10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2021

The first words describing this species in Wikipedia are “poorly-documented” Before 2015, when I first saw it in Paso Ancho, it had only been reported twice on eBird outside of its Sierra Madre Occidental breeding range: once from Taxco, Mexico, and another report from Nicaragua. Black-chested Sparrow.

2016 264

2016 2015 Nicaragua Mexico 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 24, 2020

I had such a good time exploring the zone that I went back again the following week, something I rarely do, given that I have so many quality birding sites to choose from in my region. These tiny birds like to sing from any available perch, and have the amusing habit of doing backflips in the air while they sing. And they sing a lot!

Mexico 253

Mexico Nicaragua Lamb Sparrows 253

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2018

Even more than warbler, shorebird, and sparrow identification, this is a field that tests our endurance (gull watching is too often done in bitter cold, windy conditions), patience (even getting one good photo can take hours as you try to separate the ‘interesting gull’ from the flock), observational skills (so many plumages!)

North America 208

North America America El Salvador Nicaragua 208

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Brown Pelicans , and the northernmost Brown Booby breeding colony on this side of the Pacific. And, the birds are awesome. Ringer Anhingas and darters , cormorants and shags , frigatebirds , gannets and boobies , pelicans , and the tropicbirds all share a characteristic found in no other living bird: Their feet are totipalmate.

2011 155

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 155