10,000 Birds

AUGUST 2, 2011

Besides the avian attributes of flight, feathers and laying eggs, potoos are quite possibly the most unbird-like birds in the world. A Northern Potoo by Nick Athanas Northern Potoos are found from Mexico to Costa Rica and on the islands of Jamaica and Hispaniola. In reality though, this is actually a pretty stellar nesting strategy.

Costa Rica 234

Costa Rica Jamaica Eggs Cooking 234

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2016

Here is a pair birds that I visit quite often, in an arroyo near La Ventana, Mexico. Shrikes by the numbers: The family Laniidae is composed of 31 species of shrike, around the globe. The most common species here in North America is the Loggerhead Shrike , Laniidae ludovicianus which has 11 subspecies. Migrans and L.i.

Butcher 113

Butcher Birds North America Mexico 113

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

In late July, I travelled a half hour north of Morelia to Lake Cuitzeo (kweet-SAY-oh) to see if our two inevitable first migratory species from up north, Baird’s Sandpiper and Wilson’s Phalarope, had begun arriving. At that point, neither species was yet present, and there wasn’t much of a lake, either.

Ducks 249

Ducks 2020 Eggs California 249

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2012

We have just three native species of lizard in New York State ( Northern Fence Lizard , Five-lined Skink and Coal Skink ) and one introduced species ( Italian Wall Lizard ). Green Iguanas range from southern Mexico and the Caribbean islands to South America and are relatively common.

New York 165

New York Reptiles Eggs South America 165

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 12, 2020

If I had known that these Amanita caesareas smell pleasantly of eggs, I would have taken a sniff. And while this poisonous species is usually red and spotted, older examples can lose their spots and take on an orange hue. The variety of their shapes and colors demanded that I turn my camera earthward. Then I saw its shiny partner.

Turkey 257

Turkey Birds Elephants Eggs 257

10,000 Birds

MAY 18, 2016

For the most part, this largest of the five frigatebird species actually is, but only to the other costal birds out looking for a meal. Each pair will only lay one egg, and once it is hatched, are some of the most devoted parents in the bird world. These frigatebirds can get as much as 40% of its food by stealing it from other birds.

Turtles 121

Turtles Mexico Rescue Breeding 121

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 143

North America Sparrows America United States 143

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2024

Being a westerner — raised in California, and now living in western Mexico — I was perhaps most excited about the migratory birds that breed in eastern North America. And the Baltimore Oriole is an iconic eastern bird, which winters along Mexico’s east coast, but never in the west. Then, around 4:00 p.m.,

Mexico 187

Mexico Birds Raccoons Baltimore 187

10,000 Birds

APRIL 17, 2012

This week marks the 2-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil begins to wash up on the beaches throughout May and June of 2010 May 6, 2010 Oil washes ashore on the Chandeleur Islands off the Louisiana coast, an important nesting and breeding area for many bird species.

2010 228

2010 Louisiana 2012 2011 228

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2016

This beautiful story is Tom’s first contribution to 10,000 Birds : My wife and I sailed our sailboat down from cold, rainy Seattle to warm, sunny La Paz, Mexico several years ago. Once the nest was done, she began sitting on it, preparing to lay her eggs. And, it is on this boat that I got to be a part of a great story.

San Diego 166

San Diego Seattle Eggs California 166

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2013

Clicking on the map will take you to an explanation of this important biome, including its climate and its plant and animal species. About three billion birds fly north to the Boreal Forest each spring to build nests and lay eggs. There are nearly 100 species of which 50% or more of the entire population breeds in the Boreal Forest.

Obama 241

Obama 2008 United States Industry 241

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2013

The Black Swift is considered a Species of Special Concern in California. Plus the fact that they only lay one egg per season which is incubated for about four weeks and the chicks don’t fledge for another fifty days gives you some notion as to why these birds are a Species of Special Concern.

California 203

California North America Costa Rica Niger 203

10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2019

His parents moved where opportunity beckoned, taking him from San Angelo, Texas, to Columbus, New Mexico, then to Dallas, and finally on to California. Endangered Species List, giving it free reign to wander and populate North America in ever increasing numbers, including a nest on the ledge of the U.S. And grow they did.

Falcons 173

Falcons California Condor Alaska Texas 173

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2014

That’s when the state and feds demand that we fill out complicated forms detailing every bird we’ve taken in during the year, supposedly using the North American Ornithological Society’s abbreviation for each species. Sorry, that was gratuitous – HAWRs are Happy Wrens , and they live in Mexico.).

Wildlife Rehabilitation 226

Wildlife Rehabilitation Wildlife Mice Vet 226

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species. Our two newest contributors have shared from Mexico and China, bringing the countries birded this month (also including; Costa Rica, Greece, Serbia, USA, UK, India, UAE and New Zealand) to 10. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh.

2019 119

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 119

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2017

In the 45 minutes we were on the property, we identified 19 species, two of which are endemics, and located my first ever nesting pair of Phainopeplas right there on the property. This pair of Phainopeplas have built a beautiful nest, complete with two speckled eggs. The Phainopeplas alone were enough for me to make up my mind.

California 100

California Pelicans Turkey Eggs 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2013

The core of the book are the Species Accounts, 190 accounts by 52 authors, some names that readers will easily recognize, others birders and ornithologists well-known in Pennsylvania. You can see the Species Account for Henslow’s Sparrow above, in the banner photo. The second page is the map page. Brauning and Andrew M.

Pennsylvania 222

Pennsylvania Breeding Birds Sparrows 222

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2023

July is the month when some of Mexico’s best birders (and I don’t use that term lightly) ask me to take them to the tiny town of Paso Ancho, in the hopes of seeing the ever-so-scarce and little-studied Sinaloa Martin. But I knew that quite a few charismatic species had failed to turn up. Well, it is July again.

Mexico 145

Mexico Oregon Squirrels Science 145

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2012

Ridgway himself had 23 species, 10 subspecies, and two genera of birds named for him, including Ridgway’s Hawk.) The team explored Nevada and Utah, with Ridgway collecting thousands of bird specimen, plus nests and eggs for the Smithsonian.

Collecting 146

Collecting Illinois United States Science 146

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. Especially when I compare it with the other cowbird present in central Mexico, the Brown-headed Cowbird. In contrast, the Brown-headed Cowbird is a same-continent invasive species.

Birds 153

Birds Blackbirds Mexico Cattle 153

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2022

In most years, that wouldn’t be all that special — the lake is normally where I can see the most species in a single day, so I usually go there first. These photos exaggerate the size difference between the two species, which is actually so minimal as to be almost useless for ID purposes.). Was it practicing?

Falcons 178

Falcons Abandon Abandoning Abandonment 178

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2014

I’ve been down with an odd illness for a few weeks, and then I flew to Mexico and back (boy, are my arms tired!) The local Bald Eagles are getting busy, I suspect there is an egg in the nest. While in Mexico, up on the roof of a casa (where I was cooking something up) I saw a murmeration! But I do have a few items.

Birds 176

Birds Bald Eagle Zoos Philippines 176

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2012

The pair may have to compete for nesting cavities with several other species including native Tree Swallows and Violet-green Swallows, as well as non-native House Sparrows and European Starlings. The female alone incubates the usual 4 to 6 eggs for about two weeks beginning the day the last egg is laid.

Washington 182

Washington Eggs California 182

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2021

This may have been partly a leftover from the Victorian fascination with egg collecting (the infamous passion known as oology), but probably more from people’s burgeoning interest in the nests and eggs found in their gardens and fields, gateway artifacts to a newer hobby called birdwatching. The Harrison guides are out of print.

Eggs 222

Eggs Birds United States Sparrows 222

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 2, 2017

9 beats, birded 9 countries this month; Belize , Guatamala , Costa Rica, UK, Iran, USA, Greece, Australia and Mexico. They submitted 144 checklists, noting 628 species adding 72 to the year’s running total bringing it to 1890. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2011

We did however see a Yellow-rumped Warbler at Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico on 16th November 1989 and a Townsend’s Warbler at Big Sur, California on 3rd December 1989. Many other non-migratory wood-warbler species are living their lives across the neotropics, doing their best to survive and pass on their genes.

South Africa 158

South Africa United States Austin Alligators 158

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

This bird represented only the second documented record of this species in Florida. 2012 has certainly been a bumper year for me with an estimated year list of around 3,000 species after extensive travels to South Africa, Ethiopia, South Korea, Indonesia, the Russian Far East, United Kingdom, Peru, Guatemala and Panama.

2012 144

2012 Birds Guatemala Florida 144

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. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. Hwy 469, near Tucumcari New Mexico. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh.

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. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. 13 Jan 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

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. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh. Jamaica Bay, Big Egg Marsh.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

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

AUGUST 6, 2016

Submissions from July were shared from Serbia, UK, Brazil, Mexico, USA and Saudi Arabia, bring the total as at July 31st to 1858. 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. La Paz, Mexico.

2016 100

2016 Sanctuary Ghana Australia 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2016

Despite recording 370 species during the month, the list total has advanced by just 45. Just to confuse things a little, only 14 new species were recorded since June 1 st. Big Egg Marsh. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico.

2016 100

2016 Sanctuary Ghana Australia 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2016

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. Big Egg Marsh. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. Cartagos 2. 14 May 2016.

2016 100

2016 Sanctuary Ghana Australia 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

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. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. Western Australia.

2016 101

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 101

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 115

Ducks North America Geese Hunters 115