25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - SUMMER TANAGER (MALE) (Piranga rubra)

The Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) is a medium-sized songbird of vibrant plumage, belonging to the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). Adult males are resplendent in rose red, while females don a more subdued palette of orangish underparts and olive upperparts, with olive-brown wings and tail.

To identify the Summer Tanager, look for the stout pointed bill and the striking sexual dimorphism in coloration. Males are entirely rose red, a hue not found in many other birds. Females, on the other hand, are more camouflaged with their olive and orange tones. The species measures approximately 17 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 28 to 30 cm.

These tanagers favor open wooded areas, particularly those with a generous sprinkling of oak trees. They thrive in the southern reaches of the United States, where the canopy provides both shelter and sustenance.

During the breeding season, the Summer Tanager can be found across the southern United States, extending as far north as Iowa. Come winter, they migrate to the warmer climes of Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. They are considered extremely rare visitors to western Europe.

The Summer Tanager is often a hidden gem, foraging high in the treetops and occasionally darting out to snatch insects in mid-flight. They exhibit a preference for bees and wasps, deftly plucking them from the air with remarkable agility.

The male's song is reminiscent of the American Robin, a series of melodic units delivered in a steady stream. However, the Summer Tanager's song is more monotonous, sometimes comprising just a few units. It is clearer and less nasal than the Scarlet Tanager's. Their call is a sharp, agitated-sounding "pi-tuk" or "pik-i-tuk-i-tuk."

Summer Tanagers construct a cup-shaped nest on a horizontal tree branch, where they lay their eggs and raise their young in the seclusion of the leafy canopy.

The Summer Tanager can be confused with the Hepatic Tanager, but the latter can be distinguished by its darker bill.

These birds primarily consume insects, with a particular fondness for bees and wasps. They also partake in berries and are known to enjoy the fruit of the Cymbopetalum mayanum tree during their winter stay in the tropics. They are amenable to visiting bird feeders in residential areas.

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

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - SUMMER TANAGER (FEMALE) (Piranga rubra)

The Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) is a medium-sized songbird of vibrant plumage, belonging to the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). Adult males are resplendent in rose red, while females don a more subdued palette of orangish underparts and olive upperparts, with olive-brown wings and tail.

To identify the Summer Tanager, look for the stout pointed bill and the striking sexual dimorphism in coloration. Males are entirely rose red, a hue not found in many other birds. Females, on the other hand, are more camouflaged with their olive and orange tones. The species measures approximately 17 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 28 to 30 cm.

These tanagers favor open wooded areas, particularly those with a generous sprinkling of oak trees. They thrive in the southern reaches of the United States, where the canopy provides both shelter and sustenance.

During the breeding season, the Summer Tanager can be found across the southern United States, extending as far north as Iowa. Come winter, they migrate to the warmer climes of Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. They are considered extremely rare visitors to western Europe.

The Summer Tanager is often a hidden gem, foraging high in the treetops and occasionally darting out to snatch insects in mid-flight. They exhibit a preference for bees and wasps, deftly plucking them from the air with remarkable agility.

The male's song is reminiscent of the American Robin, a series of melodic units delivered in a steady stream. However, the Summer Tanager's song is more monotonous, sometimes comprising just a few units. It is clearer and less nasal than the Scarlet Tanager's. Their call is a sharp, agitated-sounding "pi-tuk" or "pik-i-tuk-i-tuk."

Summer Tanagers construct a cup-shaped nest on a horizontal tree branch, where they lay their eggs and raise their young in the seclusion of the leafy canopy.

The Summer Tanager can be confused with the Hepatic Tanager, but the latter can be distinguished by its darker bill.

These birds primarily consume insects, with a particular fondness for bees and wasps. They also partake in berries and are known to enjoy the fruit of the Cymbopetalum mayanum tree during their winter stay in the tropics. They are amenable to visiting bird feeders in residential areas.

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

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - LEAST FLYCATCHER (Empidonax minimus)

The least flycatcher (Empidonax minimus ) (also called chebec, or chebecker, after the sound it makes) is a small insect-eating bird. It is the smallest Empidonax flycatcher in eastern North America.

The least flycatcher is hard to distinguish from the other birds of its genus. The bird is one of the smallest of the genus Empidonax, measuring 12 to 14 cm in height with a wingspan of 19 to 22 cm and weighing approximately 10.3 g. Its plumage is dull olive-gray on its back and whitish on its belly, notably brighter than the other Empidonax birds. The least flycatcher's wings are lined with two white bars, and white rings contour its eyes. Its beak is short and the lower mandible is yellowish. The juveniles look similar to the adults except that their wing bars are slightly darker, with tawny/olive hues. Because other flycatchers also have those field marks, the best way to identify the least flycatcher is by its call and habitat.

The least flycatcher inhabits the Eastern Rockies of Canada, and the Central-North and Northeastern United-States. During winter, they migrate to Central America and establish themselves from Mexico to Panama.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - BROWN JAY (Psilorhinus morio)

The brown jay (Psilorhinus morio ) is a large American jay which has the habitus of a magpie, but is slightly smaller and with a shorter tail, though the bill is larger.

It occurs from Mexico south into Central America on the Gulf slope. The northernmost extent of the bird is in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Brown jays vary in plumage geographically: there are two main groups. Northern birds are almost completely dark brown, with lighter brown on the underparts. Southern birds are white-bellied and have bright white tips to the outer tail feathers. The intergrade zone is in Veracruz, Mexico.

Adults in both populations have black bills, legs, and feet. Immatures have yellow bare parts, including yellow eye-rings.

The voice is a loud but low-pitched pee-ah call and is often modified to suit its situation or mood.

Food is sought largely in trees but brown jays also take some food from the ground. They are rather indiscriminate feeders. Insects and a wide range of other invertebrates are taken, also lizards, nectar, and fruit (e.g. that of Trophis racemosa (Moraceae)). Though they will take eggs and nestlings, they appear not to if there is plenty of other food available.

The nest is built in a tree or large shrub with both sexes helping in construction. There are normally three eggs laid but six is not unusual. Incubation is between 18 and 20 days. Only the female broods but the male feeds her while doing so.

Sometimes the offspring from a previous season will help in raising the chicks. If a helper bird returns with food, it will give it to one of the resident parents to feed the chicks.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)

25-3-2017 TUIS CARTAGO, COSTA RICA - GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)

The Green heron (Butorides virescens) is a small secretive heron that lives along shaded riverbanks or quiet streams in areas of dense vegetation. It is often somewhat secretive but is sometimes to be seen crying "kyow" while flying up a creek. When in the open, it will often flick its short tail nervously, while raising and lowering its crest. The Green heron was long considered conspecific with its sister species the Striated heron (Butorides striata), and together they were called "Green-backed heron".

The neck of the Green heron is often pulled in tight against the body. Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap, a greenish back and wings that are grey-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a white line down the front, grey underparts, and short yellow legs. The bill is dark with a long, sharp point. Female adults tend to be smaller than males, and have duller and lighter plumage, particularly in the breeding season. Juveniles are duller, with the head sides, neck, and underparts streaked brown and white, tan-splotched back and wing coverts, and greenish-yellow legs and bill. Hatchlings are covered in down feathers, light grey above, and white on the belly.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - Elaenia flavogaster)

The yellow-bellied elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster) is a small bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. It breeds from southern Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula through Central and South America as far as northern Argentina, and on Trinidad and Tobago.

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.

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)

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

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

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - GREY FLYCATCHER

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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