19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - LONG TAILED FINCH (Poephila acuticauda)

The long-tailed finch (Poephila acuticauda) is a common species of estrildid finch found in northern Australia, from the Kimberley region to the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is a predominantly fawn-coloured bird with a pale grey head and prominent black bib and eyes. It inhabits dry savannah habitats in Australia and adapts readily to aviculture.

Common names for the species have been assigned or arisen from usage in aviculture, these include the long-tailed finch or longtail, blackheart finch, shaft-tail finch, orange-billed finch or grassfinch. Heck's grassfinch or finch, or Heck's longtail is applied to the eastern subspecies Poephila acuticauda hecki with red beaks, and the nominate subspecies with orange or yellow beaks is referred by the common name for the species.

The adult long-tailed finch is around 160 mm in length, the weight range of males is 13.5–16.2 grams and females 11.4–17.6 g. It has a prominent roundish black bib on its throat and upper chest and a long pointed black tail. It has pinkish brown upperparts with paler plumage below its bib over the lower breast and abdomen. It has a grey head, a white ear-patch, and black lores. It has black patches on its upper flanks and its rump and undertail coverts are white. The beak colour of the adult long-tailed finch varies from red through orange to yellow. Males and females are similar, except the females may be slightly duller and may have a slightly smaller bib. Females have shorter wings and tails than males on average, but their measurements, as well as throat bib size, generally lie within the range of male measurements. Furthermore, male and female plumage is indistinguishable in ultraviolet and visible light. A study published in 1999 showed that male long-tailed finches were unable to determine the sex of unfamiliar members of their species unless the latter bird declared its sex by song. Juveniles have black beaks and shorter tail feathers.

The subspecies are distinguished by the bill coloration, the nominate western group presenting a yellow colour and the eastern P. acuticauda hecki is red.

The species maintain a simple pair bond, with some records of extended family groups or in small flocks; the pairs remain in close proximity when engaged in their activities. Individuals use song to identify themselves to a partner, and they maintain contact with a 'distance call' Male P. acuticauda approach unfamiliar members of the species and engage in a courtship display, holding themselves in an upright posture and singing, before attempting to mate with the newcomer. Male newcomers will sometimes not declare their sex when confronted by a group of birds. The authors of the study propose this is a survival mechanism to reduce harassment, increase chances of acceptance into the group and hence chances of future reproduction.

The species breeds in natural hollows of trees or lower vegetation like tussocks of grass or shrubs. Where trees are available, the nest site may be over 4 metres from the ground, perhaps as high as 18 m. Eucalpyts are a favoured tree species, and pandanus are also selected. Breeding nests are carefully constructed from grass, the outer layer composed of broader blades 150–200 mm long and the inner chamber with a nesting cup woven from fine stems and seed-heads; woolly plant fibres and sometimes feathers are used to line the inner chamber. The total length of this structure is from 180 to 230 mm and is composed of up to 500 pieces, which includes an entrance is between 50 too 100 mm, in bottle or funnel shaped form. The nest used for roosting outside of the breeding season is a simpler design

Pairs share feeding responsibilities, and there has been one report of birds from older broods helping their parents raise the following brood, the first time that cooperative breeding has been recorded in an Australian estrildid finch. The clutch consists of four to six dull white oval eggs measuring 17 x 12 mm. A survey in the Kimberley recorded the clutch sizes as 10 × 4, 10 × 5 and 3 nests × 6 eggs. The incubation period is 13 to 17 days.

The long-tailed finch inhabits open woodland across northern Australia, from Derby in the northwest Kimberley region across to the east to the Leichhardt River in northwest Queensland.

It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 1,000,000–10,000,000 km2. The IUCN has classified threats to the population of the species as being of least concern.

The long-tailed finch adapts readily to captivity, although it requires an aviary rather than a cage to thrive, and damp conditions need to be avoided. Export of the species has been banned from Australia, and they have become rather expensive in the UK. A caged pair are best kept on their own in the breeding season, because they become aggressive to other small finches. They breed readily in captivity, sometimes producing two broods a year, and live for around 5 to 8 years. In captivity, a pair of Heck's grass finches (P. a. hecki) might raise brood after brood continuously, which would jeopardise their health, if they are not fed with an adequate diet all year round. Alternatively, the sexes can be separated for the winter.

The species was well established in aviaries by the 1930s and regarded as robust specimens with interesting behaviours and an appealing appearance. The first record of successful breeding of the yellow-billed subspecies was in 1897, and the red-billed grass-finch was reproducing in English aviaries around a decade later, The species was also being bred in its native country during this period, including from pairs held at the Australian Museum. By the twenty first century these finches became popular amongst avicultural enthusiasts in European, Asian, and North American countries, and in South Africa, the species is recorded but rare in New Zealand. These finches are the second most common species in Britain, after the Gouldian finch Chloebia gouldiae.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - ZEBRA LONGWING BUTTERFLY (Heliconius charithonia)

Although H. charithonia is to some extent static, maintaining a home range, adults do move between territories. Butterflies with Mexican origins migrate north into Texas, following the retracting temperature gradient. Rainfall has no effect on migration patterns. Arrival dates and duration of stay depend on the distance traveled: the longer the distance traveled, the shorter the duration of stay.

Roosting to deter predators

Adults roost in groups of up to 60 individuals on a nightly basis, returning to the same roost every night. These roosts provide protection to adults, the large groups deterring predators and retaining warmth. Solitary individuals, or very small roosts, avoid exhibiting proper warning signals so as not to attract predators. Pre-roosting interactions, which consist of sitting near one another, chasing each other briefly while fluttering, or basking, occur between butterflies from separate roosts, indicating that the butterflies are aware of other roosts in their home range. Despite this, the zebra longwing chooses to form smaller aggregations. The optimal roost size for predator deterrence is five individuals; roost size is also influenced by resource availability and foraging. H. charithonia roosts to display collective aposematism, deterring predators by conspicuously advertising their unpalatable taste.

H. charithonia adults form communal roosts nightly. Communal roosting occurs when individuals aggregate at a particular site for more than a few hours. Roosting begins as early as three hours before sunset and usually ends within two hours after sunrise. Since roosting is at night, adults need to be able to see at low light levels to locate roost sites, either when looking for twigs, tendrils, and dry leaves to land on to start a roost, or when searching for conspecifics that are already roosting. Their eyes also help them to recognize color patterns in conspecifics. UV rhodopsins in the eye help them to distinguish between 3-OHK yellow pigments, or ultraviolet colors, and other yellow pigments, which to the human eye is indistinguishable. At shorter distances, the butterflies recognize conspecifics via chemical cues. These chemical cues include volatile and nonvolatile substances. The significance of this chemical communication remains largely unknown for Heliconius in general. However, in H. melpomene, (E)-?-ocimene was found to attract males and females in diurnal situations.

At eclosion, the ratio is highly female biased, but the rest of the year the sex ratio is overall male biased (68% males). This is because males typically stay near their natal sites to find a mate, while females move around to find oviposition or feeding sites on Passiflora plants. Because females are very mobile, males rarely mate with relatives, and inbreeding rates are very low.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - GOLD EDGED OWL BUTTERFLY (Caligo uranus)

An owl butterfly is (Caligo uranus) known for their huge eyespots, which resemble owls' eyes. They are found in the rainforests and secondary forests of Mexico, Central, and South America. Owl butterflies are very large, 65–200 mm (2.6–7.9 in), and fly only a few metres at a time.

An owl butterfly is a butterfly, in the genus Caligo, known for their huge eyespots, which resemble owls' eyes. They are found in the rainforests and secondary forests of Mexico, Central, and South America. Owl butterflies are very large, 65–200 mm (2.6–7.9 in), and fly only a few metres at a time, so avian predators, and we avid photographers! have little difficulty in following them to their settling place. However, the butterflies preferentially fly in dusk, when few avian predators are around.

They are usually large-sized and are characterized by large ocelli on the underside of their wings. These butterflies have the appearance of owls when landed and no doubt receive protection from predators with this camouflage. This rare giant owl butterfly is known as the Gold-edged is an owl butterfly belonging to the nymphalid family, Morphinae subfamily, tribe Brassolini.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - PURPLE HONEYCREEPER (FEMALE) (Cyanerpes caeruleus)

The purple honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus ) is a small Neotropical bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in the tropical New World from Colombia and Venezuela south to Brazil, and on Trinidad. A few, possibly introduced birds have been recorded on Tobago.

The purple honeycreeper is 4.5 in (11.5 cm) long, weighs 0.42 oz (12 g) and has a long black decurved bill. The male is purple with black wings, tail and belly, and bright yellow legs. Females and immatures have green upperparts, and green-streaked yellowish-buff underparts. The throat is cinnamon, and there is a blue moustachial stripe. The call of purple honeycreeper is a thin high-pitched zree. The Trinidadian subspecies C. c. longirostris has a longer bill than the mainland forms.

The species is a bird of northern South America, and besides the Amazon Basin and the Guianas, a coastal range occurs west of the Andes, including parts of southern Panama. In the south, its range extends to the extreme western Pantanal. Though it is most frequently seen in the lowlands up to 3,300 ft (1,000 m) ASL or so, it has been encountered as high as 7,500 ft (2,300 m) ASL.

This is a forest canopy species, but also occurs in cocoa and citrus plantations. At the upper limit of its altitudinal range, it frequents premontane rainforest, usually rather low-growing (33–50 ft/10–15 m) and full of epiphytes and mosses, and even elfin forest and páramo.

The purple honeycreeper is often found in small groups. It feeds on nectar (particularly from bromeliad and similar flowers, to which its bill shape is adapted), berries and seeds (i.e., Trema and Clusia ), fruit (i.e., bananas and papayas) and insects, mainly in the canopy. It is a bold and inquisitive bird, responding readily to the call of the ferruginous pygmy owl (Glaucidium brasilianum ) by coming out of cover and searching for the presumed predator to mob it. The female purple honeycreeper builds a small cup nest in a tree, and incubates the clutch of two brown-blotched white eggs.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - PIANO KEY BUTTERFLY (Heliconius melpomene)

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - RICE PAPER BUTTERFLY (Idea leuconoe)

Idea leuconoe, also known as the paper kite butterfly, rice paper butterfly, large tree nymph, is a butterfly known especially for its presence in butterfly houses and live butterfly expositions. It has a wingspan of 12 to 14 cm. The paper kite is of Southeast Asian origin, but can also be found in Southern Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands.

Larvae feed on Parsonsia species, Tylophora hispida, Parsonsia helicandra, Parsonsia spiralis, and Cynanchum formosanum so both the butterfly and larvae are poisonous.

The paper kite butterfly's forewings and hindwings are translucent silvery white with black spots, similar to the Idea lynceus.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - POSTMAN BUTTERFLY (Heliconius melpomene)

Heliconius melpomene, the postman butterfly, common postman or simply postman, is a brightly colored butterfly found throughout Central and South America. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Its coloration coevolved with a sister species H. erato as a warning to predators of its inedibility; this is an example of Müllerian mimicry. H. melpomene was one of the first butterfly species observed to forage for pollen, a behavior that is common in other groups but rare in butterflies. Because of the recent rapid evolutionary radiation of the genus Heliconius and overlapping of its habitat with other related species, H. melpomene has been the subject of extensive study on speciation and hybridization. These hybrids tend to have low fitness as they look different from the original species and no longer exhibit Müllerian mimicry.

Heliconius melpomene possesses ultraviolet vision which enhances its ability to distinguish subtle differences between markings on the wings of other butterflies. This allows the butterfly to avoid mating with other species that share the same geographic range.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)

The Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is a mockingbird commonly found in North America and has rarely been observed in Europe. The bird is known for its mimicking ability, as reflected by the meaning of its scientific name, "many-tongued thrush". The Northern mockingbird is also known for its intelligence and is the state bird of five states, appears in book titles, songs, and lullabies, and makes other appearances in popular culture.

The Northern mockingbird is a medium-sized bird with long legs and a tail. Males and females look alike. Its upper parts are colored gray, while its underparts have a white or whitish-gray color. It has parallel wing bars on half of the wings connected near the white patch giving it a distinctive appearance in flight. The black central rectrices and typical white lateral rectrices are also noticeable in flight. The iris is usually a light green-yellow or yellow, but there have been instances of an orange color. The bill is black with a brownish-black appearance at the base. The juvenile appearance is marked by the streaks on its back, distinguished spots and streaks on its chest, and a gray or grayish-green iris.

Northern mockingbirds breed in southeastern Canada, the United States, northern Mexico, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the Greater Antilles. These birds are generally year-round residents of their range, but the populations that live in the northern portion of their range move further south during the winter season. Northern mockingbirds prefer forest edges and open areas with sparse vegetation. In the eastern regions, suburban and urban areas such as parks and gardens are frequent residential areas. In western regions, desert scrub and chaparral are among their preferred habitats. When foraging for food, Northern mockingbirds prefer short grass.

Northern mockingbirds are omnivores. They eat insects, earthworms, berries, fruits, seeds, and occasionally lizards. They can drink from puddles, river and lake edges, or dew and rain droplets that amass onto plants. Adult mockingbirds may also drink sap from the cuts on recently pruned trees.

Northern mockingbirds are active during the day and are usually seen singly or in pairs. They forage on the ground or in vegetation and also fly down from a perch to capture their food. While foraging, mockingbirds frequently spread their wings in a peculiar two-step motion to display the white patches. When on the ground they move by hopping, walking, and may even running. Northern mockingbirds are aggressive and territorial birds, especially around prime feeding areas. They use various threat postures to fend off intruders and may even mob and dive at humans if they venture too close to nesting areas. Northern mockingbirds generally communicate with the help of songs and various calls. Both males and females sing, with the latter being generally quieter and less vocal. Males start singing in late January to February and continue into the summer and the establishing of territory into the fall. Females sing less often in the summer and fall and only sing when the male is away from the territory. Northern mockingbirds have four main calls; these include the nest relief call, hew call, chat or chatburst, and the begging call. The hew call is mainly used by both sexes for potential nest predators, conspecific chasing, and various interactions between mates. The differences between chats and chatbursts are frequency of use, as chats are year-round, and chatbursts occur in the fall. Another difference is that chatbursts appear to be used in territorial defense in the fall, and the chats are used when mockingbirds are disturbed. The nest relief and begging calls are only used by the males.

Northern mockingbirds form monogamous pairs that remain together for many years, but incidents of polygyny (one male to several females) have also been reported. These birds breed in the spring and early summer and produce 2-4 broods a year. The males arrive before the beginning of the season to establish their territories. They use a series of courtship displays to attract females to their sites. The males run around the area either to showcase their territory to the females or to pursue the females. The males also engage in a flight to showcase their wings. They sing and call as they perform all of these displays. Both the male and female are involved in the nest building. The male does most of the work, while the female perches on the shrub or tree where the nest is being built to watch for predators. The outer part of the nest is composed of twigs, while the inner part is lined with grasses, dead leaves, moss, or artificial fibers. The female lays 3 to 5 light blue or greenish speckled with dots eggs and incubates them for nearly 2 weeks. The chicks are altricial, meaning that, when hatched, they are born relatively immobile and defenseless and therefore require nourishment for a certain duration from their parents. After about 10 to 15 days of life, the chicks become independent and reach reproductive maturity after one year of life.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - PURPLE HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes caeruleus)

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - RED LEGGED HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes cyaneus)

The red-legged honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus ) is a small songbird species in the tanager family (Thraupidae). It is found in the tropical New World from southern Mexico south to Peru, Bolivia and central Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and on Cuba, where possibly introduced. It is also rarely found in southern Texas.

The red-legged honeycreeper is on average 12.2 cm (4.8 in) long, weighs 14 g (0.49 oz) and has a medium-long black, slightly decurved, bill. The male is violet-blue with black wings, tail and back, and bright red legs. The crown of its head is turquoise, and the underwing, visible only in flight, is lemon yellow. After the breeding season, the male moults into an eclipse plumage, mainly greenish with black wings.

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Females and immatures are mainly green, with paler, faintly streaked underparts. The legs are red-brown in the female, and brown in young birds.

The call of red-legged honeycreeper is a thin, high-pitched tsip.

This is a species of forest edge, open woodland, and cocoa and citrus plantations. The red-legged honeycreeper is often found in small groups. It feeds on insects and some fruit and nectar. It responds readily to the (easily imitated) call of the ferruginous pygmy owl (Glaucidium brasilianum ).

In Costa Rica red-legged honeycreepers generally breed between April and June. The nest is built entirely by the female and is placed in a shrub or tree several meters above the ground. The cup-shaped nest has thin side walls and is formed of stiff fibres. It is attached to the supporting twigs with cobwebs. The clutch consists of two eggs that are laid in early morning on consecutive days. They are 13.4 mm × 19.1 mm (0.53 in × 0.75 in) in size and have a white background with brown speckles forming a ring around the larger end. 

The female incubates the eggs for 12 or 13 days. When they first hatch the nestlings have their eyes closed and are covered with tuffs of grey down. They are brooded by the female but fed by both parents. They fledge after around 14 days.

A specimen studied in the Parque Nacional de La Macarena of Colombia was found to be free of blood parasites.

Common and widespread, the red-legged honeycreeper is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - EUROPEAN STARLING (FEMALE) (Sturnus vulgaris)

The Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, is a medium-sized passerine bird characterized by its glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen. Throughout the year, the plumage is speckled with white, though less so during the breeding season. Adults measure approximately 20 cm in length, with pink legs and a seasonally changing bill color—black in winter and yellow in summer. Juveniles display browner plumage compared to adults.

To identify the Common Starling, look for its iridescent black feathers, which may appear purple or green when reflecting light. The bird's bill is black in the winter and transitions to yellow in the summer, aiding in identification. The starling's flight is strong and direct, with pointed wings that are distinctive in the air. On the ground, its waddling gait is notable.

Common Starlings are highly adaptable, favoring urban and suburban areas where they find ample nesting and roosting opportunities. They also inhabit grasslands, such as farmlands and pastures, where short grass makes foraging for invertebrates easier.

Native to temperate Europe and western Asia, the Common Starling has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, North America, and other regions. Its range extends from Europe to northern Africa and across the Palearctic to western Mongolia.

The Common Starling is a gregarious bird, especially in autumn and winter, forming large flocks known as murmurations. These flocks are thought to be a defense against predators. On the ground, starlings forage in groups, often following grazing animals to feed on disturbed invertebrates.

The Common Starling's song is a varied mix of melodic and mechanical sounds, including mimicked noises from other bird species and the environment. Males sing to attract mates and defend their territory. Calls include a harsh alarm scream and a variety of social chatters.

Breeding occurs in the spring and summer, with the female laying four to five glossy, pale blue eggs in a nest built within a natural or artificial cavity. Both parents share incubation duties, and the young fledge after about three weeks.

Omnivorous, the Common Starling's diet includes a wide range of invertebrates, seeds, and fruit. They employ various foraging techniques, such as probing the ground and catching flying insects.

Despite declines in some European populations, the Common Starling's global population is not considered to be declining significantly. It is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)

The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a tree squirrel native to eastern North America; there it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the Eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.

The Eastern gray squirrel is a squirrel of medium size, and both males and females are of the same size and color. Its fur is mainly black or gray, the gray color being grizzled and often banded with gray and black guard hairs, tinged white, with the underside being white. Its tail is quite bushy and sometimes reddish in color and is used for maintaining balance while it leaps between branches. The overall fur color may change with different seasons, with the grayish fur being tawnier during summer, and the tail whiter.

Eastern gray squirrels are native to the eastern and mid-western parts of America, and to the south of the eastern parts of Canada. They range from Manitoba to New Brunswick, and south to Florida and East Texas. They inhabit large areas of mature, dense woodland ecosystems. These forests usually contain large mast-producing trees such as oaks and hickories, providing ample food sources. Close to human settlements, Eastern gray squirrels are found in parks and backyards of houses within urban environments and in the farmlands of rural environments.

Eastern gray squirrels are aggressive, alert, and inquisitive rodents, very fast when moving and jumping amongst the treetops. These squirrels are scatter-hoarder; they hoard huge quantities of food for the future and can make several thousand caches per season. They are more active in the daytime than at night, particularly at dawn and during the afternoon. Males and females may share the same nest during the breeding season, which they build in the forks of trees, and during cold winters, squirrels may also share these dreys to stay warm. The dens are usually lined with moss plants, thistledown, dried grass, and feathers. Females nest alone during pregnancy, and lactating females are particularly aggressive and left alone by other squirrels. These squirrels do not hibernate. To communicate with each other they use both vocalizations and posturing. They have a quite varied repertoire of vocalizations, including a squeak similar to that of a mouse, a low-pitched noise, a chatter, and a raspy "mehr mehr mehr". Other methods of communication include tail-flicking and other gestures, including facial expressions. Squirrels also make an affectionate coo-purring sound that biologists call the "muk-muk" sound. This is used as a contact sound between a mother and her kits and in adulthood, by the male when he courts the female during mating season.

7-5-2017 SEVILLE , ANDALUCIA - BARNACLE GOOSE (Branta leucopsis)

The Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis, is a medium-sized member of the black geese genus Branta. It is characterized by its striking black and white plumage, with a distinctive white face, black head, neck, and upper breast. The underparts are predominantly white, while the back and wings boast a silver-gray hue adorned with black-and-white bars that glisten in the sunlight. Adults typically measure between 55 to 70 centimeters in length, with a wingspan stretching from 130 to 145 centimeters, and weigh between 1.21 and 2.23 kilograms.

When observing these geese, look for the white face contrasting sharply with the black head and neck. In flight, the V-shaped white rump patch and silver-gray underwing linings are telltale signs of the species. The barred pattern on the back and wings is also a key feature to distinguish the Barnacle Goose from similar species.

Barnacle Geese are known to breed in the high Arctic regions, often selecting precipitous cliff edges to place their nests, well out of reach of terrestrial predators. They favor coastal areas and are commonly found in wetland environments during winter.

The species has a circumpolar distribution, with breeding grounds in Greenland, Svalbard, and the Russian Arctic. Wintering areas include the British Isles, particularly the Hebrides and parts of western Ireland, as well as the Wadden Sea area in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. Notably, new breeding populations have established in Iceland and along the Baltic Sea.

These geese are renowned for their perilous breeding strategy, where goslings must leap from towering cliffs to join their parents on the ground below. This dramatic plunge is a rite of passage, ensuring that only the fittest survive. The goslings imprint on their parents and follow them to feeding grounds, learning to forage under their guidance.

The Barnacle Goose communicates with a repertoire of honking calls, which can be heard during their social interactions and as they fly in formation during migration.

Nesting typically occurs on cliff ledges, where the female lays her eggs far from the reach of predators. The young goslings must make a daring leap to the ground to join their parents after hatching, a testament to the harsh realities of life in the Arctic.

The Barnacle Goose can be confused with the Brant Goose, but the latter lacks the Barnacle's white face and has a more uniformly dark belly.

These geese graze on a variety of vegetation, including grasses, aquatic plants, and mosses. They are herbivorous and often feed in wetlands and coastal areas where such food is abundant.

The IUCN lists the Barnacle Goose as Least Concern, with populations on the rise. The species has benefited from conservation efforts under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds.

7-5-2017 SEVILLE , ANDALUCIA - MALLARD HYBRID (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos),

Mallard breeds can be somewhat confusing. They can be larger than normal or much smaller, darker or lighter, all white or all black. Watch for the little curled feathers on the back of the male, above the tail. Only the Mallard and its domestic descendants have those.

The domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus ) or domestic mallard is a variety of mallard that has been domesticated by humans and raised for meat, eggs, and down feathers. A few are also kept for show, as pets, or for their ornamental value. Almost all varieties of domesticated ducks, apart from the domestic Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata ), are descended from the mallard.

Mallard breeds can be somewhat confusing. They can be larger than normal or much smaller, darker or lighter, all white or all black. Watch for the little curled feathers on the back of the male, above the tail. Only the Mallard and its domestic descendants have those.

The domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus ) or domestic mallard is a variety of mallard that has been domesticated by humans and raised for meat, eggs, and down feathers. A few are also kept for show, as pets, or for their ornamental value. Almost all varieties of domesticated ducks, apart from the domestic Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata ), are descended from the mallard.

Domestic ducks (mainly mallard, Anas platyrhynchos domesticus, with some Muscovy ducks, Cairina moschata domestica) are ducks that have been domesticated and raised for meat and eggs. A few are kept for show, or for their ornamental value. Most varieties of domesticated ducks, apart from the Muscovy duck and hybrids, are descended from the mallard, which was domesticated in China around 2000 BC.

Duck farming is simplified by their reliable flocking behaviour, and their ability to forage effectively for themselves. Over 80% of global duck production is in China. Breeds such as White Pekin are raised for meat, while the prolific Indian Runner can produce over 300 eggs per year. In East and Southeast Asia, polycultures such as rice-duck farming are widely practised: the ducks assist the rice with manure and by eating small pest animals, so that the same land produces rice and ducks at once.

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - GREEN THORNTAIL (FEMALE) (Discosura conversii)

The green thorntail (Discosura conversii) is a small hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama.

Male green thorntails are about 9.5 to 10.2 cm (3.7 to 4.0 in) long and females about 6.6 to 7.5 cm (2.6 to 3.0 in). Five individuals whose sex was not recorded had an average weight of 3.0 g (0.11 oz). The adult male has a dark green crown and a lighter more metallic green back. The coppery bronze rump has bluish black inclusions and a white band across it. The bluish black tail is deeply forked and the outer feathers are very narrow, giving the species its common name. The throat is bright metallic green and the breast and belly mostly darker green with the center of the breast being metallic greenish blue. The adult female's upperparts are like the male's but for a darker rump. Its tail is notched but not elongated. All but the outermost pair of tail feathers are bluish black with dark green bases; the outmost have white bases, a blue-black middle, and white tips. Their face has a broad white cheek patch. The chin is dull black with white spots, the flanks dull green with a white spot, and the breast and belly dull black. Juveniles are like the adults but with a grayish white chin.

The green thorntail forages for nectar mostly at the tops of flowering trees but also from epiphytes and shrubs. It appears to favor legumes. It nectars while hovering with its tail cocked at nearly a right angle to its body. Its diet also includes small arthropods such as flies, wasps, and spiders that it captures by hawking from a perch and gleans from the underside of leaves while hovering.

Breeding male green thorntails perch on high bare twigs and sometimes give a dive display. The species' breeding season appears to vary across its range but are not well defined. It is thought to span from November to April in Costa Rica, and displays have been noted in Colombia in June. All hummingbirds lay two white eggs that are incubated by the female alone, but no details of the species' breeding phenology are known and the nest has not been described.

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - GREEN CROWNED BRILLIANT HUMMINGBIRD (MALE) (Heliodoxa jacula)

The Green-crowned Brilliant, scientifically known as Heliodoxa jacula, is a dazzling species of hummingbird belonging to the tribe Heliantheini within the subfamily Lesbiinae. This avian jewel is adorned with a glittering green to blue-green head and breast, with males featuring a metallic violet-blue throat patch. The upperparts and belly shimmer with a bronzy green, while the vent area and thighs are a contrasting white. The tail is a striking blue-black, completing the bird's vibrant palette.

Adult males are typically 12 to 13 cm in length, with females slightly smaller at 10.5 to 12 g. Both sexes possess a distinctive white spot behind the eye and a forked tail, though the male's is more pronounced. Females lack the male's shiny head and have a short white malar stripe, with their underparts being whitish and heavily spotted with green. Immature birds can be identified by their duller coloration and less forked tails.

The Green-crowned Brilliant thrives in various environments, including the interiors and edges of humid sub-montane and montane forests, mature secondary forests, and even gardens. They are adaptable birds that can also be found in forest clearings.

This species graces the skies of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama, with its range extending across different elevations depending on the region.

Green-crowned Brilliants may exhibit seasonal movements, particularly at lower elevations in Costa Rica and Ecuador. They typically forage in the middle and upper strata of the forest, with males sometimes defending feeding territories.

The vocal repertoire of the Green-crowned Brilliant includes a loud, squeaky "kyew" or "tyew" call. Males in display produce a "tseek, tseek, tseek" sound, while chases are accompanied by sputtering notes and squeaks.

The breeding season varies by region, with nests being bulky cups of plant fibers and tree fern scales placed on thin branches. The female incubates two white elliptical eggs, shouldering the responsibility alone.

The Green-crowned Brilliant primarily feeds on nectar from Marcgravia vines and small understory plants. They exhibit both territorial and trap-lining feeding behaviors and prefer clinging to flowers over hovering.

The IUCN has classified the Green-crowned Brilliant as Least Concern. Although its population is believed to be decreasing, it has not faced any immediate threats and shows some resilience to habitat fragmentation and disturbance. However, forest clearance could lead to local population declines.

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - GREEN THORNTAIL (MALE) (Discosura conversii)

The green thorntail (Discosura conversii) is a small hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama.

The green thorntail is found on the Caribbean slope in Costa Rica and the Pacific slopes of Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador almost to the Peruvian border. It is thought to also occur on the Caribbean side of eastern Panama. It is primarily a forest canopy species, inhabiting the upper levels of the interior and edges of humid montane forest and lowland evergreen forest. It also occurs at flowering trees in clearings. In elevation it mostly ranges from 700 to 1,400 m (2,300 to 4,600 ft) in Costa Rica, 600 to 1,200 m (2,000 to 3,900 ft) in Panama, from near sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in Colombia, and at 300 to 1,000 m (980 to 3,300 ft) in Ecuador.

The green thorntail is generally resident throughout its range but it also tends to move to its lower elevations during the wet season.

The green thorntail forages for nectar mostly at the tops of flowering trees but also from epiphytes and shrubs. It appears to favor legumes. It nectars while hovering with its tail cocked at nearly a right angle to its body. Its diet also includes small arthropods such as flies, wasps, and spiders that it captures by hawking from a perch and gleans from the underside of leaves while hovering.

Breeding male green thorntails perch on high bare twigs and sometimes give a dive display. The species' breeding season appears to vary across its range but are not well defined. It is thought to span from November to April in Costa Rica, and displays have been noted in Colombia in June. All hummingbirds lay two white eggs that are incubated by the female alone, but no details of the species' breeding phenology are known and the nest has not been described.

Tiny hummingbird with short straight bill. Male all shimmering green with distinctive, long, pointed tail feathers. Female has short tail and a distinctive white mustache. Both sexes show white band across rump. Most similar to coquettes but without orangey tones. Found in forested habitats and gardens; visits feeders.

This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the threshold for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years of three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - RICHMOND BIRDWING BUTTERFLY (Ornithoptera richmondia)

Ornithoptera richmondia, the Richmond birdwing, is a species of birdwing butterfly that is endemic to Australia. It is the second smallest of the birdwing species, the smallest being Ornithoptera meridionalis.

Historically, O. richmondia is recorded from rainforests southwards from Maryborough to the Clarence River in New South Wales. Due to widespread habitat loss throughout its range, its distribution is much more restricted, especially in Queensland. Its present-day range is from Kin Kin and Pomona, North Arm, Yandina, Coolum (although this population is now extinct due to drought), Parklands and Nambour, Diddillibah, Buderim, Eudlo, Palmwoods, the Mooloolah and Diamond Valleys, the entire Blackall Range southeast from Kenilworth to the state forest near the Caloundra Turnoff and west to Peachester and the Stanley River, and the Conondale Range southwards to Mount Mee.