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The Birds of Trinidad and Tobago: Two Guides, One Book Review

10,000 Birds

There were three profound questions my birding group discussed while we birded Trinidad and Tobago, back in December 2012: (1) How many Bananaquits could fit on a banana? (2) 3) What was the best guide to the birds of Trinidad and Tobago? 2) Which hummingbird was more beautiful—Tufted Coquette or Ruby-topaz Hummingbird? (3)

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Grasshopper Buffet

10,000 Birds

The southern forests of the island of Trinidad are home to the much-maligned Moruga Grasshopper. International organisations have provided “assistance” to the government of Trinidad & Tobago over the years to placate residents and aggrieved farmers. But little has been said about its ecological function.

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Streaks, Variegations, and Pirates

10,000 Birds

With my recent relocation to the central forests of Trinidad, I have been afforded the incredible opportunity of observing three oft-confused species in close proximity to one another. In reality these species are rarely in the same place at the same time, however! All the more reason to keep birding!

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Soda Lake Shorbs

10,000 Birds

They know how to find food for themselves only a few moments after emerging from their egg, and then likely produce a special protein which allows them to harness quantum entanglement for global navigation. Needless to say, I was still overwhelmed by the presence of numerous species of shorebirds I hadn’t previously seen.

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Welcome Back, Shorbies!

10,000 Birds

How can something so miniscule bust out of an opaque egg and immediately commence the preparation for a thousand-mile journey – that is often made without any adult accompaniment – is completely beyond this human’s understanding. A Greater Yellowlegs is pursued by another after having nabbed a small fish.

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What is the National Bird of Venezuela?

10,000 Birds

The Venezuelan Troupial has a large range, and can be found in Venezuela (obviously), Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and a number of Caribbean Islands. In addition to striking feather patterns, the troupial is set apart from other oriole species in a variety of ways. Venezuelan Troupial.

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Flycatchers in the Cocoa

10,000 Birds

For the purpose of this post being of a reasonable length, I’m only going to touch on members of the Tyrannidae family of New World Flycatchers which can be found in the cocoa estates of Trinidad and Tobago. There are of course, many other birds which feed on flying insects, such as jacamars and trogons. Yellow-breasted Flycatcher.

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