Birds We've Seen

Eurasian Skylark

2012-02-06T14:06:00.003+13:00

Scientific Name: Alauda arvensis

Population Estimate: 250M - 1B

Range / Habitat: Found in open country, from coast to subalpine throughout Europe, Asia and northern Africa. Introduced to western North America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand.

Field Notes: Medium-sized passerine, spotted brown on upper parts and breast, generally buff underneath. Yellow bill and white eyeing. Adult with small crest when alert. In flight, often with M-shaped, broad wings and white outer tail feathers and white trailing edge. Male territorial flight display, singing a sustained and vigorous torrent of varied trills and runs. New Zealand Pipit lacks crest, has dark bill, and is frequently flicking tail up and down. Song Thrush with boldly spotted chest, dark bill, no white markings to face.

Personal Notes: Seen and heard several times before finally photographed outside Auckland.

New Zealand Plover

2012-02-06T14:01:00.002+13:00

Scientific Name: Charadrius obscurus

Population Estimate: 2K, Endangered status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand were found on beaches, estuaries and in river mouths of northern North Island. Also a population which breeds on mountain tops of Stewart Island and then moves to estuaries of Stewart Island, Southland and Farewell Spit.

Field Notes: Squat plover with robust bill. Back is brown-grey with whitish feather edges. In breeding plumage underparts can be pale orange to rich rufous. Non-breeding adults (as above) are distinctly pale, all white underparts and only grey shoulder patches, no complete breast band. Non-breeding Double-banded Plover lacks white cheeks and still has remnant of both breast bands.

Personal Notes: Seen at Miranda Shorebird Center, near Auckland. In New Zealand known as New Zealand Dotterel. Maori name Tuturiwhatu.

Wrybill

2012-02-06T12:52:00.001+13:00

Scientific Name: Anarhynchus frontalis

Population Estimate: 4.5K - 5K, Vulnerable status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand, where it breeds in the braided river beds of Canterbury and Otago. Then migrates to estuaries of of the North Island, especially Firth of Thames, Manukau and Kaipara.

Field Notes: Small, stocky, pale very wader with short neck and black bill with tip curved to the right. Breeding adults with black neck band. Underparts white, legs grey.

Personal Notes: Seen at Miranda Shorebird Center, outside Auckland.

Southern Royal Albatross

2012-02-01T14:01:00.003+13:00

Scientific Name: Diomedea epomophora

Population Estimate: 29K, Vulnerable status

Range / Habitat: Pelagic species which breeds on Campbell and Auckland Islands of New Zealand. Widespread in the southern Pacific Ocean when not breeding.

Field Notes: Huge seabird with long narrow wings. All white head and body, flesh-coloured bill with black edge to upper mandible. Wings generally black on top with some white extending from the body onto the leading edge. Wings white underneath with black wingtips. Distinguished from mollymawks by size and all white body. Northern Royal Albatross has no extension of white from body onto upper wings. Some plumages of Wandering Albatross may be similar but lack black line to mandible.

Personal Notes: Maora name Toroa. Seen in Foveaux Strait off Stewart Island. Considered one species with Northern Royal Albatross until recently.

Salvin's Albatross

2012-02-01T13:55:00.003+13:00

Scientific Name: Thalassarche salvini

Population Estimate: 62K, Vulnerable status

Range / Habitat: Pelagic bird that breeds in the Snares Islands and Bounty Island of New Zealand as well as the Crozet Islands in the Indian Ocean. When not breeding, widespread throughout the southern Pacific Ocean.

Field Notes: Small albatross with light grey head and neck. Bill grey with faint yellow outline. Upperwings and back dark. Underwings white with clear-cut, narrow black borders and small black triangular notch at base of the leading edge. Buller's Albatross similar but with black bill outlined in bright yellow. Shy Albatross with white cap and head.

Personal Notes: Known as Salvin's Mollymawk in New Zealand. Some sources consider this bird a subspecies of Shy Albatross. Seen in the Foveaux Strait off of Stewart Island.

Black-fronted Tern

2012-02-01T09:45:00.003+13:00

Scientific Name: Chlidonias albostriatus

Population Estimate: 2.5K - 10K, Endangered status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand where found on inland gravel riverbeds of the South Island, primarily east of the alpine range.

Field Notes: Small hooded tern with markedly blue-grey wings. Bill and legs orange. In breeding plumage, black cap present which extends down to bill. Antarctic Tern similar but does not overlap in range. White-fronted Tern rarely seen inland and with black bill.

Personal Notes: A great end to our South Island holiday. Seen outside of Methven on the Rakaia River. Maori name Tarapiroe.

New Zealand Fernbird

2012-02-01T09:28:00.001+13:00

Scientific Name: Megalurus punctatus

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand where found throughout the mainland and Steward Island in freshwater and tidal wetlands, especially with reed beds. Can also be found in drier sparse scrub and bracken fern.

Field Notes: Medium-sized passerine, more often heard than seen. Warm brown above and paler below, though underparts are heavily spotted and streaked. White eyebrow stripe. Distinctive long, frayed tail, which is not present yet in the juvenile above. Flight weak with drooping tail. Call a sharp metallic double-note.

Personal Notes: A wonderful find at Bush Point Fernbirds near Invercargill, where we saw two juveniles and heard mom feeding them. We subsequently saw and heard several of these birds in the Catlins. Maori name Matata.

Buller's Albatross

2012-02-01T09:26:00.004+13:00

Scientific Name: Thalassarche bulleri

Population Estimate: 64K

Range / Habitat: Pelagic bird in the southern Pacific Ocean. Breeds on several small islands around New Zealand.

Field Notes: Small albatross with light grey head and neck. Bill black with bright yellow outline. Upperwings and back dark. Underwings white with clear-cut broad dark leading edge and narrower trailing edge. Very similar to Grey-headed Albatross. Salvin's Albatross also similar but bill light grey with subtle yellow outline.

Personal Notes: Seen in the Foveaux Strait off Stewart Island. Known as Buller's Mollymawk in New Zealand.

Cape Petrel

2012-02-01T09:23:00.001+13:00

Scientific Name: Daption capense

Population Estimate: 2M

Range / Habitat: Pelagic bird of the southern Pacific Ocean. Breeds on islands of Antarctica as well as Auckland Islands and Chatham Islands of New Zealand.

Field Notes: Medium-sized seabird with distinctive black and white checkered back as able. Head solid dark. Underparts white with black leading edge to wings.

Personal Notes: Seen in the Foveaux Strait off Stewart Island. Known as Cape Pigeon in New Zealand.

Black Stilt

2012-02-01T09:22:00.002+13:00

Scientific Name: Himantopus novaezelandiae

Population Estimate: 200 individuals, Critically Endangered

Range / Habitat: Restricted to two braided river basins near Twizel, in the South Island of New Zealand. Eggs taken from birds in the wild, raised in a protected environment, then released back to the wild.

Field Notes: All black, medium-sized wader with long pink-red legs, fine bill, red eye. Juvenile with variable white to the head, neck and chest. White-headed Stilt could be confused for a juvenile, but former has no black at all on belly.

Personal Notes: We had visited the DOC breeding site and saw these birds in captivity but then were given a tip from the owner of Heartland Lodge and were lucky enough to find them in the wild. Quite a treat!

Brown Skua

2012-02-01T09:20:00.001+13:00

Scientific Name: Stercorarius antarcticus

Population Estimate: 26K - 28K

Range / Habitat: Seabird of the circumpolar subantarctic. In New Zealand breeds on Chatham Islands, near Stewart Island, Fiordland coast plus a variety of other small islands.

Field Notes: Large, stocky gull-shaped bird. All brown except for conspicuous white flashes on wings. South Polar Skua with lighter body and yellow feathering on hindneck. Juvenile Kelp Gull more mottled in appearance without white wing flashes.

Personal Notes: Seen in the Foveaux Strait near Stewart Island. This excellent flier could take food from the air when thrown. Maori name Hakoakoa.

Bronze Shag

2012-01-31T20:19:00.002+13:00

Scientific Name: Leucocarbo chalconotus

Population Estimate: 5,000 - 8,000, Vulnerable status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand. Found year-round near rocky costal areas of Stewart Island and the southeastern portion of the South Island of New Zealand.

Field Notes: Large cormorant, unmistakable in range. All phases with orange base to bill. Pied phase with white stripe on shoulder, which doesn't overlap in range other, near-by, similar cormorants. Bronze phase all dark. Great Cormorant has yellow at base of bill and white on face. Little Black Cormorant has no color on face.

Personal Notes: Seen on Stewart Island.

Bar-Tailed Godwit

2012-01-31T20:05:00.001+13:00

Scientific Name: Limosa lapponica

Population Estimate: 1.1 - 1.2M

Range / Habitat: Breeds on inland wetlands and boggy Arctic of Scandinavia, northern Asia, and Alaska. Migrates to coastal East Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Africa and northwestern Europe where found in estuaries.

Field Notes: Large wading shorebird with a long, upturned bill. Most common migrant wader in New Zealand in summer, with non-breeding plumage as above. Overall very mottled, less crisp, than other godwits. Tail is a finely barred, not solid.

Personal Notes: Maori name Kuaka. Seen at Paunawea, South Island, New Zealand. This species makes the longest known non-stop flight of any bird and also the longest journey without pausing to feed by any animal = 11,700 kilometers (~7,300 mi) along a route from Alaska to New Zealand. This journey takes nine days.

Red-crowned Parakeet

2011-12-28T06:52:00.005+13:00

Scientific Name: Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae

Population Estimate: 21K - 25K, Vulnerable status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand where prefers forested areas. Very rare in mainland forests, but common on Stewart Island and in sanctuaries.

Field Notes: All green parakeet with red crown, red eye, and red eye stripe. Violet blue on wing coverts. Yellow-crowned Parakeet similar but with yellow crown and without red eye stripe.

Personal Notes: Maori name Kakariki. First seen at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and then later in the wild on Stewart Island.

Double-banded Plover

2011-12-12T19:17:00.004+13:00

Scientific Name: Charadrius bicinctus

Population Estimate: 51K

Range / Habitat: Breeds in inland wetlands of New Zealand. Non-breeding birds form flocks and some migrate to Australia, Fiji.

Field Notes: Medium-sized plover. Breeding plumage as above with black neck band and broad, chestnut chest band (male bands darker than females). Non-breeding adults highly variable, losing facial markings and portions of bands. Non-breeding New Zealand Plover similar but no remnant bands across chest and having white cheeks.

Personal Notes: Seen at Onoke Spit. In New Zealand known as Banded Dotterel. Maori name Tuturiwhatu.

Eastern Rosella

2011-12-05T06:53:00.000+13:00

Scientific Name: Platycercus eximius

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to Australia and Tasmania where it favors lightly wooded areas. Subsequently introduced to New Zealand where it is found primarily on the North Island.

Field Notes: Long-tailed parrot with red head and upper breast, cheeks white. Lower breast yellow. Back, rump, and flanks mottled yellow-green. Blue wings.

Personal Notes: Seen in the Wairarapa, Kenepuru, and even in the hills of Wellington outside Karori.

Little Black Cormorant

2011-12-04T18:56:00.001+13:00

Scientific Name: Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Population Estimate: 110K - 1M

Range / Habitat: In lakes, estuaries and harbors in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Paupa New Guinea.

Field Notes: Small cormorant, all black with sculpted appearance, grey bill, and green eye. Juvenile phase of Little Pied Cormorant has longer tail and yellow bill.

Personal Notes: Seen in Wellington Harbour. Known in New Zealand as Little Black Shag.

Spotted Shag

2011-12-04T18:48:00.003+13:00

Scientific Name: Phalacrocorax punctatus

Population Estimate: 35K - 150K

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand, where found in estuaries, harbors, and coastal waters of both islands.

Field Notes: Large, slender cormorant with long brown bill, long tail, and yellow feet. Broad white stripe from above eye and down sides of neck. Light brown wings with darker spots. The white stripe and spotted wings differentiate from Great Cormorant and Australian Pied Cormorant.

Personal Notes: We first saw this bird on the Otago Peninsula, later found it in Wellington Harbour, and finally found a "colony" at Oamaru (top photo). Maori name Parekareka.

Rock Dove

2011-12-04T11:11:00.001+13:00

Scientific Name: Columba livia

Population Estimate: 260M

Range / Habitat: Originating from the rocky coastline of the British Isles, this species is now found in cities around the world.

Field Notes: Unmistakable given the habitat, though the bird has a variety of plumages.

Personal Notes: We finally took this photo in Wellington, New Zealand, to get to our 200th bird post of the year!

White-fronted Tern

2011-12-04T10:42:00.003+13:00

Scientific Name: Sterna striata

Population Estimate: 1.5M

Range / Habitat: Coasts of New Zealand and Australia.

Field Notes: Pale hooded tern with long black bill and short black or reddish-black legs. Breeding plumage (as above) with black cap separated from bill by white forehead. Black-fronted Tern found inland on South Island and with orange bill.

Personal Notes: A delightful find in Wellington Harbor during a rainy Sunday farmers' market. Maori name Tara.

European Goldfinch

2011-11-20T07:17:00.000+13:00

Scientific Name: Carduelis carduelis

Population Estimate: 75M - 350M

Range / Habitat: Found in artificial landscapes, grassland, shrubland throughout Europe, most of Asia, and north Africa. Introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America.

Field Notes: Sexes are similar, and coloration is unmistakable: red face, black and white head, brown upperparts, white underparts with brown flanks and breast patches, and striking black and yellow wings.

Personal Notes: First seen flocking around thistles on a plateau above Kaikoura. On return to New Zealand, they have been frequently spotted at the Kenepuru campus.

Kakapo

2011-10-30T19:29:00.003+13:00

Scientific Name: Strigops habroptila

Population Estimate: 131 individuals in 2011, Critically Endangered status

Range / Habitat: Used to be endemic throughout New Zealand. Now only on a few predator-free islands off the coast. Mating cycle dependent on one specific tree, the rimu, and its erratic fruiting cycle.

Field Notes: Large, nocturnal, flightless. Uses a lek system to mate, the only parrot or flightless bird to do so.

Personal Notes: Probably the only opportunity to see a Kakapo in our lifetimes, this was Sirocco on loan to Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington. The predator-free islands where Kakapo now live in the wild are closed to the public. For more information see http://www.kakaporecovery.org.nz/. Kakapo translates as "night parrot" or "owl parrot" in Maori.

European Greenfinch

2011-10-23T10:38:00.002+13:00

Scientific Name: Carduelis chloris

Population Estimate: 45M - 150M

Range / Habitat: Widespread throughout Europe, north Africa and southwest Asia in artificial landscapes and shrubland. Some northern populations migrate. Also introduced into both Australia and New Zealand.

Field Notes: Similar in size and shape to a House Sparrow, but greenish color with bright yellow in wings and tail. Female more drab than male. Large, conical, pale bill. Other yellow species in New Zealand is Yellowhammer which has smaller, grey bill and rufous wings and upperparts.

Personal Notes: Seen at the Wellington Botanical Gardens.

Brown Teal

2011-09-03T16:00:00.002+12:00

Scientific Name: Anas chlorotis

Population Estimate: 910 individuals, Endangered status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand. Found year-round in select wetlands in Northland, Fiordland, and Great Barrier Island.

Field Notes: Similar coloration to Chestnut Teal of Australia (rare vagrant to New Zealand) but with white eye ring in both males and females.

Personal Notes: Seen in captivity at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellington. The Maori name is Pateke.

Takahe

2011-09-03T15:55:00.002+12:00

Scientific Name: Porphyrio hochstetteri

Population Estimate: 150-220 individuals, Endangered status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand. Year-round in grassland and pastureland in the Murchison Mountains in Fiordland and four predator-free off-shore islands.

Field Notes: Large awkward bird, similar coloration to Purple Swamphen but larger with more prominent beak and shield.

Personal Notes: We missed these birds on our Kapiti Island trip, but soon found these two at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington.

New Zealand Pipit

2011-08-30T18:29:00.002+12:00

Scientific Name: Anthus novaeseelandiae

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Native to New Zealand. Found year-round in grassland and open areas throughout both islands.

Field Notes: Slender, long-tailed, ground-favoring songbird. Prominent white eyebrow. Head and upperparts brown, underparts white with streaked brown. Frequently flicks tail up and down. Skylark similar but with with small crest, less distinct eyebrow, M-shaped wings in flight, and a call which is a torrent of trills and runs.

Personal Notes: Seen on the east coast of the Wairarpa. Formerly lumped as Richard's Pipit or Australasian Pipit. Not all sources spilt the New Zealand type. Maori name Pihoihoi.

New Zealand Scaup

2011-08-29T19:29:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Aythya novaeseelandiae

Population Estimate: 5-10K

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand. Found year-round on deep inland freshwater lakes on both islands.

Field Notes: Small blackish diving duck with typical scaup "rubber-duckie" profile. Light blue bill with black tip in both sexes. Male glossy black with yellow eye as above. Female brownish-black with brown eye and vertical white band at base of bill. Both sexes with broad white trailing band in flight.

Personal Notes: Seen at Lake Tutira on the North Island. Maori name Papango.

Grey Teal

2011-08-29T19:21:00.006+12:00

Scientific Name: Anas gracilis

Population Estimate: 1.0 - 1.1M

Range / Habitat: Found year-round on inland wetlands in New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

Field Notes: Slight, graceful dabbling duck. Male and female same coloration: light grey-brown with pale cheeks and neck. Bill blue-grey, eye red. In flight, speculum iridescent dark green with wide white triangle in front. Female Chestnut Teal in Australia has darker check and neck. Male breeding Chestnut Teal different coloration. Less common New Zealand endemic Brown Teal darker overall with white eye ring and no white triangle in front of speculum in flight.

Personal Notes: See at Lake Tutira outside Napier and later at the Miranda Shorebird Center near Auckland. Maori name Tete.

Paradise Shelduck

2011-08-28T15:36:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Tadorna variegata

Population Estimate: 150 - 180K

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand where found year-round on inland waterways on both islands.

Field Notes: Large, goose-like dabbling duck with chestnut tail and undertail. Male with glossy black head and finely barred black back. Female with brilliant white head and chestnut body. Rare Chestnut-breasted Shelduck has chestnut breast, black head, and white neck ring in both sexes.

Personal Notes: Seen at a park in Napier. Maori name Putangitangi.

Australian Magpie

2011-08-28T15:31:00.006+12:00

Scientific Name: Gymnorhina tibicen

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Year-round in grasslands and artificial landscapes of Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Solomon Islands

Field Notes: Large black and white bird with pale, black-tipped bill and red eye.

Personal Notes:

Sacred Kingfisher

2011-08-28T15:30:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Todiramphus sanctus

Population Estimate: 60M

Range / Habitat: Year-round preferring forested areas near water in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and several Pacific Islands.

Field Notes: Usually send individually, perched on power line or tree near water. The only Kingfisher in New Zealand, so unmistakable: large bill, blue head and wings, white underparts, thick black band through eye.

Personal Notes: Known just as Kingfisher in New Zealand. Maori name Kotare.

White-faced Heron

2011-08-28T15:29:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Egretta novaehollandiae

Population Estimate: 25K - 1M

Range / Habitat: Year-round in a variety of wet coastal and inland environments throughout most of Australasia, including New Guinea, the islands of Torres Strait, Indonesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, the islands of the sub-Antarctic, and Australia.

Field Notes: Slim blue-grey heron with yellow legs and white face and neck. Bill black. Plumes apparent during breeding season.

Personal Notes: Seen in Napier area. Self-introduced to New Zealand in the 1940s.

New Zealand Grebe

2011-08-28T15:28:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Poliocephalus rufopectus

Population Estimate: 1700 - 1800 individuals, Vulnerable status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand. Found year round in sheltered parts of inland lakes and farm ponds on the North Island.

Field Notes: Small freshwater diving bird with distinctive grebe silhouette -- low to water, rounded read end, small pointy bill. This is a dark grebe with fine silver feathers on head and body, yellow eye, rusty neck and breast. Only similar bird in the range is Australasian Grebe, a rare bird in the far north, with a yellow patch of skin between eye and bill.

Personal Notes: Seen at Lake Tutira near Napier. Known as New Zealand Dabchick in New Zealand. Maori name Weweia.

Song Thrush

2011-08-28T15:25:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Turdus philomelos

Population Estimate: 80M - 200M

Range / Habitat: Partial migrant throughout Europe, most of Asia and northern Africa. Introduced species to Australia and New Zealand, where it lives year-round. Found in forest, shrub land, and artificial habitats.

Field Notes: Medium-sized passerine with typical thrush habitus and behavior. Brown upperparts, buffy breast with bold dark brown spots. Spotted breast differentiates it from other passerines in New Zealand.

Personal Notes: Well-named bird with a beautiful song, seen widely throughout New Zealand.

Pacific Black Duck

2011-08-28T15:23:00.002+12:00

Scientific Name: Anas superciliosa

Population Estimate: 180K - 1.2M

Range / Habitat: Found in marine coastal and inland wetland habitats in much of Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and many islands in the southwestern Pacific, reaching to the Caroline Islands in the north and French Polynesia in the east.

Field Notes: Long dabbling duck similar to female Mallard but darker body with pale head and conspicuous black eye stripe with white striping above and below. Sexes similar. Green speculum with black borders and thin white band on trailing edge only.

Personal Notes: See at Napier. New Zealand name is Grey Duck. Frequently interbreed with Mallard in New Zealand. Maori name is Parera.

Australasian Shoveler

2011-08-28T15:21:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Anas rhynchotis

Population Estimate: 47K - 210K

Range / Habitat: Found primarily in freshwater lakes in Australia and New Zealand.

Field Notes: Dabbling duck with heavy spatulate bill. Breeding male as above. Female pale brown all over, streaked and spotted, grey bill.

Personal Notes: Seen at Gisborne, New Zealand. Maori name is Kuruwhengi.

Yellowhammer

2011-08-28T15:18:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Emberiza citrinella

Population Estimate: 70M - 200M

Range / Habitat: Found in a range of open habitats (grassland, shrubland, artificial landscapes) throughout Europe and Asia. Most birds are resident in those areas, though some travel further south in winter. An introduced species in New Zealand

Field Notes: Sparrow-sized bird with yellow head and breast. Dark prominent streaks on head as above. Grey bill. Rufous streaks on chest. Rufous upperparts and rump. White outer tail feathers in flight. Yellowhead has no face or chest markings. European Greenfinch has large, flesh-colored bill, grey cheeks and wings. Cirl Bunting much less yellow and rump greyish-olive. Male Cirl Bunting with black markings on face.

Personal Notes: Seen on the beach at Gisborne.

White-headed Stilt

2011-08-28T15:16:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Himantopus leucocephalus

Population Estimate: 330K

Range / Habitat: Found in marine costal and inland wetlands in Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.

Field Notes: Distinctive black and white wader with quite long pink-red legs and long, fine black bill. Head usually all-white, neck white in front, black behind and with open black chest band. Usually a white band across upper back. Wings black.

Personal Notes: Seen outside of Napier. Split from Black-winged Stilt. Known as Pied Stilt in New Zealand. Maori name is Poaka.

Black-fronted Dotterel

2011-08-28T15:11:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Elseyornis melanops

Population Estimate: 17K

Range / Habitat: Inland wetlands in Australia and New Zealand, where it self-introduced in the 1950s. Uncommon in saline estuaries or mudflats.

Field Notes: Typical plover habitus with black eye band and neck ring which connect. Sexes similar and they retain the same plumage all year. Shore Plover similar but with extensive black mask, no neck ring. Ringed Plover similar, and a rare vagrant in this area, but eye band and neck ring do not connect.

Personal Notes: Seen outside of Napier.

Grey Gerygone

2011-08-28T15:04:00.007+12:00

Scientific Name: Gerygone igata

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand where found year-round in forest and scrub of both islands.

Field Notes: Small songbird with dark grey-brown upperparts, white underneath, tail tipped white. Red eye. Song a distinctive long musical wavering trill that varies by location.

Personal Notes: Known as Grey Warbler in New Zealand. Maori name is Riroriro.

Rifleman

2011-08-28T07:41:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Acanthisitta chloris

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand where found on both islands in native forest and scrub, particularly beech and tawa forest.

Field Notes: Very small bird with short, stumpy tail and thin, slightly upturned bill. Males yellow-green above and females brown above. Both sexes white below with conspicuous white eyebrow strip and yellow wash to flanks.

Personal Notes: Maori name Titipounamu. Seen at Boundary Stream Reserve and later Stewart Island, where Richard took the above photo through a rain streaked lens.

Silvereye

2011-08-28T07:34:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Zosterops lateralis

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Found in forest, scrub, and artificial landscapes in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Fiji.

Field Notes: Small bird with conspicuous white eye-ring, found in flocks when not breeding. Head and wings olive-green. Grey on back of neck around to breast. Pink wash on flanks.

Personal Notes: Seen at the Boundary Stream "mainland island" reserve in the Hawke's Bay region. Subsequently found in the Botanical Gardens of Wellington and the Kenepuru campus. Maori name Tauhou.

Tomtit

2011-08-28T07:27:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Petroica macrocephala

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand where found in forest and scrub on both islands.

Field Notes: Small bird with large head. Head, wings, upperparts black with sharp demarcation to white underparts at breast. Single white wingbar. New Zealand Robin with less demarcation to pale belly and no white wingbar.

Personal Notes: Seen at Boundary Stream "mainland island" reserve in the Hawke's Bay region. Maori name Miromiro on North Island, Ngiru-ngiru on South Island.

Green-winged Teal

2011-08-16T16:05:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Anas carolinensis

Population Estimate: 6M-7M (for both Eurasian Teal and Green-winged Teal)

Range / Habitat: Smallish dabbling duck of shallow ponds with much vegetation. Summers in northern US, Canada and Alaska. Winters in western and southern US, Mexico and Caribbean Islands.

Field Notes: Green stripe at eye on rust head, grey spotted breast, ivory patch on rear. Similar to the Eurasian Teal (a recent split from the former, larger taxon of Common Teal), though Green-winged Teal has a white vertical shoulder bar (not horizontal bar).

Personal Notes:

Brown-capped Rosy Finch

2011-08-09T00:53:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Leucosticte australis

Population Estimate: 45K

Range / Habitat: Year round above the tree line in mountain peaks of western Colorado.

Field Notes: Medium-sized finch. Cinnamon-brown on back, breast, neck, and face. Black forehead. Red or pink on belly, rump, and in wings. Unmistakable in range -- the highest bird on the mountain.

Personal Notes: Seen at the summit of Pike's Peak.

Hammond's Flycatcher

2011-08-09T00:52:00.006+12:00

Scientific Name: Empidonax hammondii

Population Estimate: 13M

Range / Habitat: Full migrant from montane forest in American West, Canada, and Alaska down to Mexico and Central America.

Field Notes: Olive-colored flycatcher with broad white eye ring, prominent white wing bars, bicolored bill. Similar to Dusky Flycatcher and Grey Flycatcher, but Hammond's nests at higher elevation. Best distinguished by voice.

Personal Notes: A resident bird at Barr Camp on Pike's Peak.

Steller's Jay

2011-08-09T00:48:00.006+12:00

Scientific Name: Cyanocitta stelleri

Population Estimate: 4.4M

Range / Habitat: Year-round in montane evergreen forests of western North America, Canada and Mexico.

Field Notes: Noisy, inquisitive and conspicuous like most jays. Coloration is quite dark -- black head and neck with crest and bright blue body. No white markings.

Personal Notes: Richard had been trying to get a photo of this bird for some time. We were finally rewarded at Barr Camp on Pike's Peak. A fitting end to the summer in Wyoming.

Veery

2011-07-25T10:29:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Catharus fuscescens

Population Estimate: 14M

Range / Habitat: Full migrant from damp forests of northern US and southern Canada in summer to most of central northern South America in winter.

Field Notes: Medium-sized thrush, plain brown upperparts, no eye ring, minimal brown spotting on otherwise white underparts. Swainson's Thrush with distinct pale spectacles and more extensive spotting on breast.

Personal Notes: Seen in beautiful Spearfish Canyon, SD.

Common Starling

2011-07-25T10:13:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris

Population Estimate: 310M

Range / Habitat: Year-round in urban areas throughout the US and all but northernmost Canada, introduced from Europe. Similar habitat throughout Europe, Asia and northern Africa. Also introduced to Australia and New Zealand.

Field Notes: Stocky, medium-sized songbird with short tail. Overall glossy black, with iridescent purple and green. Pale spots on back and brownish wings.

Personal Notes: These birds are EVERYWHERE in the US and yet we waited until 3 weeks before our departure for New Zealand to get a photo for the blog....

Prairie Falcon

2011-07-19T01:34:00.007+12:00

Scientific Name: Falco mexicanus

Population Estimate: 40K

Range / Habitat: Year round in grasslands of the American West. Extends up some into Canada and more extensively into Mexico.

Field Notes: Large for a falcon, medium-sized for a hawk. Fairly uniform pale brown back. Whitish chest with brown spots and bars. White supercilicary, dark mustache mark on face, dark ear patch. In flight, all light underneath except for dark "armpits," no tail stripes.

Personal Notes: A surprise find while hiking Paint Rock Canyon (looking for the elusive Canyon Wren) in Wyoming, then we saw a pair the following week at Devil's Tower.

Black Rosy Finch

2011-07-19T00:10:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Leucosticte atrata

Population Estimate: 20K

Range / Habitat: A bird of the high mountain tundra of the American West. Nests above tree-line at 3000-4300M. Often the bird on the highest elevation on a particular mountain.

Field Notes: Dark brown / black on back, breast, neck, and face. Grey patch wrapping around back of head. Black forehead, white tuft at base of bill. Pink on belly, rump, and in wings. Grey-crowned Rosy Finch with more grey on head. Brown-capped Rosy Finch without the grey on head.

Personal Notes: A wonderful surprise find while summiting an unnamed 12K foot peak in the Big Horn Mountains.

Bobolink

2011-07-18T14:48:00.007+12:00

Scientific Name: Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Population Estimate: 11M

Range / Habitat: Full migrant found almost exclusively in grasslands. Summers / breeding in upper US and into Canada, excluding the far west. Winters in the middle of South America.

Field Notes: Typical blackbird size / shape. Male in breeding plumage has black face, bill, and underparts, white on back and wings, yellow half-hood. Female and non-breeding male with yellow underparts, brown tail and wings, black eyestripe and streak on top of head, yellow superciliary, pale bill.

Personal Notes: We finally got to see this species (with the help of the Wyoming bird list serve) on a gravel road between Fort Phil Kearney and Story, Wyoming.

Red-eyed Vireo

2011-07-11T13:28:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus

Population Estimate: 140M

Range / Habitat: Lowland forest of the US and Canada, excluding the far American West, in summer. Full migrant to forests of northern and eastern South America.

Field Notes: Small drab bird with olive back and white underneath. Crown grey, eyebrow white with thin black eye stripe. Eyes dark red. Song distinctive, a series of broken, slurred phrases alternating upswing and downswing.

Personal Notes: We've probably heard and even seen this common bird before but this is the first time we were certain. This photo taken at the Spearfish SD City Park.

Upland Sandpiper

2011-07-11T13:12:00.008+12:00

Scientific Name: Bartramia longicauda

Population Estimate: 350K

Range / Habitat: Grasslands in the upper half of US, excluding far West, up into Canada and interior Alaska in summer. Full migrant to grasslands of southeastern South America in winter.

Field Notes: Medium sized sandpiper with long neck, small head, short yellow bill, yellow legs. Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs have grey, not brown backs, and longer dark bills.

Personal Notes: Seen en route to Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming.

Pygmy Nuthatch

2011-07-11T00:59:00.002+12:00

Scientific Name: Sitta pygmaea

Population Estimate: 2M

Range / Habitat: Year-round resident of montane forests in the American West and down into Mexico.

Field Notes: Stocky nuthatch with disproportionately large bill. Black eye stripe, grey head and back, white belly with subtle orange wash. Range does not overlap with Brown-headed Nuthatch. Red-breasted Nuthatch has white supercilium and red belly. White-breasted Nuthatch larger with plan white face.

Personal Notes: Seen while hiking at Devil's Tower National Monument.

Bullock's Oriole

2011-07-11T00:53:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Icterus bullockii

Population Estimate: 3.8M

Range / Habitat: Open woodlands, summers in the American West, winters in Mexico not including Yucatan.

Field Notes: Male unmistakable in range with black cap and eye stripe on yellow / orange head and chest. Large white wing bar. Black back and throat. Female more drab without black markings on head / chest.

Personal Notes: The bloke in the photo above and his mate were seen while hiking just above the prairie dog 'town' at Devil's Tower National Monument. We saw him (and an eastern kingbird) get chased off a big dead Ponderosa pine by a red-headed woodpecker.

Buff-bellied Pipit

2011-07-05T12:56:00.007+12:00

Scientific Name: Anthus rubescens

Population Estimate: 20M

Range / Habitat: Prefers open, rocky areas. During summer / breeding season found in tundra of northern Canada, most of Alaska, and into a portion of the most elevated regions of the American west. In winter, migrates to the southern US and all of Mexico.

Field Notes: Slender, drab bird. Appears similar to sparrows but thinner bill and longer tail. Has habit of bobbing head like a pigeon. Pale supercilium and lateral throat stripe. Light streaking on the breast. Dark legs compared to other pipits.

Personal Notes: Fortuitous sighting at Beartooth Pass (on the Wyoming / Montana border) on the Fourth of July. Also known as American Pipit.

Western Tanager

2011-07-05T12:51:00.008+12:00

Scientific Name: Piranga ludoviciana

Population Estimate: 8.9M

Range / Habitat: Summers in montane forest of western US and Canada. Winters throughout Mexico exclusive of Yucatan.

Field Notes: Breeding male (top photo) with red head, yellow belly and rump. Otherwise black with two yellow wing bars. Female or juvenile (bottom photo) drab olive yellow on head, rump, belly. Still with black back and two yellow wing bars.

Personal Notes: We first spotted the female outside our friend Patrick's window in Puerto Vallarta. We then spotted a male in classic plumage in the courtyard of the Grand American Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. The top photo was taken en route to Rainbow Lake in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in Montana. The light was so bright that morning, the camera had a hard time with the color!

Cassin's Finch

2011-07-05T12:41:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Carpodacus cassinii

Population Estimate: 1.9M, Near Threatened status

Range / Habitat: Year-round in montane pine forests of the American West. Will extend slightly into Canada in summer and throughout the mountains of Mexico in winter.

Field Notes: Somewhat large and lanky for a red American finch, the bright red crown contrasts with brownish cheeks in male. Purple Finch overlaps little but stouter with shorter beak and more uniform red. House Finch with distinct brown streaks on flanks.

Personal Notes: Seen on a lovely hike to Rainbow Lake in the Absoroka-Beartooth Wilderness near Red Lodge, Montana.

Common Nighthawk

2011-07-05T12:39:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Chordeiles minor

Population Estimate: 11M

Range / Habitat: Full migrant from most of South America excluding Chile up to western Mexico, all of the US and most of Canada. Found year-round in Caribbean islands. Found in a variety of habitats, both urban and rural, but prefers grasslands for breeding.

Field Notes: Distinct nightjar shape and cryptic coloring (Sibley's phrase) as seen above. Long, dark primaries with white bar at the base (seen in flight) which distinguishes from Common Poorwill, Whip-poor-will and Chuck Will's-widow. Swift shape but larger when flying, which is primarily at dawn and dusk, catching insects.

Personal Notes: First seen feeding on bugs at dusk during a walk at Birdwing Spa in Litchfield MN. We were latter pleased to come across the above bird on a hike to Coney Lake in the Cloud Peak Wilderness in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

2011-06-27T12:59:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Regulus calendula

Population Estimate: 70M

Range / Habitat: Temperate forest dweller. Summers throughout parts of the American West, Canada, and the interior of Alaska. Winters throughout the southern half of the US and throughout much of Mexico excluding the Yucatan.

Field Notes: Tiny, dull olive-green bird with light wing-bars and eye ring. Short tail and pin beak. Constantly in motion and continually flicking wings. Small ruby crown of the male is rarely seen.

Personal Notes: One of our favorite birds; we delight in seeing the crown and were fortunate to actually capture it on film, above.

Sage Sparrow

2011-06-27T12:36:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Amphispiza belli

Population Estimate: 4.3M

Range / Habitat: Dry shrub land up to 3000m. Year-round along the southern US Pacific coast into Baja. Summers in the American West with winters in the American Southwest and northwestern Mexico.

Field Notes: Medium-sized sparrow, relatively long-tailed. Grey head and brown back. White eye ring and supraloral spots. White and black lateral throat stripes. Breast buffy with central dark spot. Five-striped Sparrow similar but little overlap and grey breast.

Personal Notes: Seen on a beautiful drive along the southwestern edge of the Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming.

Lark Bunting

2011-06-20T12:38:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Calamospiza melanocorys

Population Estimate: 27M

Range / Habitat: Tall, dense grassland. Winters in northern Mexico. Summers in Great Plains of the United States.

Field Notes: Medium-sized sparrow with short, thick, bluish bill. Large white patches in wing. Breeding male all back with white wings. Female and nonbreeding male grayish brown and heavily striped.

Personal Notes: Seen at Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, South Dakota.

Grasshopper Sparrow

2011-06-20T12:05:00.006+12:00

Scientific Name: Ammodramus savannarum

Population Estimate: 15M

Range / Habitat: Tall, dense grassland winters in southeastern US, Mexico, Central America, and into northwestern South America. Summers throughout eastern US to Rocky Mountains, parts of California and Pacific Northwest.

Field Notes: Found singly. Relatively long-billed and flat-headed sparrow with short tail. Unmarked, buffy breast. Complete eye ring. Some yellow in the face. Dark crown with pale middle stripe.

Personal Notes: Seen in the South Dakota Badlands.

American Three-toed Woodpecker

2011-06-11T14:44:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Picoides dorsalis

Population Estimate: 800K

Range / Habitat: Year-round in boreal and montane coniferous forests across all of North America

Field Notes: Medium-sized black-and-white woodpecker, more black than white. Head black with a white mustache stripe and a thin white line behind eye. Yellow cap in male. Throat, breast, belly and midline of back white. Black barring on flanks. Black-backed Woodpecker with all black back. Hairy Woodpecker with more white on face, no barring on flanks, red cap in male.

Personal Notes: Seen in the Laramie Mountains (Medicine Bow National Forest).

Mountain Chickadee

2011-06-11T14:31:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Poecile gambeli

Population Estimate: 12M

Range / Habitat: Year-round in dry, montane forests of the American West up to western Canada.

Field Notes: Small, active passerine with oversized round head. Striking black and white head with black neck and grey body. The white eyebrow differentiates from Black-capped Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, and Chestnut-backed Chickadee.

Personal Notes: Chickadees are hard to photograph but we have been able to "lure" them by tapping rocks together and mimicking their call.

Green-tailed Towhee

2011-06-04T11:25:00.009+12:00

Scientific Name: Pipilo chlorurus

Population Estimate: 4.1M

Range / Habitat: Year-round in dry shrub land of montane American West. Winters extending into Mexico.

Field Notes: Small towhee but large and long-tailed for an American sparrow. Overall grey bird with striking rufous crown, white throat, and olive-green patches on wing. Ascending cat-like mew call.

Personal Notes: Seen at Vedawoo outside of Laramie, then again in the Bighorn Mountains.

Mountain Bluebird

2011-05-31T12:13:00.007+12:00

Scientific Name: Sialia currucoides

Population Estimate: 5.2M

Range / Habitat: Ranch land and other open areas of the American West. Winters extending into Mexico. Summers extending into Canada.

Field Notes: Slight thrush. Male bright blue back, duller blue underneath. Bill, eye and legs black. No other markings. Female duller grey / blue. Eastern Bluebird and Western Bluebird similar but both have red on their breasts. Lazuli Bunting with short, thick bill, white wing bars, and extensive white on chest and belly. Townsend's Solitaire similar to female but with white eye ring and wing bars.

Personal Notes: Seen in various montane locations in Wyoming and Montana.

Eastern Wood Pewee

2011-05-26T00:59:00.007+12:00

Scientific Name: Contopus virens

Population Estimate: 6M

Range / Habitat: A bird of the middle canopy, breeds throughout the eastern US in summer then migrates to northwestern South America for winter.

Field Notes: Medium-sized flycatcher, grey / olive above and pale below. Pale white wingbars. No eye ring or only a faint one. Call is distinctive. Lack of prominent eye ring distinguishes it from Empidonax flycatchers. Presence of wingbars and call differentiate from Eastern Phoebe.

Personal Notes: Spotted and heard on a bike trip from Minneapolis to Stillwater, MN.

Yellow-faced Grassquit

2011-05-24T04:32:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Tiaris olivaceus

Population Estimate: 500K to 5M

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical lowland shrub and grass land in Mexico, Central America, northwestern South America and several Caribbean islands.

Field Notes: Small olive green passerine with thick, short bill. Males and females both with yellow throat and superciliary, though much more pronounced in males.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Lodge, Costa Rica

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

2011-05-24T04:30:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae

Population Estimate: 50-500K

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical lowland moist forest of southern Mexico, Central America, northwestern South America.

Field Notes: Large woodcreeper with straight, stout bill. Fine black barring on head, neck and chest which distinguishes it from many other woodcreepers which have white streaking. Distinctive call.

Personal Notes: Seen at Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

2011-05-23T13:35:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

Population Estimate: 500K to 5M

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical dry forest throughout southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

Field Notes: Large woodcreeper with streaked head (extending onto back) and chest. Rufous back and wings. Relatively thin, pinkish, decurved bill. Bill and call distinguish from Cocoa Woodcreeper and Ivory-billed Woodcreeper.

Personal Notes: Seen at Carara National Park, Costa Rica

Stripe-tailed Hummingbird

2011-05-23T13:02:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Eupherusa eximia

Population Estimate: 50-500K

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical montane (800-2500m) moist forest of southern Mexico and Central America.

Field Notes: Small green hummingbird with thin, straight bill. Prominent rufous wing and white outer rectrices in both sexes. Female with white throat and belly. Black-bellied Hummingbird similar but with black face and belly.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Thick-billed Seed Finch

2011-05-23T10:30:00.005+12:00

Scientific Name: Oryzoborus funereus

Population Estimate: 500K to 5M

Range / Habitat: Found in lowland shrubby and grassy areas from southern Mexico, through Central America, and into northwestern South America.

Field Notes: Medium-sized passerine with finch beak. Male all black with white wing patch, nearly identical to Variable Seedeater but with straight culmen. Female warm brown without distinguishing marks, as in photo above. This warm color distinguishes from female of Variable Seedeater.

Personal Notes: Seen at Arenal Nayara Hotel, Costa Rica

Fiery-billed Aracari

2011-05-23T10:05:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Pteroglossus frantzii

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to tropical lowland moist forest in central and southern Pacific slope of Costa Rica and Panama.

Field Notes: Medium-sized toucan with bright red upper mandible. Quite similar to Collared Aracari, though range does not overlap in Costa Rica and bill readily distinguishes between the two.

Personal Notes: Seen at Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Black-mandibled Toucan

2011-05-23T10:04:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Ramphastos ambiguus

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Tropical lowland and montane moist forest in Central America and northwestern South America.

Field Notes: Large toucan with bicoloured yellow and dark bill. Easily distinguished from Keel-billed Toucan.

Personal Notes: Seen en route from Carara NP to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Some sources consider this bird a distinct species, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan.

Plain Wren

2011-05-23T10:00:00.009+12:00

Scientific Name: Cantorchilus modestus

Population Estimate: 500K - 5M

Range / Habitat: Lowland and foothill dry and moist forests, including forest edges, in southern Mexico and Central America.

Field Notes: Drab wren with only minimal banding on tail, white superciliary, black eye stripe and all white throat, chest, belly and flanks. Further distinguished by simple, piercing call.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Lodge, Costa Rica

Grey-crowned Yellowthroat

2011-05-23T10:00:00.008+12:00

Scientific Name: Geothlypis poliocephala

Population Estimate: 500K to 5M

Range / Habitat: Lowland shrub land, grass land, degraded former forest in southern Mexico and Central America.

Field Notes: Warbler with relatively large bill, yellow underparts, olive upperparts. Grey crown and small black mask distinguish it from Olive-crowned Yellowthroat, Common Yellowthroat, and Masked Yellowthroat.

Personal Notes: Seen in Monteverde area, Costa Rica

Black-hooded Antshrike

2011-05-23T09:59:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Thamnophilus bridgesi

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Tropical lowland moist forest of Costa Rica and Panama.

Field Notes: Medium-sized passerine with thick, hooked bill. Overall dark grey to black, both sexes with white speckling on shoulder. Male otherwise undistinguished. Female with additional white barring over head, neck and breast.

Personal Notes: Seen at Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Band-tailed Pigeon

2011-05-23T09:54:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Patagioenas fasciata

Population Estimate: 4M

Range / Habitat: Montane moist forest from British Columbia, down through the Rockies, Mexico and Central America and into South America.

Field Notes: Large grey pigeon with white band on nape, short yellow bill, and yellow legs which make it distinctive. Named for white terminal band on tail.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Lodge, Costa Rica

Tennessee Warbler

2011-05-23T09:49:00.011+12:00

Scientific Name: Oreothlypis peregrina

Population Estimate: 60M

Range / Habitat: Breeds in the Canadian boreal forest. Winters in Central American through northwestern South America and many Caribbean islands.

Field Notes: Small passerine with thin, pointed bill. Olive back, white underparts, including undertail coverts. Grey head with white eyebrow, thin dark eye stripe, and white malar area.

Personal Notes: Seen at Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Northern Crested Caracara

2011-05-23T09:49:00.010+12:00

Scientific Name: Caracara cheriway

Population Estimate: 2M

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical lowland shrub land and open areas in Mexico, Central America and northern South America.

Field Notes: Large raptor with white head, neck and belly. Dark cap and large orange bill is distinctive. Dark back and tail. In flight, two pale patches on wrist when seen from above. They are primarily scavengers. Laughing Falcon has dark mask and yellow cap. Yellow-headed Caracara has all yellow head.

Personal Notes: Seen en route from Carara NP to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Bridled Tern

2011-05-23T09:48:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Onychoprion anaethetus

Population Estimate: 610K to 1.5M

Range / Habitat: Bird of the tropical oceans, breeding off the Pacific and Atlantic coast of Central America including the Carribean, off small areas of western Africa, around Arabia and eastern Africa down to South Africa, off the coast of India, and in much of south-east Asia and Australasia excluding southern Australia and New Zealand. They overwinter at sea.

Field Notes: Medium-sized but delicate tern with thin black bill. Minimal black crest and eye stripe form a "bridle" on the otherwise white head and neck. Wings and tail dark grey, underparts white. Least Tern considerably smaller with yellow bill and legs.

Personal Notes: Seen offshore from Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Common Tody-Flycatcher

2011-05-23T09:44:00.006+12:00

Scientific Name: Todirostrum cinereum

Population Estimate: 5M - 50M

Range / Habitat: Common in gardens, shady plantations, second growth and the edges and clearings of forest at a variety of elevations, although it avoids the dense interior of mature woodland and also arid areas. Found in southern Mexico to northwestern Peru, eastern Bolivia and southern Brazil.

Field Notes: Small black and yellow flycatcher with short tail, frequently held upright. Yellow eyes set in black head, which differentiates it from other tody-flycatchers. Black back though wings edged in yellow. Yellow underparts.

Personal Notes: Seen at Carara National Park, Costa Rica

Great Tinamou

2011-05-23T09:40:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Tinamus major

Population Estimate: 500K to 5M

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical lowland moist, mature forest throughout southern Mexico, Central America, northern South America.

Field Notes: Medium-sized plumb terrestrial bird with small head and essentially no tail. Overall brownish / grey with dark barring posteriorly. Grey legs. Distinctive call.

Personal Notes: Seen at Carara National Park, Costa Rica

Buff-rumped Warbler

2011-05-23T09:39:00.002+12:00

Scientific Name: Phaeothlypis fulvicauda

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Lowland moist forest and inland wetlands in Central America and northern South America.

Field Notes: Long-tailed warbler with with dark brown head, back and tail. Buff underparts, eyebrow, and rump. The above photo is a juvenile of the species.

Personal Notes: Seen at Arenal Hanging Bridges, Costa Rica

Passerini's Tanager

2011-05-23T09:36:00.008+12:00

Scientific Name: Ramphocelus passerinii

Population Estimate: 50-500K

Range / Habitat: Lowland moist forest, extending into shrub land and open areas in southern Mexico and Central America.

Field Notes: Medium-sized tanager, both sexes with red eye and light blue bill with dark tip. Males all black with extensive scarlet rump. Females with grey head, darker grey wings and tail. Chest and back are mottled dull yellow and olive. Males indistinguishable from Cherrie's Tanager. Female Cherrie's Tanager has bright orange on breast and rump.

Personal Notes: Seen at Lake Arenal, Costa Rica. Also known as Scarlet-rumped Tanager

Long-billed Starthroat

2011-05-23T09:20:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Heliomaster longirostris

Population Estimate: 500K to 5M

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical lowland moist forest from southern Mexico, through Central America, down through much of South America.

Field Notes: Hummingbird with long, straight bill. Back is mottled olive and white, buffy underparts. Facial pattern is distinctive with blue cap and pink throat, though color not apparent in photo above. White postocular spot distinguishes from Plain-capped Starthroat.

Personal Notes: Seen at Arenal Nayara Hotel, Costa Rica

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

2011-05-23T09:17:00.002+12:00

Scientific Name: Melanerpes pucherani

Population Estimate: 50-500K

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical lowland moist forest in southern Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America.

Field Notes: Medium-sized woodpecker with red nape in both male and female, black cheek and white postocular spot. Yellow tuft at base of bill. Black and white ladder pattern on back. Light grey horizontal stripes on belly. Similar to Golden-naped Woodpecker but no range overlap.

Personal Notes: Seen at Arenal Nayara Hotel, Costa Rica

Slaty Spinetail

2011-05-23T09:14:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Synallaxis brachyura

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Central America and northwestern South America lowlands and foothills up to 1500m in a range of scrubby habitats, including second growth, road and river edges, and overgrown pasture.

Field Notes: Medium-sized passerine with long, tapered tail that can splay out in a distinctive way as above. Overall dark grey bird with tawny cap and wings. Pale-breasted Spinetail is less dark grey overall with light breast.

Personal Notes: Seen at Arenal Nayara Hotel, Costa Rica

Tawny-capped Euphonia

2011-05-23T09:09:00.006+12:00

Scientific Name: Euphonia anneae

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to mature, wet montane forests between 400 and 1700m in Costa Rica, Panama, and Columbia.

Field Notes: Small passerine with relatively short tail. Both male and female have diagnostic tawny crown. Male has dark purple / black head and back, yellow underneath. Female has olive / green upperparts, grey / buff underneath.

Personal Notes: Seen at Arenal Hanging Bridges, Costa Rica

Grey-throated Leaftosser

2011-05-23T09:07:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Sclerurus albigularis

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical montane moist forest in Central America, northern South American, Trinidad and Tobago.

Field Notes: Medium-sized thrush-type bird with relatively long, thick, decurved bill and short tail. Overall brown with light grey throat.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica

White-eared Ground Sparrow

2011-05-23T09:06:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Melozone leucotis

Population Estimate: 20-50K

Range / Habitat: Tropical montane moist forest edges in Central America.

Field Notes: Large sparrow with black head and bib, olive / brown back and white belly. White spots in front and back of eyes along with yellow patches on the sides of the neck are diagnostic.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Lodge, Costa Rica

Blue-and-white Swallow

2011-05-23T09:05:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Notiochelidon cyanoleuca

Population Estimate: 5-50M

Range / Habitat: Open areas and forest edges from lowlands to elevations of 4000M Breeds from Nicaragua south throughout South America, except in the deserts and Amazon Basin.

Field Notes: Swallow with shimmery blue head and back, black wings and undertail coverts, white throat, chest and belly. Tree Swallow has white undertail coverts. Mangrove Swallow more green with white undertail coverts and white rump.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Lodge, Costa Rica

Black-faced Solitaire

2011-05-23T09:04:00.008+12:00

Scientific Name: Myadestes melanops

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to tropical montane moist forest in Costa Rica and Panama.

Field Notes: Medium-sized passerine, overall slate grey with black mask, orange bill, orange feet. Has a piercing, resonant call, reminiscent of a squeaky gate.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica

Chestnut-capped Brush Finch

2011-05-23T09:04:00.007+12:00

Scientific Name: Arremon brunneinucha

Population Estimate: 500K to 5M

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical montane moist forest from southern Mexico, through Central America, to northwestern South America.

Field Notes: Medium-sized finch. Adults have a chestnut crown and bright white throat which aid identification. Black mask and necklace, olive-green back, white chest and belly. The above is a juvenile of the species.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica

Golden-bellied Flycatcher

2011-05-23T09:03:00.004+12:00

Scientific Name: Myiodynastes hemichrysus

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Endemic to the tropical montane moist forest of Costa Rica and Panama.

Field Notes: Large flycatcher with common coloration of olive back, bright yellow underparts, and black and white streaked head. This is the only one with a dark lateral throat stripe, however.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica

Collared Trogon

2011-05-23T08:48:00.006+12:00

Scientific Name: Trogon collaris

Population Estimate: 5M - 50M

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical lowland and montane moist forest in eastern Mexico through Central America and into the Amazon basin, including southeast Brazil.

Field Notes: Both sexes with orange belly, white necklace, and yellow bill. Males with green head, neck and back, dark face and wings. Females with brown head, neck and back, white eye ring. Similar to Elegant Trogon, but little range overlap.

Personal Notes: Seen at Monteverde Lodge, Costa Rica. Some sources split this species with Orange-bellied Trogon being endemic to Costa Rica and Panama.

Golden-crowned Spadebill

2011-05-23T08:45:00.002+12:00

Scientific Name: Platyrinchus coronatus

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Subtropical / tropical lowland moist and swamp forest areas in Central America and northern South America.

Field Notes: Small, stubby passerine with nearly absent tail and broad bill. Facial features characteristic of spadebills: dark crown with black postocular and malar stripe on otherwise white face. White eyering. Olive back and rust-colored crown distinguish it from other spadebills.

Personal Notes: Seen at Carara National Park, Costa Rica

Rufous-naped Wren

2011-05-23T08:41:00.003+12:00

Scientific Name: Campylorhynchus rufinucha

Population Estimate: 50-500K

Range / Habitat: Lowland dry shrub land of southern Mexico and Central America

Field Notes: Large wren with distinctive black and white striped head, red eye, rufous nape and back, barring on wings and tail.

Personal Notes: En route Monteverde to Carara, Costa Rica