10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2020

In fact, if I were to leave China right now, they would not let me back into the country. There are even some warblers that look a bit less anonymous than the majority of the family. Nanhui does not regularly have any woodpeckers except for the Wryneck , which can be found on migration. Witness the. Narcissus Flycatcher.

2020 183

2020 China Asia Owls 183

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 17, 2022

I am taking a sip of coffee, my eyes following an impossibly colourful Kill-Bill ( Keel-billed) Toucan , flying against the background of the Irazu Volcano slopes and, farther to the right, water-vapour ‘smoking’ Turrialba Volcano on the horizon.

Costa Rica 238

Costa Rica Rats Parrots Raccoons 238

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

Where a birder goes in the Caribbean determines which birds are seen including toy-like todies, Carib hummingbirds, cool pigeons, quail-doves, unique avian families and outrageous woodpeckers. During our visit, one was sleeping high in a tree right next to the parking area. Roosting Great Potoo and Crested Owls!

Costa Rica 263

Costa Rica Puerto Rico Birds Owls 263

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2021

Similarly, the Alpine Leaf Warbler is one of the more attractive species in an otherwise almost indistinguishable family of identical leaf warblers. (“But the difference in wing bars, Kai!”). If you think you have already seen enough photos of Elliot’s Laughingthrush, you may not be the right reader for this blog.

Birds 229

Birds North Korea China Woodpeckers 229

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 15, 2020

The fleeting photo of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker tugs at and flies away with a piece of the heart, that final image of a Slender-billed Curlew is difficult to look at, it’s a stab deep inside. Not only is this the right way to go about using paper, but it also adds a touch of old-school class.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica Birds Species Woodpeckers 264

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 18, 2015

Cardinal Woodpecker. Three species of woodpecker, from the large Bearded Woodpecker to the smaller Golden-tailed Woodpecker and the even smaller Cardinal Woodpecker, searched the trunks and branches, while on the smallest tips of the branches the tiny Long-billed Crombec clambered about in search of food.

South Africa 145

South Africa Tortoises Woodpeckers Birds 145

10,000 Birds

MARCH 29, 2015

So best of luck to any and all creatures striving towards a distant horizon right now. But Corey also hit up the Forest Park bird feeders with his family Saturday afternoon and Desi, his five-year-old, was so taken with a Red-bellied Woodpecker (the one above) that Corey had to choose it as his favorite bird of the weekend too.

2015 198

2015 Birds Woodpeckers Experience 198

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2024

Ruili is a Chinese city right on the border to Myanmar, and a major border crossing. When I last visited the town almost 10 years ago, it had a Wild West feel, and Wikipedia claims that it is “an important location for trade with Myanmar, in both legal and illegal goods and services” but it seemed pretty tame to me this time.

Myanmar 169

Myanmar Sri Lanka Nepal Birds 169

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2022

Hongbenghe is a very small village in Yunnan, right next to the border with Myanmar. I saw two Pitta species at Hongbenghe, both among the slightly less glamourous among the pitta family: The Blue-naped Pitta … … and the closely related Rusty-naped Pitta. The White-cheeked Partridge is classified as Near Threatened.

Birds 147

Birds Myanmar China Chicago 147

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2022

Now we were in Finca Tres Equis, a family cocoa farm (if I understood well, it translates as Triple X Farm) and a private reserve of over 300 hectares, of which more than 70 percent is a forest, representing part of a Jaguar corridor. I came with 957, and started to collect my birds like an Acorn Woodpecker collects its nuts.

Costa Rica 225

Costa Rica Nicaragua 2019 Farming 225

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2020

Local guide and birder David Mora Vargas has been spending much of his time at his family’s farm in the Sarapiqui lowlands. As it learns to hunt and live on its own, the young bird has taken up residence in a tree right in front of the farm. Check it out: Juvenile Tiny Hawk Show in Sarapiqui. Las Arrieras Nature Reserve.

Costa Rica 203

Costa Rica Birds Thailand Family 203

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2019

We had not been expecting to see a Banded Woodpecker and there we had one right in front of us. It was clear from the tree trunk that the Banded Woodpecker most likely stopped by this tree on a regular basis to look for food. However, I do have some photographs of the Banded Woodpecker ! Banded Woodpecker.

Singapore 113

Singapore Unwanted Pets Woodpeckers Parrots 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2021

For some reason that is hard for me to fathom, there is no such bird as a Cape Woodpecker. While the idea of a Ground Woodpecker sounds a bit absurd, it helps to know that this species mostly lives on ants, similar to the Wryneck (another woodpecker, though it does not look much like one). A challenge for young birders, maybe.

South Africa 222

South Africa Africa Lesotho Nigeria 222

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2017

When it comes to a one stop shopping for food and shelter, no other plant is as widely used as the Cardon Cactus family. The Gila Woodpecker is the first to break the fruit open, gets it fill and moves on. First the Gila Woodpecker. A few minutes later, the Gila Woodpecker was back, and in a was very excited.

Elephants 104

Elephants Woodpeckers Squirrels Shelters 104

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2020

Extinct birds, such as Ivory-billed Woodpecker, are included. And, the One-page Index, a quick reference to locating major bird families, is placed in two locations–the front and the back of the book. Then again, try explaining to a new birder why falcons come after woodpeckers and before parrots!

North America 199

North America America Hawaii Birds 199

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 28, 2024

Called home to the Oregon Coast to operate the family motel, in her free time she leads Tufted Puffin walks and escapes to guide at birding festivals and explore the world as often as possible. Although it is right on a busy road once you walk into the lobby it is peaceful and quiet. The mezcal palenques vary from one site to the next.

Mexico 178

Mexico Birds Oregon Groups 178

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2017

This large reserve has its namesake mountain range running right down the middle of it, and virtually no roads. The Picidae family was well represented, with both Gila and Ladder-back woodpeckers , as well a pair of Gilded Flickers all spending some time in this oak grove. Here is the Gila Woodpecker.

Eagles 100

Eagles Mexico California Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

This is where Gila Woodpecker and Yellow-breasted Chat meet Squirrel Cuckoo , Bat Falcon , and Black-throated Magpie-Jay. In the mean time, a family group of Black-throated Magpie-Jays were frolicking in the breeze high over the dry valley, showing off their exorbitantly long tail streamers. Photo by Andrew Spencer.

Mexico 186

Mexico Costa Rica Arizona Birds 186

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2017

I know, I know, poor me, right?) Thinking back on the time we – the family and I – spent enjoying a new country for all of us I realized that my favorite birding of the whole trip was while we were at Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge, along the Hummingbird Highway near Blue Hole National Park. No one cares, saltator.

Belize 101

Belize Woodpeckers Species Family 101

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Most are commoners like the good old appropriately named Clay-colored Thrush, Blue-gray Tanager, Palm Tanager, Great Kiskadee , and saltators but you can also be surprised by tropical woodpeckers , toucans , and chachalacas. In Costa Rica, there are lots of little, family-owned diners like this one.

Costa Rica 203

Costa Rica Fowl Cooking Woodpeckers 203

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Taxonomically, swallows are one of the few families of birds that has seen little change in its ranks. For centuries, it seems that ornithologists and naturalists have correctly pegged swallows to the right family. The family is global in its distribution, with 83 species of around 19 genera. Purple Martin , Progne subis.

Jordan 180

Jordan Iowa Birds Africa 180

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2019

If I had a dollar for every time I had to explain why Melanerpes carolinus is named Red-bellied Woodpecker , I’d be able to afford little brochures on the topic to pass out in the field. Far too many bird names have confusing, misleading, or just plain dumb common names. fuligula is most definitely a Tufted Duck. Well, no more!

Birds 113

Birds Woodpeckers Ducks Suffering 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

A small range map is placed in the upper right/left hand corner showing summer, winter, resident, migration, and rare locations. Using the icons to locate specific bird families takes a little getting used to, but if you do it often it works well as a finding tool. PHOTOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS. There are advantages to a large book!

North America 278

North America America Birds California Condor 278

10,000 Birds

JUNE 14, 2017

I happen to think the Crested Cara cara is one of the most beautiful birds in the falcon family. They stay here in Mexico despite the heat, and raise their families. This male hoped right up on the side of my hide. This Gila Woodpecker was one of the star attractions of last weeks posting.

Seattle 106

Seattle Mexico 2017 Falcons 106

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2017

Some birds are so familiar, even non-birders can’t help but know what they are, or at least what family they belong to. The only regularly occurring member of its esteemed family within the ABA boundaries, this cool bird exhibits the same sort of iridescence and striking looks that challenge us to stop gazing at any of the Trogonidae.

Costa Rica 115

Costa Rica Dominican Republic Kansas Guinea 115

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2019

Nor are there any birding authorities requiring folks to identify, count and document the nuthatches, titmice and Downy Woodpeckers that come to their backyard feeders. We get serious about quality optics and spend hours studying field guides about birds because we really really want to.

Costa Rica 195

Costa Rica Cooking Birds Chickens 195

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2020

In what has become the modern-day traditional method of organization, species are listed and described on the left-hand page and illustrative plates are on the right. Each species is numbered, with the numbers referring to the illustrations on the right. Tintaya’s woodpeckers also nicely feature tree (and cactus!)

Bolivia 168

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 168

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

So much so that the two species are placed within their own family, Chaetopidae. And then there are the Ground Woodpeckers ! These are one of only three ground-dwelling woodpeckers in the world. A Ground Woodpecker by Adam Riley But probably the very best attribute of this gem of a birding spot is its proximity to the ocean.

South Africa 236

South Africa Penguins Birds Africa 236

10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2014

My string of winter-only visits to the Adirondacks is over now, happily, because of a three-day weekend with the family in Montreal. Hearing Winter Wrens singing right next to the trail while a distant Hermit Thrush sang its lovely, lonely song. Wait, what? That was a pleasant surprise! You know what else was pleasant?

New York City 161

New York City New York Canada Woodpeckers 161

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2015

I’m happy to say that Laura Erickson and Marie Read have written a book, Into the Nest: Intimate Views of the Courting, Parenting, and Family Lives of Familiar Birds , that is not too cute and that does not anthropomorphize. Part Two: The Family Live of Selected Species” describes and illustrates the family lives of 49 species in 25 chapters.

Eggs 263

Eggs Family 2006 New York 263

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 30, 2017

Newly re-opened after budget cuts, the park sported one staff member in the office who generously gave us a map, one woman and her dog, and one family in the set of RV camping spots at the edge of the lake. . – but early for normal people on a cloudy Saturday morning. Still, I felt the familiar excitement of birding a new place.

Alabama 113

Alabama Birds Deer Turkey 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

Cope keeps track of the birds in this locally owned forest and on our visit, one of “his” Crested Owls was visible right from the road. After we had our scope fill of that one, we ventured into the forest to lay eyes on a family of Spectacled Owls ! Tawny-winged Woodcreeper (and four other woodcreeper species).

Costa Rica 135

Costa Rica Owls Birds Eagles 135

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2015

I have 10,000 Birds contributor Adam Riley to thank for telling me I had to add it to my list, and a quick bit of research showed that he was right on. Longclaws are African members of the pipit and wagtail family, and unlike the rest of the family they have gorgeously-coloured throats. A terrible shot of Barrow’s Korhaan.

South Africa 145

South Africa Africa Falcons Family 145

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2018

We pulled into the parking lot, got out of the car, and before I’d even had a chance to pull my binoculars out of my backpack, an adult eagle soared right over our heads. Although this bad behavior may run in the overall eagle Family.) I swooned, too transfixed to grab my camera, and marveled at the bird’s majesty.

Bald Eagle 113

Bald Eagle Eagles United States Philadelphia 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 31, 2012

Sure, there are no woodpeckers here and very few places you can get a decent donut, and everything is quite a bit more expensive than you think it should be, but I still choose to stay. Plan B was to hit some of the parks that KL has, and by a happy coincidence a huge park is right next to the central station.

New Zealand 138

New Zealand Fur Malaysia Woodpeckers 138

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2015

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker , a stunning relative of the more familiar Red-bellied of the eastern United States, proved to be the first Mexican endemic we encountered. However, our attention soon turned to a pair of fantastic Black-chested Sparrows duetting in the thorn-scrub right by the road. Black-chested Sparrow is pretty sharp!

Mexico 171

Mexico Birds Owls Sparrows 171

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2017

Favorite Woodpecker: This is a toughie. We saw 15 woodpecker species, some, like Campos Flicker, colorful and photographable, some, like Crimson-crested Woodpecker, large and, yes, strikingly crested. I was practically right next to the two in this photo (and, note the Rufescent Tiger-heron photobomb).

Brazil 142

Brazil Birds Los Angeles Tigers 142