Above a certain altitude in the cloud forest, you can hear it long before you see it. Deep from the dense undergrowth comes a sudden, sharp, rapid, and incredibly loud sound for such a small bird. Its song echoes through the vegetation as if the forest itself were speaking. Somewhere in the shadows, a Munchique… Continue reading Munchique Wood Wren defend its territory
Category: Rare Bird sightings
Specialities
Collared Inca in dispute
Mist has settled once again over the western slopes of the Andes in Tatamá National Park. At the highest point, near the entrance to the Montezuma military base, the low-lying forest of Paramo-style hums silently, its sound interrupted only by the sharp, metallic beat of wings. A flash of green and blue cuts through the… Continue reading Collared Inca in dispute
Common Cranes gather on ice
A single patch of open water holds its ground on the lake. Around it, winter tightens its grip. Early in the morning, a light haze drifts across the wide ice surface, softening edges and muting sound. For weeks, temperatures did not rise above freezing. The cold feels settled, confident it will not be chased away… Continue reading Common Cranes gather on ice
Wilson’s Plover on the Brazilian coast in austral winter
A quiet stretch of Brazilian beach early in the morning, before umbrellas and voices take over, I walk with my camera along the shore. Besides some regular coastal birds I notice a small, pale shorebird standing not too far from the waterline. It pauses, runs a few steps, then stops again, alert and watchful. Many… Continue reading Wilson’s Plover on the Brazilian coast in austral winter
An Ornithological Excursion to Boltenhagen at the Baltic Sea in Winter
I arrive early. The wind is cold, blowing in from the sea, and my first glance across the bay reveals exactly what I expect. The long sandy beach of the spa town of Boltenhagen on the Baltic coast is bustling with tourism, even in winter. Nevertheless, I’m confident I have a good chance of spotting… Continue reading An Ornithological Excursion to Boltenhagen at the Baltic Sea in Winter
Ponta Poranga Jungle Lodge: a birders paradise
At sunrise, the chorus begins. Perched in the canopy above Ponta Poranga Jungle Lodge, a haunting cry from the Screaming Piha (Lipaugus vociferans) breaks the silence, echoing like a call from the forest itself. This lodge, tucked deep in the rainforest near Manaus, isn’t just a place to stay—it’s a front-row seat to one of… Continue reading Ponta Poranga Jungle Lodge: a birders paradise
Eider on Lake Schwielowsee
This morning, looking out over Lake Schwielowsee near Ferch – very close to Potsdam – I could hardly believe my eyes. Among the usual Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and Coots (Fulica atra), something unusual was floating on the gray water – a robust, black-and-white bird with a greenish-tinged nape and a wedge-shaped, pale bill. No doubt… Continue reading Eider on Lake Schwielowsee
Ferruginous Partridge in the Japanese Garden in Bukit Tinggi
A local guide growls at me, asking if I’ve already scattered anything edible. I don’t understand him at first. Yes, I say: but only mealworms. Then he scatters grain. Then we take a seat. Half of his group stands at the net further up. The other guests are very nice and readily tell me that… Continue reading Ferruginous Partridge in the Japanese Garden in Bukit Tinggi
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
Wedge-tailed Hillstar at the nest near Cochabamba
On our trip to Cochabamba we pass a road bridge that my companion, Francoise, knows well from recent years. At that time, a Wedge-tailed Hillstar (Oreotrochilus adela) had bred there. We found what we were looking for right at the first bridge near Copachunchu – just 92 km from Cochabamba. A pair of delicate wings… Continue reading Wedge-tailed Hillstar at the nest near Cochabamba
Eleonora’s Falcon: The Spring Return of a Master Predator
As spring breathes new life into the landscapes of the Mediterranean, it also marks the return of one of the region’s most remarkable avian inhabitants: Eleonora’s Falcon. Named after Eleonor of Arborea, a 14th-century Sardinian ruler known for her progressive conservation laws, this falcon is not only a symbol of natural beauty but also of… Continue reading Eleonora’s Falcon: The Spring Return of a Master Predator
Harlequin Antbird, a jungle jewel of the PN da Amazônia
The group is pushing through low vines already the whole morning, the air dense with the perfume of rotting leaves and flower sap. A distant rustle betrays something moving just off the trail. The leader stop. Wait. The silence thickens. Then—there it is. Indeed. Suddenly, a Harlequin Antbird (Rhegmatorhina berlepschi) clings to a hanging vine.… Continue reading Harlequin Antbird, a jungle jewel of the PN da Amazônia