10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2019

Para Maria de los Tecolates is a California red wine blend from Stolpman Vineyards of Santa Barbara County, released every year since 2014. That comes from a Mexican Spanish word for “owl”, derived from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, which is still spoken in central Mexico.

2017 204

2017 Owls Game California 204

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2014

There are four generally recognized groups within the complex, “ Myrtle ” ( coronata ) of eastern and northern North America, “ Audubon’s ” ( auduboni ) of the western United States and western Canada, “ Black-fronted ” ( nigrifrons ) of Mexico, and “ Goldman’s ” ( goldmani ) of Guatemala.

United States 267

United States 2011 Guatemala North America 267

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

Pough “with illustrations in color of every species” by Don Eckelberry, Doubleday, 1946. The National Audubon Society Birds of North America covers all species seen in mainland United States, Canada and Baja California. The press material says it covers over 800 species, so you know I had to do a count.

North America 279

North America America Birds California Condor 279

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2014

A lot of those anti-Columbidae tendencies probably stem from a certain species frequently referred to as a “flying rat” In raptor enthusiast circles, “Peregrine fodder” is also used, and when a Mourning Dove gets naturally selected by a Cooper’s Hawk , some hawk watchers can’t hide their look of glee.

Costa Rica 228

Costa Rica Bolivia South America Rats 228

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

I like observing them, reading about them, grappling with species and subspecies identification, and even—on a good day—talking about sparrow taxonomy. Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America covers 61 species of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae that breed in Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.

North America 201

North America Sparrows America United States 201

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2014

Female Imperial Woodpecker in flight, Mexico, a still from recently found film made by William Rhein, p. The idea of Lost Animals was conceived after the publication of Extinct Birds (2001), a 400-page, four-pound book on 75 extinct species. Lost Birds looks at photographic representations of 28 species, 21 of which are birds.

Animal 270

Animal Mammals Hawaii Dolphins 270

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2019

So, for example, Essay #15, “Individual Variation,” uses Herring Gulls to introduce the concept that one species, even one species at a specific age, can vary widely in appearance. John Schmitt, who illustrated Raptors of Mexico and Central America amongst many other books and magazine articles.

Birds 138

Birds North America Breeding America 138

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2023

Way back in 2014, when I saw my first Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo near the little town of Pino Real, and shared the sighting on a birders’ chat group, it took just over a month for the first biologist/ornithologist to visit me. It seems he had looked long and wide for this species. But he regularly visits family in Morelia.

Mexico 276

Mexico Cuba Species 2014 276

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

It actually makes a lot of sense, the geographic features of the isthmus between North America (including Mexico, because Mexico is part of North America) and South America cut across political lines, as do birds. Covering 1,261 species with data and taxonomy current up to August 2017, the field guide is an exciting achievement.

America 214

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 214

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2016

Yes, Neil Hayward was in a position to break the Big Year record—748 species–of the fabled Sandy Komito, a feat that some birders said couldn’t be done (not so much for reasons of birding skill, but because of a different playing field , literally). I think, with Hayward’s wit and honesty, it has a chance.

2013 157

2013 Arizona Birds San Diego 157

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2014

In this book, rare birds are species “for which, on average, only 5 or fewer individuals have been found annually in North America since around 1950.” Species that were once seen rarely and have now become more common, like Clay-colored Thrush, are not included. Rare Birds of North America covers 265 species within these parameters.

North America 263

North America America Birds United States 263

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2018

Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently decided that the Sonoran Desert population of Bald Eagle is not a listable taxon under the Endangered Species Act. Under ESA, the term “species” actually has three categories: (1) species, (2) subspecies, and (3) distinct population segments (DPS). What does that mean?

Bald Eagle 113

Bald Eagle Eagles Endangered Species 2017 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

8 beats shared 126 checklists accounting for 704 species. They birded 6 countries; USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, and Mexico. Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. Hwy 469, near Tucumcari New Mexico. The year and life lists have been pushed to 2214 and 3564 respectively. 11 Apr 2018. Lakeview Drive Ponds.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

In reverse order, the medals were awarded for “most species seen in a country”, to Australia with 420, USA got the silver, scoring 556 while the runaway winner was Costa Rica with 646 species. Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. Hwy 469, near Tucumcari New Mexico. May I extend my thanks to all the beats.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2014

I’m going to start with a specific example: species accounts for Common Tern and Arctic Tern. How have these species accounts changed from The Sibley Guide to Birds , published in 2000 (heretofore called Sibley One) to The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition , published in March 2014 (and heretofore called Sibley Two).

North America 259

North America Birds Species America 259

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Contributions this month have come from; Costa Rica, USA, Australia, Mexico, Serbia, South Africa, UK, Botswana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Iran. All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

During October, 7 countries (Costa Rica, Australia, USA, India, Hong Kong, UK, Serbia) were birded by 11 beats who shared 135 checklists and noted 697 species. Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. Hwy 469, near Tucumcari New Mexico. The equanimity occurred as the two totals passed 3560. Alphabetic Taxonomic. 12 Oct 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

The Crossley ID Guide: Waterfowl covers every residential, migrating, vagrant, exotic, and introduced swan, goose, dabbling and diving duck in North America (Canada and the United States): 62 Species Accounts on four swan species and one vagrant subspecies; 15 goose species; 46 duck species; plus accounts for hybrid geese, ducks and exotics.

Ducks 178

Ducks North America Geese Hunters 178