I catch only a glimpse at first, a shadow slipping between trunks, fast and silent. It vanishes almost as soon as it appears. Moments later, the forest reacts, small birds scattering in alarm. Encounters like this are what make the Eurasian Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis or Astur gentilis) so compelling. It feels less like observing a… Continue reading Goshawks as idols
Category: Bird Identification Aid
The Blue-crowned Motmot-complex
The song is a common sound of rain forest especially early in the morning. It is a monotone “boop-oop”. Occasionally, when duetting, there is a rolling series of hoots. Nevertheless, the first time you notice a motmot, it will probably be not due to its sound. Instead, it is the slow swing of the tail,… Continue reading The Blue-crowned Motmot-complex
Cinnamon Tanager near Garganta del Diablo at Iguazú
We arrive a little after 8:00 a.m. at the small landing stage near Garganta del Diablo. The morning still feels untouched. No visitors, no voices, only the wide murmur of the river and the humid air rising from the forest. A lone Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) stands on the railing of the walkway, as if… Continue reading Cinnamon Tanager near Garganta del Diablo at Iguazú
Gold-ringed Tanager in Tatamá mountains, a region in Colombia
The first time you notice it, it almost feels unreal. A small bird moves through the subcanopy, and suddenly a flash of gold catches the eye. For a moment it looks like a ray of sunlight caught in feathers. When the bird turns again, the pattern becomes clearer: a dark body, contrasted by striking golden… Continue reading Gold-ringed Tanager in Tatamá mountains, a region in Colombia
Andean Goose in the highest parts of Argentina
Morning on the high Andean plateau arrives quietly. Frost still clings to the grasses, and the shallow bog pools reflect a pale sky. In these open wetlands, movement is easy to spot against the sparse vegetation. A pair of large white birds stands near the water’s edge, occasionally lowering their heads to graze. Their black… Continue reading Andean Goose in the highest parts of Argentina
Yungas White-bellied Hummingbird in Argentina
There is a moment in the subtropical foothill forests of northwestern Argentina when the light hits the leaves just right and everything seems to vibrate with movement. If you stand still long enough, the forest begins to reveal its smaller residents. A flash of bronze, a hovering silhouette, and a brief metallic chirp often give… Continue reading Yungas White-bellied Hummingbird in Argentina
Acrobatic dancer: a Long-tailed Hermit
The morning air in the forest clearing feels alive with motion. Over a patch of Heliconia blooms, a small shape darts, hovers, and pivots in midair as if the world has no gravity. It’s the Long-tailed Hermit (Phaethornis superciliosus), one of the Amazon’s most acrobatic nectar-feeders. Its long central tail feathers flick like twin pendulums… Continue reading Acrobatic dancer: a Long-tailed Hermit
Zimmer’s Woodcreeper, a Amazon specialist
Deep inside the flooded forest near Santarém, the air is dense with insects and the sweet smell of decay. A subtle motion draws my eye to a tree trunk dappled in filtered light—a slender, chestnut-brown bird spirals upward with careful, deliberate hops. Its short, only slightly decurved, bill gleams in the half-shade. This is Zimmer’s… Continue reading Zimmer’s Woodcreeper, a Amazon specialist
A leucistic Common Crane in Brandenburg south of Berlin
A normal, dirty November day. In a field Common Cranes (Grus grus) are feeding on corn with Grey Geese (Anser anser). In the middle of flock, there appears a completely white bird that also seems to be larger. My heart seems to stop. There are actually only two species of crane in the world that… Continue reading A leucistic Common Crane in Brandenburg south of Berlin
Indian Pied Starlings in Bharatpur, Keoladeo
I’m on the path in Bharatpur, Keoladeo National Park. The morning air is damp and alive with calls, and among the bulbuls and mynas a sharp, whistling note cuts through. I look up, and there it is—a small group of Indian Pied Starlings (Gracupica contra) flashing their black-and-white plumage as they settle into the branches.… Continue reading Indian Pied Starlings in Bharatpur, Keoladeo
Pied Avocets, conspicuous coastal birds
When you stroll along coastal mudflats or estuaries, one bird that will likely catch your eye is the striking Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta). With their distinctive black and white plumage and graceful, upturned bills, these birds are not only a delight to observe but also an important species in coastal ecosystems. Let’s delve into what… Continue reading Pied Avocets, conspicuous coastal birds
Squamate Antbird in Cananeia, São Paulo
Early morning in December 2001, as the mist still clung to the coastal thickets of Cananeia, São Paulo, I caught a glimpse of movement—a flash of rust, black, and slate. Raising my binoculars, I focused in and confirmed what I’d hoped for: Squamate Antbird (Myrmoderus squamosus). It’s not a species one stumbles upon casually, especially… Continue reading Squamate Antbird in Cananeia, São Paulo