10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2012

Colombia is not only home to nearly 20% of all avian life on the planet but this birding mecca also accommodates an incredibly high percentage of highly sought after species. Nearly 80 species are endemic and found nowhere else in the world. But we just could not ignore the plentiful antpitta species too.

Colombia 246

Colombia Ecuador South America North America 246

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

Very few birds – or animals for that matter – would plunge head-first into the churning cauldrons of some of South America’s most treacherous rivers. Otun Quimbaya remains a very good place to view this highly enigmatic and entertaining species. To the untrained eye a dipper appears like an ordinary songbird.

Ducks 241

Ducks Colombia South America Squirrels 241

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2018

And what does it tell us, other than the obvious “head for South America” or perhaps Indonesia? It divides countries into categories, where the next category has 200 more species. In some cases the data are outdated, e.g. Costa Rica has 900 and not 800 species, but I made no corrections, remaining faithful to the original map data.

Equatorial Guinea 196

Equatorial Guinea Costa Rica Guyana Central African Republic 196

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2021

Birds are arriving in North America, flying from places far to the south. Many come from Central America, a good number fly much further. Based on population estimates and migration routes, yes, millions, and for some species, many millions! Cliff Swallow , one of many million that migrated through Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 262

Costa Rica Nicaragua Ohio Honduras 262

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2019

However, as DNA and morphological studies have indicated, despite the barbets of Asia and Africa looking quite like the ones in the Americas, they aren’t closely related to each other. The Prong-billed Barbet is in the Semnornithidae, a family shared with the Toucan Barbet of western Colombia and Ecuador.

Costa Rica 168

Costa Rica Colombia South America Ecuador 168

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2012

This week I find myself writing about Colombia again. Woodpeckers are phenomenally well-represented in Colombia and the country holds anything from 42 to 44 of the world’s woodpecker species, depending on which list you follow. This post relates to a delightful Colombian endemic called the Grayish Piculet.

Colombia 173

Colombia Woodpeckers South America Asia 173

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2019

If a list also shows the status for each species, birders on their way to Costa Rica would realize that they shouldn’t really expect vireos with white eyes nor blue heads (but would hopefully know that they should very much report those species on eBird so local birders can chase them!). Toucan species with new names.

Costa Rica 200

Costa Rica Birds Owls South America 200

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2011

Founded by Roberto Chavarro and his family in the early eighties, this little reserve has been dropped slap-bang into the birding spotlight by the recent claims of the rediscovery of the Bogota Sunangel Heliangelus zusii , a species that is known from one record – a skin from 1909! How much variation was there in this species?

Colombia 235

Colombia Family 2011 Species 235

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2011

It is not limited to North America, as many of my other quizzes are. Here are the clues: 1. Some references indicate that this country has nearly 900 different species of birds. 3. Corey has written about one of the species, which I will most likely see when I go. Instead, name one of the endemic species in this country.

2011 150

2011 Myanmar Bolivia Venezuela 150

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2021

… – part 2 – Once I finish this writing, with a strange mix of emotions I will put the Lynx field guide Birds of Colombia to the bookshelf for the first time, more than half a year after I received it. Hoatzin is one of the species I always dreamed to see, and then I forgot they are possible on this tour, so I didn’t expect them!

Dolphins 261

Dolphins Colombia Otters Birds 261

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2020

Like a shy stepchild, it’s always eclipsed by the wonders of Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, etc. That’s pretty amazing–Bolivia has more bird species than India! The source of this ranking, BirdLife International, lists Bolivia as currently having 1,439 bird species, including 18 breeding endemics. ″ x 9.5″x

Bolivia 173

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 173

10,000 Birds

MAY 13, 2017

In South America, some countries have organized their birding ranks to try and catch the coveted top spot for bird species identified on Global Big Day. As for myself, if all goes well, I am counting some sweet hundreds of target species in three to four distinct habitats.

Costa Rica 124

Costa Rica Colombia Owls South America 124

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2013

Its genus name refers to supposed similarities between it and the African mousebirds , and its species name refers to waxwings. Here’s the only known video footage of that species: Kauai Oo. This species’ brilliant yellow feathers were once incorporated into capes for Hawaiian kings. Spellman et al.

Saudi Arabia 215

Saudi Arabia 2008 Indonesia Groups 215

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

Larry starts us off right with an owl that makes birders drool: I was able to see and photograph many great birds in 2014 but my Best Bird of the Year would have to be the Great Gray Owl , the largest Strix in North America. The experience, the place, and the bird combine to make this my BBOTY. Carlos’s BBOTY – the Nicobar Pigeon.

2014 188

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 188

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2019

15%: Colombia, New Guinea (irrespective of the part/country). Colombia was praised for its “amazing people, topography and biodiversity”. Yet, the fact that tiny Panama is as popular as huge Brazil, with twice as many bird species, speaks volume for Brazil’s stage of ecotourism development. 8%: Brazil, Panama. 21%: Costa Rica.

Papua New Guinea 214

Papua New Guinea America Costa Rica Sri Lanka 214

10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2021

Birds of Colombia (Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides) by Steven L. Hilty “Sadly, a few specimens, salvaged from these shipments, were so rare that they have never been found in the wild”, an unexpected sentence in Steven Hilty’s introduction to the Birds of Colombia touched a sentiment deep inside me. Neither have I.)

Colombia 264

Colombia South America 2000 Birds 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2020

I am only responding to my subjective impression of a single species’ appearance here; specifically, that of the Bronzed Cowbird. Instead, they lay their eggs in other species’ nests, and let those nest-making birds (often significantly smaller than the cowbirds) raise their young. Native versus invasive species?

Birds 154

Birds Blackbirds Mexico Cattle 154

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2013

A Long-tailed Sylph, one of the America’s many long tailed hummingbird species, photographed in Colombia by Adam Riley. A Great Argus in full call, this species’ tail consists of the longest feather in the bird world. The 9 species of whydah are brood-parasitic seedeaters belonging to the Indigobird family.

Papua New Guinea 239

Papua New Guinea South Africa Africa Zimbabwe 239

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Colombia, the birdiest country on the planet, occupies only 0.8% of the world’s landmass and is home to almost 20% of the world’s species. We have great itineraries in all regions of Colombia, or you can easily do a seven or eight night stay at the lodge and bird a different spot every day.

Colombia 216

Colombia 2019 Industry 2009 216

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 9, 2022

Every year, the top birders in Mexico surpass the species totals of their counterparts in the United States, and double the totals of Canada’s best. More telling still, they are finding higher numbers of species in a country that is only one-fifth the size of its northern neighbors. border in twelve hours, or fly there in three.

Mexico 217

Mexico Birds Costa Rica Alabama 217

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2018

Central America is much smaller than the land encompassed within the borders of Canada and the USA. Given such limited geographical dimensions, one might be tempted to assume that Central America is pretty much the same, that the region is fairly homogenous in a number of ways. The Rufous-collared Robin is one of those birds.

Costa Rica 115

Costa Rica Guatemala Birds Nicaragua 115

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2019

Although many a birder in the temperate zone of North America does take GBD seriously, for birding communities in some Latin American countries, this day has become the most important birding day of the year. In Costa Rica, we wanted to eBird as many of the resident species as possible, even the super tough ones. Scarlet Macaw ?

Costa Rica 195

Costa Rica Species 2019 Owls 195

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2021

Colombia is one of those countries that Dragan’s dreams are made of: it has 1,965 bird species – more than any other country in the world. Among them are 94 endemics and 101 near-endemics, four introduced species and only 42 vagrants. He says that [Steven L.] Donna). ==.

Birds 243

Birds Colombia Collecting Bald Eagle 243

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2011

Approximately 2,300 bird species inhabit Africa, however as impressive as that sounds, much smaller South America boasts nearly 1,000 species more. Madagascar’s mammals are equally remarkable; over 100 species of endearing lemurs and bizarre carnivores amongst them!

Papua New Guinea 220

Papua New Guinea Madagascar Africa Equatorial Guinea 220

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2011

They are the only birds able to fly backwards and the 340-odd species come in many different forms. Its partner is the well-known Ruby-throated Hummingbird , one of the only species of hummingbird that migrates every year. Make sure you watch out for this little stunner if you happen to be in Central America.

Colombia 279

Colombia Ecuador Bolivia Peru 279

4 The Love Of Animals

JULY 3, 2010

ADI, which has previously rescued and relocated animals in Europe, South America and Africa have described it as one of the most complex logistical operation they have ever undertaken but say it will be worth all of the effort when the animals walk free. ADI also rescues animals in distress worldwide.

ADI 100

ADI Animal Defenders International Bolivia Lions 100