10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2019

Between our many residents and migratory species, birding in central Mexico is a joy. For example, I have commented before on how common names in English may make sense up north, but do not down south. But throughout central Mexico, Bluebirds may be either Eastern or Western , year-round. But it can also be a challenge.

Mexico 141

Mexico United States North America Ethics 141

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2016

I want to alert you to a recent study (from April) that looks at the plight of bird populations under conditions of climate change in Europe and North America. The study looked at common birds, and used data divided by either state (in the US) or country (in Europe). Stephens et al. Stephens, Philip, et al.

North America 120

North America Europe America United States 120

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

So, I was very excited when I heard that Rick Wright was writing a book about sparrows, the first treatment of North American sparrows since 2001, possibly the first book about sparrows of North America, depending on your definition of that geographic area. Mexico border. They’re all birds of North America!

North America 154

North America Sparrows America United States 154

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

For most avian migrants heading south towards Mexico, Central and South America, crossing thru the Arizona desert areas can provide very few water, food and resting areas. If they are passing thru Pima County, and the Tucson area, Arivaca Lake is the last stop for water before crossing the US/Mexico border.

Mexico 134

Mexico Tucson Arizona Ducks 134

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2017

There are birders who watch hawks and there are hawk watchers who bird. Raptors of Mexico and Central America by William S. This is the first identification guide that I know of that covers Mexico (technically North America but rarely included in North American raptor guides) and Central America.

Mexico 170

Mexico America North America Falcons 170

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2024

Which means that the large country of Mexico boasts (according to one list) 127 endemic bird species, while the famous birders’ destination of Costa Rica has only 6. I’ve seen about a fifth of Mexico’s endemic birds, almost all of them right here in the state of Michoacán. Would we find them as well?

Costa Rica 196

Costa Rica Mexico North America Lions 196

10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2020

North America is home to many amazing bird species, including several which require a special effort to see and appreciate. In the summer, they are the highest altitude breeding songbird in North America. New Mexico Nature & Culture. So let’s look at this sampler, shall we?

America 264

America Arizona North America United States 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 8, 2020

One of the ways I could describe the unique mix of birds I can see here in southwestern Mexico, would be to divide our species into five categories. We also have many species that we share with the rest of Mexico, Central America, and/or the southwest of the United States. But, once you bird beyond the U.S.

Mexico 201

Mexico Birds Honduras United States 201

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2015

Here are some things I’ve learned from the Peterson Reference Guide to Owls of North America and the Caribbean by Scott Weidensaul: The Burrowing Owl is the only North American owl species where the male is larger than the female, albeit, only slightly larger. And the term is ‘non-reversed size dimorphism.’).

North America 229

North America Owls America Dominican Republic 229

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

Birds of Belize by Steve N. Howell and Dale Dyer and Birds of Costa Rica by Dale Dyer and Steve N. Dale Dyer put in years working on his paintings for Birds of Central America , both in the field and in the museum. Two books, two authors, two countries bursting with neotropical avian diversity. Why are these issues?

Costa Rica 223

Costa Rica Belize El Salvador Birds 223

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

The Durango Highway is arguably one of North America’s great birding roads due to the great variety of habitats, the spectacular mountain scenery of the Sierra Madre Occidental, and the numerous Mexican endemics one can target. There are many dusty side roads in this area, many of which offer productive birding.

Mexico 198

Mexico Costa Rica Arizona Birds 198

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2021

My state of Michoacán has a wide variety of nectarivorous birds. But we have one bird here, a bird that does not occur in the U.S., This bird, in spite of what you may see in the photo at the top of this post, is named the Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer. The post Sneak Attack appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

Costa Rica 256

Costa Rica South America North America Venezuela 256

10,000 Birds

JULY 1, 2020

One of the reasons Mexico is such a great birding area is that, while it shares all sorts of bird groups with the United States and Canada, it also is home to some of the northernmost representatives of neotropical and genera that do not (or just barely) reach that far north, such as Woodcreepers, Tityras, and Trogons.

South America 264

South America Mexico America United States 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2022

Towhees are large, ground-hugging sparrows that occur only in North America. Down here in central Mexico, the Canyon Towhee is a constant presence in open areas, including in my garden and around our church. There are many birds that I can see at a glance, be sure of their identity, and move on. They are spotless.

Mexico 217

Mexico North America 2015 Sparrows 217

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2020

No, I am not going to tell you about some blood-sucking bird with hypnotic powers. But the bird is cool, and I need the photos to prove my points. Especially when I compare it with the other cowbird present in central Mexico, the Brown-headed Cowbird. The post The Dracula Bird appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

Birds 156

Birds Blackbirds Mexico Cattle 156

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2022

I came back from a Monday birding trip and told my wife, prior to reviewing my photos, that I saw a bird that was either 1) interesting, or 2) historic. And the bird in question even allowed me some great photos! The Marbled Godwit is, by Godwit standards, an unambitious bird, mostly limiting itself to a single continent.

Mexico 229

Mexico 2018 Ducks Breeding 229

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 11, 2021

Many thrushes live or winter in Mexico, but their taxonomy is mostly quite simple. Eight of our large thrushes (the American Robin , western Mexico’s own Rufous-backed Robin , and eastern Mexico’s ubiquitous Clay-colored Thrush , among others) belong to the genus Turdus. Why are Aztec Thrushes so hard to see?

Mexico 264

Mexico North America 2017 America 264

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2022

Now, it is much easier for me to achieve first-time sightings of species in Europe than it is in Mexico, at this point of the game. This bird may be “common”, but it is also stunning. The Lesser Kestrel was another bird I may have seen before, but without proof. But this time, I could.

Spain 184

Spain Mexico Europe North America 184

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2020

When it comes to one’s most exciting bird sightings, of course, it all comes down to context. I wouldn’t change my central Mexican endemics for any other region’s birds. So my favorites for 2019 includes a good number of birds that are rather common elsewhere, but were firsts for me. I live in Mexico!

Austria 151

Austria Spain 2019 Birds 151

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Faithful fans of 10,000 Bird will know that each Friday Mike invites us to comment where we plan to go birding that weekend. Would Las Mesas, the closest to Morelia of these sites, join their ranks as a prime birding spot? This was my fourth and final FOY bird for the day. Of course, not everything interesting is a bird.

2020 275

2020 Birds South America Reptiles 275

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2012

So, you will be reading two reviews of this book in 10,000 Birds. To be fair, Howell has also written about hummingbirds and finding birds in Mexico, which to my mind are a little easier to comprehend. This is the first field identification guide on tubenoses in North America. Here’s Alan’s review. )

North America 159

North America Albatross America Species 159

10,000 Birds

MAY 27, 2021

Have you ever wondered what birds were flying overhead while you slept or what critters crept through your yard unnoticed? The Terra Project is an exciting collaboration between bird guide author Scott Whittle , wildlife tracker manufacturer CTT , and non-profit Conservation Science Global. appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

North America 263

North America Science America Europe 263

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2023

The second thing to note is that this is an excellent and courageous book that tackles a group of birds whose field identification has stumped the most skilled birders. ” This builds and expands on a classic series of articles by Bret Whitney and Kenn Kaufman that appeared Birding magazine between 1985 and 1987.* known-identity).”**

Los Angeles 220

Los Angeles North America America Species 220

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2020

So I am writing these words on Tuesday night in my home in Mexico, rather than waking up in Paris prior to flying to Istanbul. It occurred to me, as I drove uphill, that I might be able to see the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks that seem to turn up every spring there; and they were, indeed, the first bird I saw when I made a quick stop.

Species 162

Species Mexico Jordan Turkey 162

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2020

One of the highlights of autumn for many birders in eastern North America is the annual release of the Winter Finch Forecast. But, more often than not, the birds stay put if they can get away with it. I have to admit that I have no idea if birders in western North America get excited about winter finch irruptions.

2017 277

2017 Oregon North America United States 277

10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2016

One of the most impressive birds in North America is the Golden Eagle. It is found as far north as Alaska and as far south as Mexico, taking its place as one of Mexico’s official symbols. ” The bird is massive. ” The bird is massive. ” Crested Caracara. .”

Albania 101

Albania Mexico Eagles Kazakhstan 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 31, 2019

The Yellowthroat group is an odd collection of bird species. The one migratory species, aptly named the Common Yellowthroat , can be seen almost anywhere in North America. Another one, the Masked Yellowthroat , can be found in five unconnected resident territories over much of South America.

Mexico 198

Mexico Bahamas South America Panama 198

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2013

Their taxonomic status long has been unclear due to their overall similarity and the fact that in eastern North America and Cuba, they hybridize. But some recent work by James Maley and others is shedding more light on these secretive and fascinating birds. They are pale, thick-billed birds of mangrove environments.

Species 226

Species North America Cuba Louisiana 226

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2018

Birders follow different patterns of bird migration and their local activities and travel accordingly. It illustrates the bird richness per country. And what does it tell us, other than the obvious “head for South America” or perhaps Indonesia? 1101-1200 sp: Mexico; Argentina; DR Congo (Kinshasa), Tanzania, Kenya; India.

Equatorial Guinea 203

Equatorial Guinea Costa Rica Guyana Central African Republic 203

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Pre-Internet, I got all my birding info from print magazines; and WildBird was my go-to back in the day. One particular issue had a feature on the birds of Madera Canyon, Arizona. They support such a diversity of habitats that the ecosystems are comparable to traveling from Mexico to Canada (National Forest Foundation).

Arizona 148

Arizona Tucson Birds North America 148

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2021

They also remind me why I love birding in Michoacán. I would love to know how the order spread across these regions, since that spread must have involved either crossing oceans or the frigid regions that these birds avoid. Both are large, stocky birds, with a large head and long, squared-off tail. Those are good numbers.

Mexico 190

Mexico Indonesia North America Arizona 190

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2018

For comparison, Aransas NWR in Texas is about 115,000 acres and Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico is under 60,000 acres. ANILCA lands are not just vast, they are critical for an extraordinary variety of birds. Yukon Flats NWR is one of the most productive waterfowl breeding areas in North America. Happy Alaska Day!

Alaska 217

Alaska United States Puffins Wildlife 217

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2021

Once upon a time, bird field guides included nests. Decades later, Richard Pough’s Audubon Bird Guide, Eastern Land Birds (I happily own the 1948 edition) included nest and egg descriptions for each species as well. There are many reasons to inquire about bird nests (and eggs) and how to identify them. Harrison. (A

Eggs 239

Eggs Birds United States Sparrows 239

10,000 Birds

MAY 23, 2020

For myself and surely thousands of other birders, May is when I saw my first of many birds. May migration in many parts of eastern North America was and is an amazing natural celebration. A bird of the high elevation cloud forest, this stunner only occurs in Costa Rica and western Panama. Slate-throated Redstart.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica Panama Nashville Baltimore 264

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 28, 2019

It turns out that the hazy light had produced a mirror-like surface on the beach’s wet sand, and in many of my photos, the birds seemed to be floating in a void. One of the ironies of birding in North America is that the easiest way to see many species that breed on the shores of the Arctic Ocean is to go to tropical coastlands.

North America 123

North America Mexico Breeding America 123

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

.” While certain New Jersey decisions may be dubious, their state bird, the American Goldfinch, is a beautiful choice. The legislature named the goldfinch the state bird in 1935 , sharing the designation with Washington and Iowa. The populations of American Goldfinch are doing well throughout their range.

New Jersey 150

New Jersey United States Legislature Iowa 150

10,000 Birds

APRIL 29, 2020

Where do you go to bird, when you know you might not be able to go anywhere else? Both are beginning to show their reproductive plumage, which is a rare sight here in Mexico. How on earth do they breed so quickly up north?) Among all the reddish reproductive Dowitchers, I saw many similar birds in shades of gray and white.

Mexico 169

Mexico Breeding Ducks North America 169