10,000 Birds

JULY 26, 2015

I was still telling the truth when I mentioned the four subspecies, species, taxa, forms, you name it, of the Great Egret: modesta (Asia), alba (Europe, Asia), egretta (Americas) and melanorhynchos (Africa). Absolute field marks between two similar species describe a difference that can be judged definitely by looking at a single bird.

North America 180

North America Europe America Asia 180

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2011

Even if you don’t live in the summer range of a particular species, you may have opportunities to observe it while it passes through, especailly if you live in an active flyway, like I happen to. Because the ancestor of this species of bird migrated, and the migratory adaptation and all that entails were passed on.

Compassion 219

Compassion Humane Research Egypt 219

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2011

The future definitely will be electronic. No need to page through dozens of plates of similar looking species anymore. I can’t get a good feel for them (I still prefer my book version). Although, I do like having bird calls handy. I think the digital guides need to improve in user-friendliness. Off to the Amazon?

Burkina Faso 165

Burkina Faso 2011 Deer Birds 165

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2020

are up next, with a wonderful Australian species: It is very hard to choose a Best Bird of the Year any year. The male of this species has a royal blue throat, a white chest and rump, and a long v-shaped tail with intermittent white patches that makes it looks like part of it are floating in space. Clare (and Grant!) How cool is that?

2020 260

2020 Birds Costa Rica Germany 260

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2014

So what does all this mean — if anything — for how the birds are split or lumped at the species level? This does not make them Myrtle Warblers, nor does it make them hybrids (except by a biologically unhelpful, rigidly typological definition). So Toews et al. wing length; Brelsford et al.

United States 261

United States 2011 Guatemala North America 261

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2020

A Field Guide to the Birds of Mongolia by Dorj Ganbold and Chris Smith (2019) offers more than 500 species in one neat edition. I say “more than” because I am not certain what number of species is covered: on page 8, 512 bird species are mentioned, while on the back cover that number rises to 521.

Mongolia 278

Mongolia Falcons 2019 Birds 278

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 12, 2014

There was definitely always the temptation to just sit at the restaurant, sip a warm cup of coffee or tea, and watch the constant antics of parrots, toucans, hummingbirds, and more going about their daily routine. Lovely Cotinga is the flagship species at Pico Bonito, where it is perhaps easier to see than anywhere else within its range.

Honduras 167

Honduras Monkeys America Birds 167

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 28, 2014

Many gringos make their way to Baja California Sur every year, although the majority are probably heading to Cabo San Lucas to party and test the human limit of tequila endurance. La Paz is definitely worth a visit, if you have the time. Especially if you can fit in some birding?

San Jose 246

San Jose California Whales Whaling 246

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 3, 2018

I suppose if you can call a Rock Dove a good bird, then you can officially claim that you do indeed love and appreciate all things feathered but until then, don’t feel bad about limiting the “good bird” title to lifers, rarities, and colorful species like the Bay-headed Tanager.

Costa Rica 139

Costa Rica Italy Sparrows Birds 139

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2011

Bird song is defined in various ways, but I prefer the functional definition used by evolutionary biologists. One of the (undesirable, in my view) definitions of bird song is that it must be complex. Bird “instrumental music&# is bird song. A bird song is a communication having to do with sexual selection.

Zebras 264

Zebras Humane Birds Raised 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2013

It was really cute, they even spelled out the definition of anthropomorphism. And there’s the possibility of 30 endemic species, not to mention what cool thing might zip up over the Mexican border. There are very few that stand the test of time. My first outline and sample chapter was rejected for being “too technical.”

Rabbits 257

Rabbits Detroit Florida Minnesota 257