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Terror on the moors

10,000 Birds

It’s quite amazing how birds that we are used to seeing much of the year on coastal mudflats, exploiting the intertidal, change their habits and take to the hills to raise their young. Here on Shetland, it is the larger shorebirds that immediately catch the eye.

Puffins 224
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Streaks, Variegations, and Pirates

10,000 Birds

Frequently the field guide presents a curated selection of species on the same plate to illustrate key differences essential to nailing a positive identification. The largest and bulkiest of the three is the more or less ever-present Streaked Flycatcher. Unlike brood parasites, they raise their own young in their pirated nest.

Trinidad 146
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Black Kites breeding

10,000 Birds

The Black Kites are distinguished in flight by their forked tail , which easily separates them from the numerous Whistling Kites that are present around Broome. Black Kites are always present at the waste disposal site in very large flocks, because they scavenge among the rubbish. Black Kites on the beach.

Breeding 152
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Another Bird Surprise for Costa Rica- Buff-collared Nightjar!

10,000 Birds

The sightings raise several questions. If they had already been present, one would think that someone would have found them but then again, they were seen in a restricted and little visited area, and are nocturnal. Where did they come from? Have they always been there? Are other isolated populations waiting to be found?

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Sunbirds of Sepilok

10,000 Birds

But when a female is present, it may move into the light and show its full colors. Apparently, there is some controversy about whether this species is a sunbird or rather a spiderhunter – a paper presents arguments for both but seems to lean toward the sunbird association.

Indonesia 175
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Honestly, How Much Could It Rain?

10,000 Birds

Any California-raised person knows that it just doesn’t rain in California in June. I was raised in between the two cities, and visited that area earlier this month. One might think I had already had enough troubles on this outing, but, no, one more problem would present itself. Gull ID can be really hard!). I was wrong.

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The Dracula Bird

10,000 Birds

But when raised, they seem to have a sort of weird cape. In other words, they never raise their own young. Instead, they lay their eggs in other species’ nests, and let those nest-making birds (often significantly smaller than the cowbirds) raise their young. But in most light, they appear to have a shiny black color.