striking bright chestnut color. Juvenile birds present a more uniform brown coloration, particularly on the head.

To identify the grey-headed chachalaca, look for its dark grey head and red dewlap, which are key distinguishing features. The chestnut primaries are also quite noticeable, especially in flight. The bird's overall dull plumage and robust body shape are characteristic of the species.

This species thrives in humid environments where dense vegetation is prevalent, such as thickets, secondary forests, brushy fields that have been abandoned, and forests that have been thinned. It tends to avoid the dense interiors of forests but may be found along their edges. Its habitat range extends from sea level up to 1,700 meters in elevation.

The grey-headed chachalaca is native to a region stretching from Mosquitia in eastern Honduras through eastern Nicaragua, across most of Costa Rica and Panama, and into Colombia's Chocó Department. It is also found on Isla del Rey in Panama, where it may have been introduced by indigenous peoples.

These birds are typically observed foraging in groups ranging from six to twelve individuals, but occasionally groups may swell to as many as twenty. They forage primarily in vegetation but will also search for food on the ground. During the dry season, they are known to frequent riversides for drinking in the mornings and evenings.

The grey-headed chachalaca is somewhat less vocal than some of its relatives. Its song can be described as a soft "cha-cha-lac-ah," while its flock calls are a raucous "kloik, kleeuk kraahk." Additionally, it emits a variety of screams, sharp alarm calls, and a subdued purring sound.

The breeding season for the grey-headed chachalaca coincides with the dry season, typically spanning from January to May. The female constructs a broad, shallow nest from twigs and vines, usually situated 1 to 2.4 meters above the ground and often concealed by vines. She lays three dull white eggs and is solely responsible for their incubation.

The diet of the grey-headed chachalaca is predominantly fruit-based, constituting about 75% of its intake. Leaves make up around 17%, and invertebrates about 8%. The bird's foraging habits are adapted to its varied diet.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the grey-headed chachalaca as Least Concern. While it is considered fairly common to common throughout its range, in some areas, populations have been significantly impacted by hunting. Nonetheless, the species shows a good degree of adaptability to certain types of habitat disturbance.

26-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA - CLAY COLOURED THRUSH (Turdus grayi)

The Clay-colored Thrush, Turdus grayi, is a bird of modest plumage, its feathers a subtle palette of brown hues, lighter on the flanks and faintly streaked on the throat. This bird, similar in size to the American Robin, measures approximately 23 to 27 centimeters in length and weighs between 74 to 76 grams. The young are distinguished by a faint mottling on their backs and underparts. Notable identification features include a greenish-yellow bill with a dark base, pinkish or flesh-colored legs, and reddish irises.

When identifying the Clay-colored Thrush, look for its brownish plumage, which is lighter below and lightest on the flanks. The throat bears faint streaks, and the bird's bill is greenish-yellow with a dark base. The legs are pinkish or flesh-colored, and the irises are a distinctive reddish color. Juveniles may exhibit faint mottling on their back and underparts.

The Clay-colored Thrush is a familiar sight in yards and gardens, much like its relatives the American Robin, the Eurasian Blackbird, and the Song Thrush. It thrives in a variety of habitats, from South Texas to northern Colombia, often found in human-altered landscapes where fruiting trees are present.

This bird's range extends from South Texas, where it is expanding its territory, to northern Colombia. It is predominantly found on the Atlantic slope west and north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with an isolated population around Oaxaca City, Mexico.

The Clay-colored Thrush is known to forage on the ground or near it, usually alone or in pairs, though it may gather in flocks in fruiting trees. It is also known to follow army ants to capture small prey disturbed by the ants' movement.

The song of the Clay-colored Thrush is a series of slurred musical phrases, often repeated irregularly at a slow, steady tempo. Its flight call is a harsher version of the American Robin's "tock." During the dry season, its mating call varies significantly across regions.

The breeding season for the Clay-colored Thrush spans from March to July. It constructs a sturdy cup nest from grass, moss, feathers, leaves, and mud, often utilizing human structures for support. The female lays 2 to 4 pale blue eggs adorned with red-brown and gray markings and may produce two broods per season. The species is known for its aggressive defense of its nest, even against large raptors.

This thrush primarily feeds on fruit and invertebrates, foraging on the ground or in trees. It is opportunistic, sometimes taking advantage of disturbances caused by army ants to find prey.

The IUCN Red List classifies the Clay-colored Thrush as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival.

26-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - WHITE NECKED JACOBIN (MALE) (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.

The white-necked jacobin breeds in the dry to early wet seasons, which vary across their range. The nest is a shallow cup of plant down and cobweb placed on the upper surface of a leaf where another leaf provides a "roof". It is typically 1 to 3 m (3 to 10 ft) above ground and sometimes near a stream. Males display and chase in the canopy and along edges during the breeding season. Females use a fluttering flight to distract predators.

23-4-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Vanessa cardui)

Vanessa cardui is the most widespread of all butterfly species. It is commonly called the painted lady, or formerly in North America the cosmopolitan.

V. cardui is one of the most widespread of all butterflies, found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. In Australia, V. cardui has a limited range around Bunbury, Fremantle, and Rottnest Island. However, its close relative, the Australian painted lady (V. kershawi, sometimes considered a subspecies) ranges over half the continent. Other closely related species are the American painted lady (V. virginiensis) and the West Coast lady (V. annabella).

Vanessa cardui spring migration between North Africa and Europe

V. cardui occurs in any temperate zone, including mountains in the tropics. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates in spring, and sometimes again in autumn. It migrates from North Africa and the Mediterranean to Britain and Europe in May and June,[10] occasionally reaching Iceland, and from the Red Sea basin, via Israel and Cyprus, to Turkey in March and April. The occasional autumn migration made by V. cardui is likely for the inspection of resource changes; it consists of a round trip from Europe to Africa.

For decades, naturalists have debated whether the offspring of these immigrants ever make a southwards return migration. Research suggests that British painted ladies do undertake an autumn migration, making 14,500 km (9,000 mi) round trip from tropical Africa to the Arctic Circle in a series of steps by up to six successive generations. The Radar Entomology Unit at Rothamsted Research provided evidence that autumn migrations take place at high altitude, which explains why these migrations are seldom witnessed. In recent years, thanks to the activity of The Worldwide Painted Lady Migration citizen science project, led by the Barcelona-based Institute of Evolutionary Biology (Catalan: Institut de Biologia Evolutiva), the huge range of migration has begun to be revealed. For example, some butterflies migrated from Iceland to the Sahara desert, and even further south.

23-4-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN HUMMINGBIRD HAWKMOTH (Macroglossum stellatarum)

The hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a species of hawk moth found across temperate regions of Eurasia. The species is named for its similarity to hummingbirds, as they feed on the nectar of tube-shaped flowers using their long proboscis while hovering in the air; this resemblance is an example of convergent evolution.

The hummingbird hawk-moth was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. As of 2018, its entire genome and mitogenome have been sequenced.

The hummingbird hawk-moth is distributed throughout the northern Old World from Portugal to Japan, but it breeds mainly in warmer climates (southern Europe, North Africa, and points east). Three generations are produced in a year in Spain.

t is a strong flier, dispersing widely in the summer. However it rarely survives the winter in northern latitudes (e.g. north of the Alps in Europe, north of the Caucasus in Russia).

Moths in the genus Hemaris, also of the family Sphingidae, are known as "hummingbird moths" in the US, and "bee moths" in Europe. This sometimes causes confusion between this species and the North American genus.

The forewings are brown, with black wavy lines across them, while the hindwings are orange with a black edge. The abdomen is quite broad, with a fan-tail of setae at the end. The wingspan is 40–45 millimetres (1.6–1.8 in).

In the southern parts of its range, the hummingbird hawk-moth is highly active even when temperatures are high, and thoracic temperatures above 45 °C (113 °F) have been measured. This is among the highest recorded for hawk-moths, and near the limit for insect muscle activity.

Two or more broods are produced each year. The adult may be encountered at any time of the year, especially in the south of the range, where there may be three or four broods. It overwinters as an adult in a crevice among rocks, trees, and buildings. On very warm days it may emerge to feed in mid-winter. Unlike other moths, they have no sexual dimorphism in the size of their antennal lobes.  

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - THOAS SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY (Papilio thoas)

Papilio thoas, the king swallowtail or Thoas swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. It is found in the southernmost United States, Mexico, Central America and South America (as far south as Argentina and Uruguay). The species is easily confused with the giant swallowtail, which it closely resembles in both larval and adult stages. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of citrus plants (Rutaceae). They have also been reported as feeding on a member of the genus Piper.

A large species (12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in) wingspan. The wings are narrow. The forewings are mostly brown. A yellow band runs from the tip, becoming narrower towards the back. There is also a row of yellow arcuate spots on the underside of the wing edge. The hind wings are predominantly brown, toothed and have a long caudal process. This carries a yellow core. There is a row of yellow arcuate spots at the edge of the hind wings. A broad yellow band runs through the first half of the wing. Inside sits a black eyespot with blue-white dusting. The yellow regions are more pronounced on the undersides of the wings. Blue-white arcuate spots adjoin the yellow arcuate spots on the upper side. The eyespot is only weakly pronounced. The body of the king swallowtail is yellow.- Seitz "- P. thoas. The spatulate tail has a yellow spot in the middle. The species occurs from Texas and the West Indian Islands southwards to Buenos Aires, but is wanting on the Lesser Antilles. It. is everywhere common and flies in the open country, in gardens and plantations. thoas is a very bold flier, which often mounts high in the air.. The larva lives on Piperaceae and Citrus. — melonius R. & J. is the subspecies from Jamaica: it has no cell-spot on the upper surface of the forewing. 

Adult Thoas swallowtails fly year round in the tropics, feeding on nectar of a variety of flowers, including Lantana, Stachytarpheta, and Bougainvillea among other species.

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA, COSTA RICA - RUBY SPOTTED SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY (Papilio anchisiades)

Papilio anchisiades, the ruby-black phoenix Anhisiadi or ruby-spotted swallowtail or red-spotted swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. It is found from southern Texas south to Argentina. Rare strays can be found up to Kansas, southeastern Arizona, and western Texas.

The wingspan is 70–100 mm.

The larvae feed on various species of the family Rutaceae, including Citrus, Casimiroa, and Zanthoxylum species. The adults feed on flower nectar.

23-3-2017 SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA - BAEOTIS ZONATA BUTTERFLY (Baeotis zonata ssp. zonata)