Black Phoebe Habitat: GUIDE(Sayornis Nigricans) Possibly Found Along the River Behind the Bamboo
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
LOCAL BIRD Diagnostic: Flycatcher that is all black except for its white belly, almost always near water. Has a slight crest. Black Phoebe Habitat: GUIDE(Sayornis nigricans) Possibly found along the river behind the bamboo. Diet: Perches near the river to glean insects. Call: High, squeaky phibii. TOP FEATURED RESIDENT BIRDS Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans).................................................................................................3 Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)....................................................................................................4 Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca).................................................................5 Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)......................................................................................6 Clay-colored Thrush (Turdus grayii).................................................................................................7 Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) ..........................................................................................................9 Grayish Saltator (Saltator coerulescens).....................................................................................10 Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)........................................................................................11 Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus).............................................................................12 Inca Dove (Columbina inca)...........................................................................................................14 Lesson’s Motmot (Momotus lessonii)........................................................................................15 Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus)..............................................................................16 Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives).................................................................................................17 Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum)............................................................................................18 ..............................................................20 Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl).........................................................................21 Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana).....................................................................................................22 Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)...............................................................................23 Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)...................................................................................................24 White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris)..........................................................................25 White-crowned Parrot (Pionus senilis).......................................................................................26 White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus).............................................................................................27 Our hotel cares about the preservation of the flora and fauna of Costa Rica, for this reason we present the local bird guide with the objective of knowing the different species that can be found near our property. Remember when we have contact with them, respect their habitat and do not feed them, since they are wild animals. By making a responsible visit and respecting the environment, we collaborate with the preservation of the flora and fauna of the area. Diagnostic: Flycatcher that is all black except for its white belly, almost always near water. Has a slight crest. Black Phoebe Habitat: (Sayornis nigricans) Possibly found along the river behind the bamboo. Diet: Perches near the river to glean insects. Call: High, squeaky phibii. TOP Diagnostic: Long, broad black wings ending in whitish tips, and a black head, unlike the Turkey Vulture’s orange Black Vulture head and different wing color. Often soars in groups, (Coragyps atratus) mixing with Turkey Vultures. Habitat: Open skies anywhere overhead, and sometimes seen roosting in trees. Diet: Scavenges for carrion. Call: None. TOP Diagnostic: A small swallow with a glossy blue back and head, Blue-and-white and white underparts. Much smaller than the Gray- breasted Martin, which has dark gray upperparts and Swallow more grayish white underparts, and a less notched tail. (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) Habitat: Agricultural areas with scattered trees, openings in montane forests. Nests underneath the roof tiles of the main building and sometimes can be seen perching on telephone lines or on the balconies overlooking the central courtyard. Diet: Forages in loose flocks of 2-15 (though sometimes much larger) circling for small insects in fluttering maneuvers. Call: Gives a thin, prolonged upwards trill in flight. TOP Diagnostic: One of the lightest-colored birds around, with pale gray and light sky blue in both male and female, Blue-gray Tanager though the latter shows less blue. Thraupis episcopus) Habitat: All types of open country with trees and shrubs. The gardens and trees within the coffee bushes are good places to look for this bird. Diet: Many kinds of berries and arillate seeds; especially congregates at fig trees; takes nectar and flowers of some plants, and searches for insects and spiders. Call: A variety of slurred squeaky whistles. TOP Diagnostic: Drab brown with a yellow bill. Rather distinctively flicks tail up and down when landing on branches or Clay-colored Thrush when pausing while scuttling along ground. (Turdus grayii) Habitat: Ubiquitous, ranging from grassy lawns to within the coffee bushes and into the bamboo grove. Respect the yiqüirro, Costa Rica’s national bird! Its frequent symphony from March through June is said to bring rain. Diet: Scrounges earthworms, slugs, insects, and fruit. Call: Many melodic phrases and querulous whistles (me- oooow), but also nasal barking and clucking. TOP Diagnostic: Long-tailed, green parakeet with a red forehead Crimson-fronted and pinkish bill. More common and larger than the Orange-chinned Parakeet, which does not have a Parakeet proportionally long tail. (Psittacara finschi) Habitat: Nests under the roofing tiles of the Marriott buildings and feeds in nearby trees. Can often be seen perched in the palm trees or even on balcony railings. Diet: Fruits, nuts, and young leaves or flowers in the gardens. Call: aucous chorus of typical parrot calls, which can be quite loud and will energize your mornings with the best melody. TOP Diagnostic: Light gray hawk with fine barring along the breast and inner wings, and a broadly banded tail. Not to Gray Hawk be confused with similarly patterned but much less (Buteo plagiatus) common Crane Hawk. Habitat: Likes soaring over semi-open second growth, coffee plantations, and large trees where it can survey ground and low growth around it for prey. Has been repeatedly seen perched hunting over the pool area. Diet: Eats mostly reptiles, but will also hunt for birds, rodents, and large insects. Call: High, plaintive, descending whistle that is not as harsh as other Buteo shrieks. TOP Diagnostic: Only mostly gray bird in Costa Rica with a white Grayish Saltator superciliary and throat. Can be fairly timid and hard to see, but is relatively vocal. (Saltator coerulescens) Habitat: Forest edges and trees in open areas. Favors Cecropia trees around the water treatment facility by the golf driving range. Diet: Herbivorous diet of fruits, flowers, and tender leaves, though will go for slow insects. Call: Varies, but whistled phrases typically end on a high note. Most common is a teewt, ti-ta-tooo melody. TOP Diagnostic: A large flycatcher with rufous wings and tail, stout bill, and yellow underparts. Black crown and sides of head separated Great Kiskadee by broad white superciliaries that meet at nape. Compare (Pitangus sulphuratus) with Boat-billed Flycatcher (which has a much thicker, chunky bill and is slightly larger in general) and the smaller Social Flycatcher, whose bill is shorter relative to its head. Habitat: Open country with scattered trees and shrubs, gardens. Arguably the most conspicuous flycatcher around, frequently found on property. Diet: Catches large insects, small reptiles and amphibians, and even mice; also eats fruits. Sometimes plunders smaller birds’ nests. Call: KIS ka DEE or KIK KIK KIK a DEER. Can also emit single KIK. Known as “Cristo-fue” or “Pecho Amarillo” in Costa Rica. TOP Diagnostic: Male (pictured) is glossy black and female is brown, Great-tailed both with yellow eyes. Has a much longer tail than other all-black birds like the Groove-billed Ani, Grackle Bronzed Cowbird, or Melodious Blackbird; male’s tail (Quiscalus mexicanus) is especially long. Probably the most numerous bird here. Habitat: Ubiquitous, though most common in the grass of the golf driving range. Diet: Mostly grain and seeds, but also insects and other invertebrates. Call: Metallic series of trills and squeaks and harsh cries. TOP Diagnostic: The Central Valley’s most common woodpecker. Hoffmann’s Recognized by the golden yellow on its nape and barred black-and-white back typical of many Woodpecker woodpeckers. Male is distinguished by red on crown. (Melanerpes hoffmannii) Habitat: Gardens, open areas with fewer but bigger trees. Quite common all over property, though most frequently spotted in coffee areas, and larger trees on the perimeter. Diet: Wood-boring insects, but also fruits and nectar. Call: Harsh, sputtering rattle. TOP Diagnostic: Smallest and only scaled dove