Uploads from Frank Shufelt, tagged nature

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:38:27 -0700

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) breeds in the southern most USA and their range extends through Mexico and Central America. A southern subspecies ranges as far south as southern Brazil and Paraguay.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks don't behave like other ducks. They used to be called tree ducks because they commonly roost in trees. They are amusing and fun to watch. They may be perched in a tree or sitting on the ground when suddenly a flock of 10 or 20 take to the air and fly in circles and then return to where they began their flight.

This image was taken at Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA.

Male Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:05:00 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) breeds in the grasslands and prairies of the central USA and Canada. They winter in the southwestern USA (Arizona, New Mexico and Texas) and south to central Mexico.

This male is in transition to breeding plumage and when complete will be much more attractive, nearly all black with white wing patches.

The Lark Bunting is one of several migrating species of sparrows and buntings that I observed during a week (April 4 - 12, 2013) in Arizona's Sonoran Desert at New River, Arizona about 35 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona. Four more species of sparrows are posted below in the comments section,

Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) - Feeding Junior

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:01:36 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) is the largest North American wren. They average about 20 cm or 8 inches in length. Both genders share the same markings. They inhabit the arid desert regions in the southern parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas in the USA. Their range also extends into southern Mexico.

The Cactus Wren is a noisy bird, but a lot less shy than other wrens making them fairly easy to photograph.

This image was taken at New River, Arizona about 35 miles north of Phoenix Arizona.

Male Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:18:31 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Phainopepla or Northern Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) is classified in the Ptilogonatidae family. It is considered a "Silky-flycatcher" and is related to the waxwings of the Bombycillidae family. This bird likes the hot climate of the southwest USA and Mexico. Its range extends north to central California and Utah and south to Central Mexico. The male Phainopepla is glossy black and shows white wing patches that are visible only in flight. The female is gray and shows a light gray wing patch in flight.

The Phainopepla feeds on berries, small insects and fruits.

This image was taken in the Sonoran Desert at New River, Arizona, USA, about 35 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona.

Male Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:38:48 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) is a common non-migratory ground-feeding bird that inhabits the desert regions of the southwestern USA and northern Mexico.

The Gambel's Quail can be confused with very similar California Quail. The black spot on the lower breast of the male Gambel's Quail is absent on the California Quail. Also; in desert habitat one would expect to find only the Gambel's Quail.

This bird rarely flies and is normally seen scurrying rapidly along the ground, spending as little time as possible in the open and hiding under or behind bushes. However; at dawn males can be seen perched above the ground and exposed as shown here while calling for their mate.

This image of the male was taken in the Sonoran Desert at New River, Arizona about 35 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:11:43 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) is sometimes called the Desert Sparrow because its preferred habitat is the scrub desert of the southwestern USA and Mexico.

This image was taken in the Sonoran Desert at New River, Arizona, USA, about 35 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona.

Male Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:34:35 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) is a medium-sized woodpecker that is common in its range that is mainly the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and northeastern Mexico. They often build their nest in the saguaro cactus of the desert regions of the southwestern United States. They are also encountered in southeastern California, southern Nevada, and New Mexico.

This woodpecker's habitat consists of low desert scrub typical of the Sonoran Desert.

This image of the male was taken at New River, Arizona about 35 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Juvenile Great Horned Owl, (Bubo virginianus)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 13:03:56 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

This is a juvenile Great Horned Owl, (Bubo virginianus) and is one of two that were hatched and fledged from the nest in early 2013 at Fort De Soto's north beach. On this day, March 29, 2013, Magdalena and I found both juveniles in a tall pine tree about 200 yards (180 meters) from where the nest was. Mama was in an adjacent tree keeping an eye on the two youngsters.

The Great Horned Owl, (Bubo virginianus) is widely distributed throughout North and South America. There are about 10 subspecies that vary in color. They are non-migratory and resident in their range from the arctic tundra south to Argentina but absent from the amazon basin.

Image taken at Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA.

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:55:38 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

This is one of hundreds of Robins that we saw feeding on the fruit of the Brazilan Pepper tree last January 20, 2013, during our unforgettable international meet up with:
Cimarrón Mayor from the Dominican Republic.
elgalopino from Canada.
Huascar Perez from the Dominican Republic.
Marino Gonzalez from the Dominican Republic.
Sergio Bitran M from Chile.
palomino595 my spouse originally from Colombia.

This image was taken on Black Point Wildlife Drive. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Titusville, Florida, USA.

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) 2016

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:56:08 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) is North America's largest sandpiper and is classified in the Scolopacidae with the curlews, wimbrels, godwits, snipes, Sanderlings, and other sandpipers.

The Long-billed Curlew breeds in the grasslands of western and central North America. In winter they travel to the Pacific, southeastern Atlantic, Mexico and Gulf of Mexico coasts. They are common and more numerous in the west.

Populations of the birds were seriously reduced due to hunting during the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries. They have since recovered and its status was changed in 2008 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature to Least Concern.

A reliable location for observing this wintering bird in the southeastern US is where this image was taken at Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Crimson-backed Tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:30:59 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Crimson-backed Tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus) is a beautiful medium sized tanager that inhabits tropical and sub-tropical zones to about 2,200 meters (7,400 feet) in Colombia, Venezuela, Panama and French Guyana.

This bird is easily identified by its deep crimson color and bright white lower mandible.

Like most tanagers, this bird feeds on invertebrates, fruits and seeds.

This image was taken in San Agustin, Huila, Colombia, South America.

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:53:20 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Marbled Godwit ia a large attractive wader or shore bird that is classified in the Scolopacidae that includes the godwits, sandpipers, curlews and snipes. The Marbled Godwit has a long two-toned bill, pink at top and black at the tip with a slight upward curve. The Marbled Godwit on average is about 45 cm (18 inches) tip of bill to tail.

The Marbled Godwit breeds in prairies of south central Canada and north central USA. They winter along Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Gulf of Mexico and as far south as Panama. In Colombia there has been only one recorded sighting of 2 birds near Cartagena in December 1969.

The Marbled Godwit forages on mudflats and marshes. They feed on small crustaceans, insects and parts of aquatic plants,

This image was taken at Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County, Florida, USA.

Royal Tern (Sterna maxima)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 09:22:10 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Royal Tern (Sterna maxima) is found along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. In South America their range extends as far as Peru on the Pacific coast and Argentina on the Atlantic coast. They are also found along the entire west coast of Africa in the South Atlantic.

In North America, the Royal Tern breeds from Virginia to Florida along the Atlantic coast and from California to Mexico on the Pacific coast.

This is our second largest Tern, about 50 cm (20 inches) in length The largest being the similar and slightly larger Caspian Tern. The two species are easily differentiated by the color of the bill that is orange for the Royal Tern and nearly red for the Caspian Tern. The under-wing and primary wing tip color of the Royal Tern is much lighter, light gray, as shown here.

This image was taken at Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County, Florida, USA.

Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:29:08 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) is very closely related to the Northern Mockingbird of North America. The two compare similarly with regard to size, behavior and mimicking musical song. Unlike the Northern Mockingbird, the Tropical Mockingbird has a boldly white-tipped tail, and shows no white spots on in-flight open wings.

The Tropical Mockingbird is resident from southern Mexico to Northern Brazil and some Caribbean islands. They can be seen in towns, suburbs and rural areas to about 2,600 meters (7,700 feet) above sea level.

This bird was photographed in San Agustin, Huila, Colombia at about 2,000 meters (6,700 feet) above sea level.

Red-Crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:17:35 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

Those who are familiar with North American birds might quickly decide that this is a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Although the markings are similar, there would be no confusion in the field because the Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) shown here is much smaller than the Red-bellied. It’s no bigger than the North American Downy Woodpecker, about 6 3/4 inches head to tail.

The Red-crowned Woodpecker is resident year-round in its range from Costa Rica to northern South America including, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Tobago. It prefers open tropical and subtropical woodlands to altitudes of about 1,700 meters (5,700 feet) above sea level. This bird was photographed at about 2,000 meters (6,700 feet) altitude in San Agustin, Huila, Colombia. San Agustin is at the southern most extreme of this bird's range.

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:26:32 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

After a few days in Florencia, Colombia's gateway to the Amazon, we traveled west to San Agustin. In this mountainous region we encountered many birds not seen at lower altitudes.

The Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) is a common, widespread, friendly sparrow that inhabits urban, suburban, rural and wilderness areas at altitudes from 600 meters to 4,000 meters (2,000 to 13,000 feet) above sea level. Their range extends from southern Mexico to Tierra del Fuego in Chile and Argentina. In Tierra del Fuego they may be found near sea level.

This image was taken at San Agustin, Huila, Colombia on yet another rainy day. San Agustin is about 2,000 meters (6,700 feet) above sea level.

Female Yellow-bellied Seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:44:20 -0700

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Yellow-bellied Seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis) inhabits shrublands, grasslands, pastures and open areas from Costa Rica south to Bolivia and Brazil but they are absent from the amazon basin. They can be found to about 2,300 meters (7,700 feet) above sea level.

The Yellow-bellied Seedeater is territorial during the breeding season when they may be observed in pairs; otherwise they are usually seen in flocks sometimes with other seedeaters or grassquits. They are appropriately called seedeaters because as shown in this image, that's what they do.

The male of this species has a black hood and a white, sometimes slightly yellow, breast. It's a small bird about 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) in length. The Yellow-bellied Seedeater is classified in the Thraupidae with finches and tanagers.

This image was taken at San Agustin, Huila, Colombia at about 2,000 meters (6,700 feet) above sea level.

Bare-faced Ibis (Phimosus infuscatus)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 06:49:10 -0800

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Bare-faced Ibis (Phimosus infuscatus) is also known as the Whispering Ibis. They are resident throughout South America with the exception of central Amazonia, Chile and Peru. This is the most common species of Ibis encountered in Colombia. Their natural habitat is wetlands, rivers, streams and swamps at altitudes up to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet).

The pink beak, face, legs and feet are the markings that differentiate this bird from the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus).

This was our second lifer spotted along the highway on our return trip from Curillo to Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia.

From this same location we spotted two more interesting birds in distant trees.

White-eared Jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:25:25 -0800

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

Magdalena and I visited southern Colombia last November 2012. We were there only for a weekend to attend a family event and weren't able to dedicate much time to photography. However, we were so impressed with the bio diversity of this region that we felt compelled to schedule a return trip. We went back to Colombia on February 15, 2013 and were in the southern region until February 22. Although we saw lots of birds and added several species to our life lists, we found conditions very challenging. It rained a lot and skies were always cloudy and grey. The dense vegetation of the western Amazon basin made getting clear shots very difficult.

On our first day in the field we drove from Florencia about 150 km south to Curillo, Colombia. The highway was straight and flat through tropical lowlands skirting the western extremes of the Amazon basin. During the entire trip going south we experienced heavy rain that made photography impossible. After lunch we made the return trip to Florencia. Now it was late afternoon and the rain had stopped, but still with grey skies.

This White-eared Jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis) was our first photo opportunity as well as the first of several lifers that we encountered during the next few days.

The White-eared Jacamar’s range is restricted to western Amazonia in Colombia, Brazil and Peru. They can be observed perching on the limbs of dead trees near streams, rivers and swamps. They are easily identified by their white ear patch. They are about 20 cm (8 inches) in length.

Taken along the highway a few km north of Curillo, Caquetá, Colombia.

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

nobody@flickr.com (Frank Shufelt) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 04:21:27 -0800

Frank Shufelt posted a photo:

The Great Egret (Ardea alba) in breeding plumage and courtship display. It's obvious why during the 19th century these birds were hunted for their plumes. I'm pleased that feathers are not part of today's fashions. These birds have recovered the populations that were depleted through hunting. Their new threats are elimination of suitable habitat and changes to the ecosystems that effect their natural food supplies.

The Great Egret (Ardea alba) inhabits all the warmer regions of the world. They are found in North and South America, Central America, Caribbean, southern Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania,

Taken at Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Florida, USA.