31-3-2017 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.

30-1-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small, elegant passerine bird, a member of the family Motacillidae, which includes pipits and longclaws. This slender bird measures between 16.5 to 19 cm in length, with East Asian subspecies reaching up to 21 cm. It is characterized by its long, constantly wagging tail, a behavior that has become synonymous with the genus. Weighing an average of 25 g, the White Wagtail can live up to 12 years in the wild.

Adult White Wagtails exhibit a distinctive plumage with a combination of grey, black, and white. The bird's upper parts are generally grey, with a white face, belly, and breast. Males during the breeding season may show a darker back, and the species is known for its sharp, brisk call and more melodious song during courtship.

The White Wagtail is commonly found in open country, often in close proximity to human habitation and water sources. It shows a preference for bare areas which facilitate the sighting and pursuit of prey. This bird has adapted well to urban environments, utilizing paved areas such as parking lots for foraging.

This species has a vast breeding range across Europe, the Asian Palearctic, parts of North Africa, and has a presence in Alaska. It is a migratory bird, with populations moving to Africa and parts of Asia during the winter. In Great Britain and Ireland, the darker subspecies known as the Pied Wagtail is more prevalent.

The White Wagtail is known for its perpetual tail wagging, a behavior that remains somewhat enigmatic but is thought to be a signal of vigilance to predators. It is a monogamous bird that defends its breeding territory with determination.

The call of the White Wagtail is a sharp "chisick," softer than that of the Pied Wagtail. Its song is more structured and is used by males to attract females rather than to mark territory.

White Wagtails are monogamous breeders, with both sexes contributing to nest building. The nest is often placed in crevices or holes near water or in human-made structures. The species lays three to eight cream-colored, speckled eggs, which both parents incubate. Chicks fledge after 12 to 15 days and continue to be fed for a week thereafter.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - BROAD WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus)

The Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a medium-sized bird of prey found in the Americas. It has six recognised subspecies and each is named for its distribution. Some Broad-winged hawks have acclimatized themselves to living near humans, however, even those birds try to avoid human settlements and interactions.

Broad-winged hawks have relatively short and broad wings, pointed at the end, which have a tapered appearance unique to the species. An adult's body is a dark brown with a white belly and chest containing horizontal barring. Its tail can be a dark grey-black with white lines along the middle, base, and tip. The young hawks have a slightly different coloring with more white and longitudinal barring instead of horizontal barring. The two types of coloration are a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall. The light morph of this bird is most likely to be confused with the red-shouldered hawk, which has a longer, more heavily barred tail and wings with a solid rufous color in the adult, which are usually distinctive. Rare dark morphs are a darker brown on both upperparts and underparts. Dark-morph short-tailed hawks are similar, but are whitish under the tail with a single subterminal band. As in most raptors, females are slightly larger than males.

Broad-winged hawks have a wide range in North America and South America, from southern Canada to southern Brazil. They breed in the northern and eastern parts of North America, and some migrate in the winter to Florida, southern Mexico, and northern South America. Some subspecies are native to the Caribbean and do not migrate. Broad-winged hawks breed in deciduous forests good for nesting and forage primarily in wetlands and meadows. In the winter, they settle in similar habitats staying in deciduous and mixed forests as well as cloud forests, and arid tropical scrub.

Broad-winged hawks are generally solitary and territorial birds; however, during migration, they become highly gregarious and migrating flocks can contain thousands of individuals. Broad-winged hawks are active during the day. To catch their prey, they watch from low branches, hiding in the foliage, until a target is spotted. From their roost, they do a short, fast glide to capture the prey. These birds give special attention to preparing their food for consumption, skinning frogs and snakes and plucking prey birds' feathers. Most small mammals, though, are eaten whole. They rarely drink water and are able to survive solely with the water present in their prey. Broad-winged hawks use vocalizations for communication with their mates and offspring, and in territorial displays towards intruders. Their call sounds like a very high-pitched kee-ee, almost like a whistle. When confronted with a threat, Broad-winged hawks emit an alarm call consisting of stuttered and squealing whistles.

Broad-winged hawks are monogamous and pairs usually stay together more than one breeding season. They breed between April and August. To attract and court females, the males perform a courtship display flight including cartwheels, dives, and other aerial acrobatics. Birds meet in the air, hook their feet together and spiral down together. The males also compete and fight with each other for the chance to mate with a female. Both the male and female build the nest out of sticks and twigs in a deciduous tree. The female lays 1 to 4 brown-spotted eggs that weigh about 42 g (1.5 oz). The female then develops a brood patch and incubates the eggs for 28 days or longer before they hatch. 

The chicks hatch semialtricial; they are not able to move on their own or leave the nest but have open eyes and are covered in down feathers. While in the nest, the female gives most of the parental care, protecting and providing food for the chicks. The male may provide some food for the female and offspring, but his visits are short-lived. The chicks need around 5-6 weeks before they are able to leave the nest; however, some young, even after that time, remain in the area of the nest for several weeks more. They usually reach reproductive maturity at about two years of age.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - GREEN IGUANA (Iguana iguana)

The green iguana (Iguana iguana ), also known as the American iguana or the common green iguana, is a large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana. Usually, this animal is simply called the iguana. The green iguana ranges over a large geographic area; it is native from southern Brazil and Paraguay as far north as Mexico, and has been introduced from South America to Puerto Rico and is very common throughout the island, where it is colloquially known as gallina de palo ("bamboo chicken" or "chicken of the tree") and considered an invasive species; in the United States, feral populations also exist in South Florida (including the Florida Keys), Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Green iguanas have also successfully colonised the island of Anguilla, arriving on the island in 1995 after rafting across the Caribbean from Guadeloupe, where they were introduced.

A herbivore, it has adapted significantly with regard to locomotion and osmoregulation as a result of its diet. It grows to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length from head to tail, although a few specimens have grown more than 2 m (6.6 ft) with bodyweights upward of 20 lb (9.1 kg).

Commonly found in captivity as a pet due to its calm disposition and bright colors, it can be very demanding to care for properly. Space requirements and the need for special lighting and heat can prove challenging to the hobbyist.

Green iguanas are large beautiful looking lizards found in the Americas. Despite their name, Green iguanas can come in different colors and types. Their color may range from green to lavender, red, orange, black, and even reddish brown. They can also be bluish in color with bold blue markings. Green iguanas have a row of spines along their backs and along their tails, which helps to protect them from predators. Their whip-like tails can be used to deliver painful strikes and like many other lizards, when grabbed by the tail, the iguana can allow it to break, so it can escape and eventually regenerate a new one. In addition, iguanas have a well-developed dewlap, which helps regulate their body temperature. This dewlap is used in courtships and territorial displays.

The native range of Green iguanas extends from southern Mexico to central Brazil, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and Bolivia and the Caribbean; specifically Grenada, Aruba, Curaçao, Trinidad, and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Útila. They have been introduced to Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These lizards inhabit tropical rain forests and are often found near water. They also can be found in other types of habitat including dry forest, gallery forest, and mangroves.

Green iguanas are diurnal, arboreal lizards. They are very agile climbers, and if the lizards fall up to 50 feet (15 m) they can land unhurt (iguanas use their hind leg claws to clasp leaves and branches to break a fall). During cold, wet weather, Green iguanas prefer to stay on the ground for greater warmth. These solitary lizards usually live near water and are excellent swimmers. When swimming, an iguana remains submerged, letting its four legs hang limply against its side. They propel through the water with powerful tail strokes. When iguanas sense danger, they will usually freeze or hide.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - BROWN PELICAN (MALE & FEMALE) (Pelecanus occidentalis)

The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a member of the pelican family, Pelecanidae. It is one of the smaller pelican species, yet remains a large seabird with a distinctive long bill and large throat pouch. The adult pelican is noted for its brown and gray plumage, with a white head and neck during the nonbreeding season and a yellowish wash on the crown during breeding. The nape and neck are dark maroon-brown, and the legs range from olivaceous gray to blackish-gray.

Adult Brown Pelicans are identified by their white and yellowish heads with a dark brown nape during breeding season, transitioning to a white head and neck in nonbreeding adults. Juveniles are overall grayish-brown with paler underparts. In flight, they are graceful with a steady wingbeat and can be seen gliding low over the water's surface.

This species is strictly marine, favoring shallow waters near coasts, estuaries, and beaches. It is also found in mangrove swamps and occasionally inland freshwater lakes.

The Brown Pelican is found along the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. It is a resident species with some populations showing migratory behavior, particularly in the northern parts of its range.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - 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 relatieves 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.

Great egrets are diurnal feeders. They can feed both in flocks of their own kind and these of other heron species. At sunset, egrets of surrounding areas usually come together, roosting in colonies. They feed in shallow water, walking slowly and looking for prey. And when the prey is spotted, they abruptly thrust the bill into the water, catching it. They will also steal a great part of their food from smaller heron species. After breeding, these birds usually disperse. Egrets, living in mild climates, remain in their breeding areas throughout the winter while those, breeding in northern regions where water freezes during the winter, have to migrate. As with many bird species, Great egrets become rather aggressive when it comes to feeding, even if there's an abundance of food. Occasionally, even parents can fight for food with their young.

Great egrets are carnivores (piscivores). Their usual diet consists primarily of fish. However, they can feed upon a wide variety of aquatic animals, including frogs and crustaceans. They will also consume terrestrial species such as rodents and grasshoppers.

Great egrets are seasonally monogamous, mating once in a mating season and staying with their mates until the end of the season. Usually, males give a number of displays in order to attract the female. Then they select the territory. The breeding season starts in the middle of April when the birds construct nests. They build their nests in wetlands or wooded swamps with these of other herons, usually nesting in colonies. They try to construct their nests as high as possible. Great egrets' nests are typically unstable platforms, made of stems, sticks, and twigs. Great egrets rear one brood of chicks a year. The female lays the eggs, after which both parents take part in the incubation for 23-24 days. An average egret clutch contains 3 to 4 eggs. After 3 weeks, the chicks start to climb about the nest. Then, after another 3-4 weeks, the young fledge. At the age of 2 years, the egrets are able to yield offspring.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - 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.

The American white ibis is a sociable bird, often seen in large flocks. It is territorial during the breeding season, with pairs forming monogamous bonds. Males may engage in extra-pair copulation to increase reproductive success. The species is known for its undulating flight pattern and honking calls.

The primary call is a honking sound, used in various contexts such as flight and courtship. Additional vocalizations include a muted foraging call and a high-pitched begging call from young in the nest.

Breeding occurs in large colonies near water, with both parents caring for the young. Nesting begins with the availability of suitable habitat, and the female is responsible for nest construction. Clutch sizes vary, with crayfish being the preferred food for chicks.

The American white ibis can be confused with the glossy ibis or the wood stork, but can be distinguished by its white plumage and red-orange bill and legs. Juveniles may be mistaken for the scarlet ibis, but the latter has darker legs.

The diet primarily consists of small aquatic prey, with crayfish being favored. The ibis probes shallow waters with its beak to locate and capture prey, which it does not visually see. Diet varies with habitat and prey availability.

The American white ibis is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. Populations are stable, though they can fluctuate and move between states. Conservation efforts focus on preserving wetland habitats and monitoring environmental impacts such as pollution.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - BROWN PELICAN (FEMALE) (Pelecanus occidentalis)

The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a member of the pelican family, Pelecanidae. It is one of the smaller pelican species, yet remains a large seabird with a distinctive long bill and large throat pouch. The adult pelican is noted for its brown and gray plumage, with a white head and neck during the nonbreeding season and a yellowish wash on the crown during breeding. The nape and neck are dark maroon-brown, and the legs range from olivaceous gray to blackish-gray.

Adult Brown Pelicans are identified by their white and yellowish heads with a dark brown nape during breeding season, transitioning to a white head and neck in nonbreeding adults. Juveniles are overall grayish-brown with paler underparts. In flight, they are graceful with a steady wingbeat and can be seen gliding low over the water's surface.

Adult Brown Pelicans are identified by their white and yellowish heads with a dark brown nape during breeding season, transitioning to a white head and neck in nonbreeding adults. Juveniles are overall grayish-brown with paler underparts. In flight, they are graceful with a steady wingbeat and can be seen gliding low over the water's surface.

This species is strictly marine, favoring shallow waters near coasts, estuaries, and beaches. It is also found in mangrove swamps and occasionally inland freshwater lakes.

The Brown Pelican is found along the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. It is a resident species with some populations showing migratory behavior, particularly in the northern parts of its range.

The Brown Pelican is a sociable bird, often seen in flocks. It has a unique feeding behavior among pelicans, diving from the air into the water to catch fish. It is also known for its buoyancy due to internal air sacks.

This species is relatively quiet, but during displays, it may produce a variety of grunts and low-pitched sounds.

Breeding occurs in colonies, often on secluded islands. Both sexes share in incubation duties, with a typical clutch consisting of two to three chalky white eggs. Chicks are initially pink, turning gray or black within a few weeks, and fledge after about 63 days.

The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is similar but has white plumage and feeds from the water's surface rather than diving.

The Brown Pelican mainly feeds on fish, such as menhaden and anchovies, and occasionally consumes crustaceans, amphibians, and even the eggs and young of other birds. It dives from heights of up to 21 meters to capture prey.

The Brown Pelican is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its populations have recovered significantly since the ban of DDT in the United States, where it was previously endangered due to pesticide exposure affecting breeding success.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - BROWN PELICAN (MALE) (Pelecanus occidentalis)

The Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) has been described as a comically elegant bird. Groups of these seabirds glide above surf along western and southern coasts, gracefully echoing the waves with their rise and fall. They plunge-dive from high up to feed, the force of impact serving to stun small fish, which they then scoop up. Today this species is fairly common - a good example of recovery from the pesticide pollution that once threatened them with extinction.

The Brown pelican is the smallest of the eight extant pelican species but is often one of the larger seabirds in their range nonetheless. Like all pelicans, it has a very long bill, measuring 280 to 348 mm (11.0 to 13.7 in) in length. The nominate subspecies in its breeding plumage has a white head with a yellowish wash on the crown. The nape and neck are dark maroon–brown. The upper sides of the neck have white lines along the base of the gular pouch, and the lower foreneck has a pale yellowish patch. The feathers at the center of the nape are elongated, forming short, deep chestnut crest feathers. It has a silvery gray mantle, scapulars, and upperwing coverts (feathers on the upper side of the wings), with a brownish tinge. The lesser coverts have dark bases, which gives the leading edge of the wing a streaky appearance. 

The uppertail coverts (feathers above the tail) are silvery white at the center, forming pale streaks. The median (between the greater and the lesser coverts), primary (connected to the distal forelimb), secondary (connected to the ulna), and greater coverts (feathers of the outermost, largest, row of upperwing coverts) are blackish, with the primaries having white shafts and the secondaries having variable silver-gray fringes. The tertials (feathers arising in the brachial region) are silver-gray with a brownish tinge. The underwing has grayish-brown remiges with white shafts to the outer primary feathers. The axillaries and covert feathers are dark, with a broad, silver–gray central area. The tail is dark gray with a variable silvery cast. The lower mandible is blackish, with a greenish-black gular pouch at the bottom for draining water when it scoops out prey. The breast and belly are dark, and the legs and feet are black. It has a grayish-white bill tinged with brown and intermixed with pale carmine spots. The crest is short and pale reddish-brown in color. 

The back, rump, and tail are streaked with gray and dark brown, sometimes with a rusty hue. The male and female are similar, but the female is slightly smaller. The nonbreeding adult has a white head and neck, and the pre-breeding adult has a creamy yellow head. The pink skin around the eyes becomes dull and gray in the non-breeding season. It lacks any red hue, and the pouch is strongly olivaceous ochre-tinged and the legs are olivaceous gray to blackish-gray. It has pale blue to yellowish-white irides which become brown during the breeding season. During courtship, the bill becomes pinkish red to pale orange, redder at the tip, and the pouch is blackish. Later in the breeding season, the bill becomes pale ash-gray over most of the upper jaw and the basal third of the mandible. The Brown pelican is exceptionally buoyant due to the internal air sacks beneath its skin and in its bones. It is as graceful in the air as it is clumsy on land.

The Brown pelican occurs throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf Coasts of the Americas. Most brown pelican populations are resident (nonmigratory) and dispersive (moving from their birth site to their breeding site, or their breeding site to another breeding site); however, some populations migrate, depending on local conditions. Brown pelicans are strictly marine and coastal birds but occasionally follow large rivers during storms. They avoid the open sea and rarely occur far offshore, usually frequenting shallow waters along coasts, as well as estuaries and bays. They breed on the arid coasts of flat, bare, remote islands, or occasionally in mangroves. Brown pelicans can often be seen around fishing ports.

Brown pelicans, after bathing, use their beaks to spread oil from the uropygial gland over their feathers.

Courtship displays by Brown pelicans usually last 2-4 days, but sometimes as long as three weeks.

Brown pelicans incubate their eggs by means of their webbed feet, turning the eggs from time to time.

Brown pelicans are the only type of pelican that dive in order to catch prey. They glide low above the water and when they see a fish they fly to a height of 10 m (30 ft), fold their wings back, and plunge down into the sea.

Brown pelicans do exercises, including stretching and turning their pouch inside out to maintain its flexibility.

Brown pelicans are very gregarious and live throughout the year in flocks. They are diurnal but sometimes forage at night during a full moon. They sleep on land either while standing on both their feet or resting on their breast and belly, their head sideways on their shoulder with their beak tilted towards the side. This is the only pelican species that dives from height as the main method of obtaining food. Their air sacs enable buoyancy for them in the water. They do not swim under the water but plunge their head below the surface when catching prey. Brown pelicans are territorial during the nesting period. Threat displays, often carried out when another pelican is too close to an individual’s nest involve head swaying, indicating readiness to interact, and bowing and a "hrraa-hrraa" sound. Young pelicans who approach a nest too closely are often killed.

Brown pelicans do not have many natural enemies. Although nests on the ground are sometimes destroyed by flooding, hurricane, or other natural disasters, people pose the biggest threat to pelicans. In the early 20th and late 19th centuries, pelicans’ feathers were sought after to adorn women’s clothing, especially hats. Today tourists and fishermen threaten them by disturbing their colonies, especially in Mexico.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - COMMON GRACKLE (Quiscalus quiscula)

The Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is a large icterid bird, notable for its glossy, iridescent plumage and its presence across much of North America. Males are particularly striking with their shimmering heads, while females are less iridescent. These birds possess a long, dark bill, pale yellow eyes, and a lengthy tail, contributing to their distinctive silhouette.

Adult Common Grackles are identified by their size, ranging from 28 to 34 cm in length, and their iridescent feathers that can appear purple, green, or blue on the head, with a bronze sheen on the body. The males are larger than the females and exhibit more pronounced iridescence and keeled tails in flight. Juveniles are brown with dark brown eyes.

Common Grackles thrive in open and semi-open areas, often near water. They are adaptable and can be found in a variety of environments, from dense trees, particularly pines, to shrubs and man-made structures.

These birds are widespread across North America, primarily to the east of the Rocky Mountains. They are permanent residents in much of their range, with northern populations migrating to the Southeastern United States.

Common Grackles are gregarious and may form large colonies. They are known for their resourcefulness and opportunistic feeding habits, often foraging on the ground, in shallow water, or among shrubs. They may also exhibit "anting" behavior, using insects to apply substances to their feathers.

The Common Grackle's vocalizations are varied, ranging from a simple "chewink" to a complex series of whistles during the breeding season. Their calls can be harsh and loud, and they are capable of mimicking the sounds of other birds and even humans.

During the breeding season, males display by tipping their heads back and fluffing up their feathers. They nest in well-concealed cups in dense vegetation, often in colonies, and lay clutches of four to seven eggs.

The Common Grackle can be distinguished from other grackle species by its size, iridescence, and distribution. It is less sexually dimorphic than larger grackle species.

Omnivorous in nature, Common Grackles consume a wide range of food, including insects, minnows, frogs, eggs, berries, seeds, grain, and even small birds and rodents. They have a specialized keel in their bill for cracking hard nuts and kernels.

Although currently robust in population, the Common Grackle has experienced a significant decline, with a 61% drop to 73 million individuals from historical highs. As a result, it is classified by the IUCN as Near Threatened.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. ibis)

The western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. Most taxonomic authorities lump this species and the eastern cattle egret together (called the cattle egret), but some (including the International Ornithologists' Union) separate them. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world in the last century.

It is a white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season. It nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Western cattle egrets exploit drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Their feeding habitats include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands and rice paddies. They often accompany cattle or other large mammals, catching insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations of the cattle egret are migratory and others show post-breeding dispersal.

The adult cattle egret has few predators, but birds or mammals may raid its nests, and chicks may be lost to starvation, calcium deficiency or disturbance from other large birds. This species maintains a special relationship with cattle, which extends to other large grazing mammals; wider human farming is believed to be a major cause of their suddenly expanded range. The cattle egret removes ticks and flies from cattle and consumes them. This benefits both species, but it has been implicated in the spread of tick-borne animal diseases.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus)

The lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus ) is a large gull that breeds on the Atlantic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from the British Isles south to West Africa. It has increased dramatically in North America, most common along the east coast. Formerly just a winter visitor, many birds are now spotted year-round. Some winters they occur in large numbers. Even on the west coast, this species has become an annual winter visitor in California with birds reported around most of the state each winter. They've even been seen in numbers at the Salton Sea.

The lesser black-backed gull is smaller than the European herring gull. The taxonomy of the herring gull / lesser black-backed gull complex is very complicated; different authorities recognise between two and eight species. This group has a ring species distribution around the Northern Hemisphere. Differences between adjacent forms in this ring are fairly small, but by the time the circuit is completed, the end members, herring gull and lesser black-backed gull, are clearly different species. The lesser black-backed gull measures 51–64 cm (20–25 in), 124–150 cm (49–59 in) across the wings, and weighs 452–1,100 g (0.996–2.425 lb), with the nominate race averaging slightly smaller than the other two subspecies. Males, at an average weight of 824 g (1.817 lb), are slightly larger than females, at an average of 708 g (1.561 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 38 to 45 cm (15 to 18 in), the bill is 4.2 to 5.8 cm (1.7 to 2.3 in), and the tarsus is 5.2 to 6.9 cm (2.0 to 2.7 in). A confusable species is the great black-backed gull. The lesser is a much smaller bird, with slimmer build, yellow rather than pinkish legs, and smaller white "mirrors" at the wing tips. The adults have black or dark grey wings (depending on race) and back. The bill is yellow with a red spot at which the young peck, inducing feeding (see fixed action pattern). The head is greyer in winter, unlike great black-backed gulls. Annual moult for adults begins between May and August and is not complete on some birds until November. Partial prebreeding moult occurs between January and April.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - BROWN ANOLE LIZARD (Anolis sagrei)

The Brown anole (Anolis sagrei) is a species of lizard native to Cuba and the Bahamas. It has been widely introduced elsewhere, via the importation and exportation of plants where the anole would lay eggs in the soil of the pots, and is now found in the United States. It has also been introduced to other Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Taiwan.

Brown anoles are normally a light brown color with darker brown to black markings on their back, and several tan to light color lines on their sides. Like other anoles, they can change color, in this case, a darker brown to black. Their dewlap ranges from yellow to orange-red. The tail has a ridge that travels all the way up to behind the head. Female Brown anoles can be distinguished from males by a light brown stripe that runs over their backs.

Brown anoles are native to Cuba and the Bahamas. Today, their range has extended as far as Georgia and parts of Mexico. These lizards typically avoid trees and prefer smaller plants and shrubs and are found in both urban and suburban areas.

Brown anoles are active during the day and are often seen basking on tree branches or rocks. When the weather is cold they hide under tree barks and inside rotten logs. They are social creatures. Female and male territories are separate but there are usually two or more female territories within one male territory. Males are very territorial and often fight with each other to protect their home range. Anoles use visual cues as their primary signaling mode. Males like to have high vantage points so they can overlook their territory in search of females to mate with or to spot other rival males that have encroached on their territory. They'll often bob their head up and down quickly before displaying their dewlap and will do sets of push-ups. When pursued or captured, Brown anoles can detach most of their tail. The piece that breaks off will continue to move, possibly distracting the predator and allowing the anole to escape. The lost tail will partially regrow. If provoked, Brown anoles will bite, urinate, and defecate. Also, some Brown anoles may do a short hiss if caught, injured, or fighting.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - RED CHEEKED CORDONBLEU (MALE) (Uraeginthus bengalus)

The Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus bengalus) is a diminutive and charming finch, a resident breeder in the drier regions of tropical Sub-Saharan Africa. The male is adorned with a striking red patch on each cheek, which can occasionally appear orange or yellow, set against a backdrop of brown upperparts and a pale blue breast, flanks, and tail, with a contrasting yellow belly. The female, though similar in form, is a more subdued version and lacks the cheek spot. Juveniles resemble the female but with blue limited to the face and throat.

When observing these birds, look for the male's distinctive red cheek patches and the pale blue coloring on the breast and tail. Females are less colorful, lacking the cheek spots, and both sexes have a small stature, measuring a mere 12.5–13 cm in length.

The Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu thrives in a variety of habitats, excluding dense forest interiors. It is commonly found in open dry grasslands, savannas, and areas surrounding human habitation, from sea level to elevations of 2,430 meters.

This species boasts a vast range across central and eastern Africa, from Senegal and Gambia in the west, stretching east to Ethiopia and Somalia, and southward to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique. It has also been introduced to Hawaii and Oahu.

These finches are often seen in pairs or small groups, foraging on the ground in open areas. They are known to be granivores, with a diet primarily consisting of grass seeds.

26-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - CROWNED WOOD NYMPH (Thalurania colombica) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

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.

The presumed song of the Crowned Woodnymph is a monotonous, plaintive squeaky chip, "ksit…ksit…ksit..", and it also produces short dry chips that can form a trill or chatter.

Breeding seasons vary geographically, with nests being cups of treefern scales and plant down, adorned with lichen and moss, and typically placed under a leaf on a horizontal twig. The clutch size is two eggs, though incubation and fledging periods are not well documented.

The Crowned Woodnymph feeds on nectar from various flowering plants, preferring to forage in covered or semi-open areas. It also consumes small arthropods, capturing them by hawking from a perch or gleaning from foliage.

The IUCN has classified the Crowned Woodnymph as Least Concern. Despite a very large range and adaptability to fragmented forests, the population is believed to be decreasing, though no immediate threats have been identified.

23-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - BALTIMORE ORIOLE (MALE) (Icterus galbula) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula) is a small colorful bird that received its name from the resemblance of the male's colors to those on the coat-of-arms of Lord Baltimore. It is the state bird of Maryland. It is also the namesake and mascot for the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.

The adult male of this species is orange on the underparts shoulder patch and rump. All of the rest of the male's plumage is black. The adult female is yellow-brown on the upper parts with darker wings, and dull orange-yellow on the breast and belly. Adult birds always have white bars on the wings. The juvenile oriole is similar-looking to the female, with males taking until the fall of their second year to reach adult plumage.

Baltimore orioles are found in the Canadian Prairies and eastern Montana in the northwest eastward through southern Ontario, southern Quebec, and New Brunswick, and south through the eastern United States to central Mississippi and Alabama, and northern Georgia. They migrate to winter in the Neotropics as far north as Mexico and sometimes the southern coast of the United States, but predominantly in Central America and northern South America. These birds prefer large, leafy deciduous trees, but do not generally reside in deep forests. They can be found in open woodland, forest edge, and partially wooded wetlands or stands of trees along rivers. They are very adaptable and can breed in a variety of secondary habitats. In recent times, they are often found in orchards, farmland, urban parks, and suburban landscapes as long as they retain woodlots. In Mexico, Baltimore orioles winter in flowering canopy trees, often over shade coffee plantations.