< Birds of the Pantanal and Southern Brazil >
In July 2014, we traveled to the Pantanal, a large flood plain in southern Brzail. The trip was a
photo expedition led by
Roy Toft; the emphasis of the trip was to see jaguars,
the largest cat in North or South America. We were successful in seeing jaguars for many days in a row,
but there are also many different birds and other mammals.
This gallery contains images of just the birds we saw; typically, one image per bird, but occasionally more.
05-MAY-2014
American Goldfinch Male on Lilac (4711)
This is as late as our American Goldfinches ever hang around. I'll be sad to see them leave, and look
forward to their return around Halloween.
04-MAY-2014
Pine Siskin on Lilac (4605)
Usually our birds avoid complicated landing places, but this Pine Siskin jumped right into the middle
of a Lilac bunch of flowers. I bet it smelled quite pleasant.
03-MAY-2014
Chipping Sparrow (4292)
Chipping Sparrows show up in the springtime, and are uncommon in the back yard at other times. They tend to
congregate in groups of three or four.
01-MAY-2014
Lesser Goldfinches (4118)
"Let's play nicely, boys"
These two Lesser Goldfinches found themselves on the nice perch I used yesterday, and apparently liked it
enough to want it all to themselves.
30-APR-2014
House Finch (Male) (3930)
There are somewhat fewer House Finches around at any time, probably because they are off
nesting. The ones that come around tend to come in male-female pairs. This male perched
nicely on a redbud twig.
29-APR-2014
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Male Audubon) (3782)
Setophaga coronata auduboni
Yellow-rumped Warblers are spring migrants for us. This is the only one I have seen this year while I had
my camera out. The yellow throat patch identifies this as a male of the Audubon group. It's not uncommon to
see intergrades between Audubon Warblers and Myrtle Warblers in our area, but this one looks to be a pretty well-marked Audubon's.
27-APR-2014
Black-chinned Hummingbird (3618)
Our Black-chinned Hummingbirds show up in early April. Folks up at higher elevations see them a few
days before we do. Males arrive first, and then about 2 weeks later, we see the first females.
They will breed here, although I have never found a nest near my house. However, this fellow
seems to have set up a serious guard post in the sumac bush near the feeder, so we'll see what that means.
In another few weeks, people will start seeing Rufous Hummingbirds, and then the dominance hierarchy will change.
26-APR-2014
Canyon Towhee (7062)
Our Canyon Towhees are coming around a bit more frequently lately. This one volunteered to take a
bath and offer me a reflection in the birdbath.
25-APR-2014
American Goldfinch (6958)
This is about as nice a plumage as our American Goldfinches get before they leave for the summer.
When they come back in the fall (around Halloween), they have already molted to their winter feathers.
24-APR-2014
Mourning Dove (3477)
With all the Collared-Doves and White-winged Doves around, we see only the unlikely Mourning Dove.
They are still common enough, especially in more rural habitat, but they have been chased out of the more urban areas.
22-APR-2014
American Goldfinch (3052)
This is one of the last female American Goldfinches of the spring. They will soon head north,
and I liked this one in our blossoming pear tree.
21-APR-2014
Cooper's Hawk (2911)
Our local Cooper's Hawk nest is busy again this year, at least its fifth year of use.
20-APR-2014
Lesser Goldfinch (Male) (2822)
I liked the bright yellow breast feathers in contrast with the pink flowers and purple leaves.
18-APR-2014
Common Grackle (2730)
The Common Grackles are becoming more comfortable with their spring residence, and are now coming down from the trees and enjoying bathing in the waterfall.
17-APR-2014
Eurasian Collared-Dove (2666)
Eurasian Collared-Doves never congregate in numbers more than 2 or 3, which make them less of an
annoyance for us than the White-winged Doves. This one is thinking about a drink from the water bath.
16-APR-2014
Townsend's Solitaire (2604)
A surprise visitor for today, this Townsend's Solitaire dropped by for a drink in the waterfall.
The weather turned a bit blustery this evening, and that sometimes brings unusual birds around.
15-APR-2014
Pine Siskin (2358)
With the weather warming up, we need to start thinking about getting the vegetable garden
ready for planting, so I will be taking the birdbath (in the garden) down in another week
or so -- so I need to get all the reflection pictures while I still can.
14-APR-2014
Franklin's Gull (2288)
Franklin's Gulls are almost never seen in Los Alamos County, so when three of them turned up
this morning at a local pond in the middle of town, all the local bird-loving folks turned out
in the cold and snow to take a look. They hung around all day long, and disappeared by sunset.
For more pictures of these birds, you can go to the documentation gallerygallery.
13-APR-2014
Pine Siskin on Western Sand Cherry (2111)
It is nice when I do not have to find dead twigs for the birds to perch on. That makes
springtime much more interesting. This Pine Siskin is enjoying a Western Sand Cherry in bloom.
12-APR-2014
Cassin's Finch (2064)
A few years ago, we had a large flock of Cassin's Finches for most of the spring. This year, I have
seen only two, one a female, and this one a male. Superficially resembling
a House Finch, the Cassin's Finch has a different bill shape, is a larger bird, and its
feathers tend much more toward pink instead of the orange-red of the House Finch.
11-APR-2014
American Crow (2004)
American Crows are social birds, and in the springtime they are much more noticeably
active than they are at other times of the year. This one was flying circles around the
top of a tree next doors, either trying to impress (or be impressed by) another one that was also circling the same area.
10-APR-2014
House Finch, male (1959)
There are almost always House Finches around -- I thought this one was brightly colored, and
showed up well in the late afternoon light.
09-APR-2014
Common Grackle (1895)
Here is the first-of-season Common Grackle for us. Last year, they showed up about a week earlier,
but the appearance of the Grackles is a sure sign of spring.
07-APR-2014
American Robin takes a bath (1675)
There have been a few spring migration birds coming through, but not many. Robins hang around here
all year long, but we do see an increase in their numbers in the spring. We have had a few
rainy and blustery days, and most of the birds seem more interested in bathing in foul
weather than they do when it is nice outside.
06-APR-2014
Lesser Goldfinch (1495)
The Lesser Goldfinches continue to be the most common visitor to my back yard. This one is enjoying
the waterfall while taking a break from polishing off the sunflower seed feeders.
05-APR-2014
American Goldfinches Squabbling (1332)
Just because they get so attractively colored in the spring, does not
mean they maintain their pleasant flocking disposition. These two are facing off for
a choice spot on the perch, waiting their chance at the seed feeders below.
04-APR-2014
Spotted Towhee (1223)
Spotted Towhees are much more easily heard than seen for me. Early in the morning this
particular bird likes to fly from tree to tree, perch near the top, and call repeatedly
with his distinctive song. This morning he got close enough so that I could get a
marginally successful picture. About once every couple of weeks, he will fly down to our
flower gardens and will scratch around in the dead winter leaves looking for something to eat.
01-APR-2014
Too Many Doves! (1083)
The title says it all. Some days the Doves are so insistent on feeding that they intimidate the smaller
birds and keep them at bay. This was one of those days, the Doves are foraging behind the birdbath, only their heads showing.
31-MAR-2014
Lesser Goldfinch (Male) (0971)
Our Forsythia shrubs will only bloom for another week or so, so I need to get some
photos of all the different birds on the Forsythia branches that I can. Today, this
(probably first-year) male Lesser Goldfinch was cooperative.
30-MAR-2014
White-crowned Sparrow (0860)
White-crowned Sparrows are fairly common in this area in the springtime, but they do not
venture that often into the residential yards such as ours. This one was a surprise
visitor today, stayed for a few minutes and then left to rejoin the larger flocks elsewhere.
29-MAR-2014
American Goldfinch (Male) (0729)
Our American Goldfinches continue to develop more striking summer plumage. You can see
this one has new feathers and old ones. Give him another few weeks and he will
be ready to head north for the summer.
28-MAR-2014
White-winged Dove (0668)
Some days are slower than others, but I can always count on the White-winged Doves to
put in an appearance. This one wandered out into the birdbath and contemplated taking a
birdbath. It flew off before splashing all the water out of the pond.
27-MAR-2014
Lesser Goldfinch (0466)
This male Lesser Goldfinch looks like he is mostly done with molting, and appears to be
one of the Western race of Lessers (with a greenish back instead of the black back).
In this region of the Rockies, we get both races, and all possible admixtures of the two.
This fellow is getting a drink from the waterfall.
25-MAR-2014
American Robin (0386)
Our American Robins are in serious chasing mode -- a springtime behavior -- and they
are all interested in finding grapes in the yard. To my surprise, they will also hop
up onto the seed feeders (for the finches) and help themselves to some sunflower kernels.
Think of this as a passport photo for the Robin.
24-MAR-2014
Townsend's Solitaire (0331)
We did not have any Townsend's Solitaires in our back yard last year, but have seen this one several
times this spring. Although they are not very spectacular birds, looking like a Robin without
the red breast, they have a magnificent song and are very territorial. All they ever
do in the back yard is find something to drink, take a few sips, and then fly off.
23-MAR-2014
Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco (0196)
As the weather warms up, our Juncos are fewer in number. This Pink-sided version of the
Dark-eyed Junco briefly surveys the birdbath on a warm morning.
22-MAR-2014
American Robin (0140)
I liked this picture of our morning Robin because he is standing on the skim of ice on the
birdbath. A few seconds later, he fell through, took a quick drink, and then went back to
find grapes that I toss onto the grass.
21-MAR-2014
American Goldfinch (0073)
This American Goldfinch has progressed through the spring molt about as far as any at the moment.
19-MAR-2014
House Finches on the Lookout (0019)
Our birds this year seem more skittish than in other years. Maybe it is the Cooper's Hawks
or the neighbor's cats. In any case, they will scatter to the tops of the trees and keep
lookout for potential problems, as these two House Finches are doing, sitting up at the top of our pear tree.
18-MAR-2014
Lincoln's Sparrow (0205)
Lincoln Sparrows do not turn up here very often, just in the spring and fall. This one is policing the area underneath a feeder, looking for spilled seed.
17-MAR-2014
Canyon Towhee (9995)
Canyon Towhees are another bird that resides here all year long, often traveling in groups
of two or three as they forage. In the springtime, they seem especially curious, and I
often find one rummaging around in my garage in the middle of the day. This fellow is
checking out my winter bath-pond, trying to decide if a drink would be nice.
16-MAR-2014
Pine Siskin (9962)
We generally see Pine Siskins all year long in this area, but they have been noticeably
absent for the last several months, as is characteristic of this irruptive species.
At first glance, they resemble female House Finches, but they are much smaller,
have a very sharp pointed beak, and a v-shaped notched tail.
14-MAR-2014
American Goldfinch (9916)
Here is another molting American Goldfinch (compare with yesterday's post). This one has new yellow
feathers developing along the flank. By mid-April they should be pretty much finished, although
every bird takes his own course through molting. By the second week of May, they will all leave and
head for more northerly climates.
13-MAR-2014
American Goldfinch (9869)
Our American Goldfinches are beginning to molt into their summer plumage,
characterized by the rich canary-yellow of the males, and the deep golden yellows
of the females. This particular bird is showing a deeper yellow below the throat,
and its beak is turning a bit more orange. I suspect this one is a male.
In another month, they will be mostly complete in their molting.
12-MAR-2014
Lesser Goldfinch (0438)
Our Lesser Goldfinches are molting now, and so it's a little hard for me to tell whether
this one is male or female, but my guess, based on the low contrast in the wing feathers,
is that it is a young female that was probably born last summer.
She is settling in for a short bath in the waterfall.
11-MAR-2014
Eurasian Collared-Dove (0322)
The Eurasian Collared-Doves are getting a bit more active. They stay here year-round, and are
usually not very assertive, allowing themselves to get pushed around by the more common White-winged Doves.
But in the springtime, they have a little more attitude, and hold their own.
10-MAR-2014
European Starling (0276)
Our Starlings are reasonably common visitors, except for a slow period in late summer. Not
surprisingly, they are noisy, travel in flocks of 3-20, and can clean out a suet feeder in a
short time. Fortunately, they are not a big problem (yet);
that honor is reserved for our White-winged Doves.
08-MAR-2014
Western Scrub-Jay (0128)
Like most Jays, our Western Scrub-Jays are very gregarious. I set a few peanuts out and
they show up regularly to move them around, hide them, and occasionally they eat a few.
07-MAR-2014
American Goldfinch (9974)
While I was waiting for something interesting to happen today, this Amercian Goldfinch
peeked around from behind a tree stump to see if anything interesting was happening also.
01-MAR-2014
Dark-eyed Junco, Gray-headed (9769)
The fourth race of Juncos that are reasonably common here are the so-called Gray-headed Juncos,
distinguished by the lack of a contrasting hood and the orange-rufous feathers on the bird's back.
28-FEB-2014
American Robin eating a Grape (9703)
I can tell that spring is on its way, since the local Robins are showing
an interest in eating grapes again. They are also doing a lot of one-on-one chasing.
27-FEB-2014
Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon (9668)
Today I had an Oregon Junco hop up onto the winter pond and have a short drink. This fellow's
dark black hood and narrow, cinnamon-colored flanks suggest he is a male.
26-FEB-2014
Dark-eyed Junco, Pink-sided (0091)
During the winter months I set up a shallow pond on a piece of plywood, lined with pond liner,
so the birds can get water and bathe on sunny days. This Pink-sided form of the Dark-eyed Junco
hopped up this morning for a quick drink.
25-FEB-2014
Red-winged Blackbird (9910)
Back at home, there are definite signs of spring coming. Although they are common almost everywhere
Red-winged Blackbirds do not often visit our suburban back yard. This female is surveying her food
and drink options from the top of the neighbor's plum tree.
17-FEB-2014
House Finch visits the Fountain (9734)
After we returned from our trip to Costa Rica, we visited family in Texas for a week or so.
Here a House Finch enjoys a drink from a back yard water fountain.
04-FEB-2014
Scarlet Macaws (9473)
The blue wing feathers of these Scarlet Macaws identifies them as members of the Central American subspecies,
which live in small isolated populations in Costa Rica, along the Pacific Coast. That is
where we ran into a flock of them, noisily preparing to roost in trees right along the coastal highway.
03-FEB-2014
Golden-naped Woodpecker (9168)
The Golden-naped Woodpecker is native to Costa Rica, and a pair of them were hopping in
a nearby tree while we were having a late morning snack.
02-FEB-2014
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (8802)
Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii
The large and spectacular birds frequent the trees around our third stop on our Costa Rica vacation,
at the Hotel Cristal Ballena resort.
01-FEB-2014
Collared Redstart (8654)
Also called a Collared Whitestart, this very personable and attractive bird follows hikers
around the forest, looking for insects stirred up by our hiking.
31-JAN-2014
White-throated Mountain-gem (8089)
Lampornis castaneoventris
Today is our second day at the Savegre Mountain Lodge, in the Costa Rica high mountains. We walked
around the grounds, enjoying the many hummingbirds near the feeders they maintain.
30-JAN-2014
Resplendent Quetzal (7428)
On a vacation trip to Costa Rica, we traveled from Rancho Naturalista to the Savegre Mountain lodge
late yesterday, on a quest to see the Resplendent Quetzal that are often seen nearby. Happily, we
were successful in finding one this morning (along with hundreds of other enthusiasts.
29-JAN-2014
Gray-headed Chachalaca (7164)
Gray-headed Chachalacas, in a flock of about a dozen, would pay daily visits
to the feeders at Rancho Naturalista, where we stayed for several days.
28-JAN-2014
Immature Northern Jacana (6819)
On our vacation to Costa Rica we visited a wildlife reserve (CATIE) where there is a nice
lake with some shorebirds. This immature Northern Jacana was stepping between lily pads
while looking for something to eat.
27-JAN-2014
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (5820)
Costa Rica has a large varieties of Flycatchers. We found this one early in the morning,
hanging around a light that had been left on overnight, attracting many insects.
26-JAN-2014
Clay-colored Thrush (5209)
Today we started a trip to Costa Rica, with an emphasis on taking some pictures of birds.
The Clay-colored Thrush is the national bird of Costa Rica, so it is fitting that the first
day we would get a picture of one of these. They are also called Clay-colored Robins.
19-JAN-2014
American Goldfinch (4754)
All the birds this morning were the usual suspects. The American Goldfinch (probably a female) posed nicely in the soft morning light.
18-JAN-2014
Male House Finch (4709)
The light in my back yard is best in the late afternoon, but the variety of birds
is much less -- only House Finches, House Sparrows, White-winged Doves, and a few
Lesser Goldfinches. This brightly colored House Finch landed on a twig with its
crown feathers raised, and I thought that somewhat unusual.
17-JAN-2014
Lesser Goldfinch (Male) (4645)
In this part of the Rocky Mountains, we see Lesser Goldfinches from both the Texas/Mexican
populations and the West Coast populations. The TX birds have "black" backs, and the
western birds have "green" backs. The birds interbreed, and so we also see males with all
degrees of green and back. This particular bird is almost a completely green-backed, western form.
16-JAN-2014
Townsend's Solitaire (4407)
Townsend's Solitaires are not frequent back-yard visitors, and this one I found while wandering one
of the local parks. His tail retrices seem short, but his vocalizations made his ID unmistakable.
14-JAN-2014
House Finch (Male) (4266)
House Finches are the one bird that we can expect to see every day of the year.
13-JAN-2014
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (4122)
The least common variety of Junco that we have seen here is the most common Eastern form,
the Slate-colored Junco. The Slate-colored Junco has no pink or buff-color in his flanks,
and a dark gray hood, which extends in a convex pattern to his flanks. This particular bird
shows a faint darker hood, resembling that of the Oregon Junco, making this bird a candidate
for the Canadian Rocky Mountain population of Slate-colored Juncos (see Sibley).
12-JAN-2014
American Goldfinch (4034)
I like the soft golden colors of the American Goldfinch even when it is not sporting its bright canary yellow breeding plumage.
11-JAN-2014
Dark-eyed Junco (Male, Oregon) (3955)
Juncos are very common winter birds, and most of our Juncos are of the Oregon type. With this
bird's very dark hood and narrow buff flanks, he is almost certainly a male.
10-JAN-2014
Bushtit (Female) (3927)
Bushtits are another bird that never holds still for very long. They arrive in swarms of a dozen or
more, and mob a suet feeder. I was able to get a picture of this female (yellow eyes) while she
patiently waits her turn and chatters on a twig in the neighboring sumac shrub.
09-JAN-2014
Brown Creeper (3900)
Why do I do this? Does the world need more pictures of finches, doves, sparrows (our most
common seed-feeding visitors)? No, occasionally, an unusual bird will pop out of the trees
and present himself for a nice photograph, like this Brown Creeper did today.
Usually, these well-camouflaged birds are content to circle the tree trunks, looking for
morsels. And while sitting outside watching the finches and doves, I saw some movement in
the pine tree next to me, and it wasn't quite "right." By its circling motion, I suspected
the Creeper, but it never got into the clear for a picture. Then it dropped out of sight
-- where?
To my surprise, right in front of me on a rock, of all things. He didn't stay for more
than two seconds, and he was off for more familiar surroundings. But encounters like this
is why I sit outside for hours -- occasionally, something good happens. Call it luck.
08-JAN-2014
Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided) (3833)
One of our most common winter birds are the Dark-eyed Juncos. We are fortunate to have
several different varieties. The most common are the Oregon Juncos, followed by the
Pink-sided Juncos, the Gray-headed Juncos, and the eastern-like Slate-colored Juncos.
The problem with Juncos is telling them apart, and that is further complicated by the fact
that many of the races interbreed. There are many good web-based sites that talk about
the Juncos, some very interesting research (especially, see the
Indiana University project).
This particular visitor I think is a Pink-sided Junco -- based on the silvery
color of the hood, and the broad pink coloration below the wings.
07-JAN-2014
Lesser Goldfinch Female (3788)
There are a few Lesser Goldfinches that reliably overwinter here in Los Alamos. They are
distinguishable from the American Goldfinches by brighter yellow plumage on their breast and belly in the winter.
05-JAN-2014
American Robin (3662)
Robins stay here all year around; there are frequently seen except in August and September.
In the Spring, they go after worms, and in the summer they are happy to take grapes or blackberries.
In the winter, all they ever want is a drink of water.
04-JAN-2014
American Goldfinch (3549)
This American Goldfinch stopped by for a drink on a birdbath I made up for the winter months.
03-JAN-2014
American Goldfinch on Snowman Seedcake
My daughter gave me a snowman seedcake over the holidays, and I promised her a picture of the birds enjoying it...
02-JAN-2014
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (3389)
An infrequent visitor, this fellow is proudly showing off his red crown feathers.
01-JAN-2014
White-winged Dove (3264)
Probably the most common bird in the back yard, these doves have an unbounded appetite.