Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) new born chicks

Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) new born chicks

The Common Pauraque nests on the ground relying on its mottled colouration to avoid detection. Should danger approach the female will fly a short distance feigning a damaged wing to draw predators away from the nesting chicks.

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Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) Feeding

Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) Feeding

An easy to identify as there are no other birds like the Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus), being a frequent suburban bird most know him well. In woodlands, their preferred habitat, they are still common and fairly easy to track down by their unique call and bright plumage. Caaptured this one as he moved through Kilgwyn Mangrove.

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Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Order : Cuculiformes
Cuculiformes are group of birds made up of two distinct families, the Turacos (Musophagidae) made of 20 species found only in Africa, and Cuckoos (Cuculidae) containing around 127 species from around the world. The Cuckoos are an ancient group with no living near relatives, even the turacos are quite distinct with no intermediate connecting species. Cuckoos display a large variation on breeding habits as some are brood parasites, others make regular nests while others make communal nests.

Family : Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Cuckoos, as a group, tend to be forest birds often preferring dense thickets and are more likely to be heard than seen. While Cuckoos are found on every continent except Antarctica, subfamilies are restricted to one hemisphere or the other, for example the crotphafinae is wholly new world and the musophagidae containing 20 species are found only in Africa. Many species are brood parasites. Four genera inhabit the West Indies, all tend to be sluggish and difficult to locate, but quite tame. Most cuckoos are solitary, often furtive birds being inconspicuous even when relatively common, and apart from the communal nesting Ani they do not form flocks or even small groups.

Name : Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
Length : 28 - 30 cm ( 11 - 12 in )
Local Names : Rain Bird, Rain Crow, Coffin Bird

Similar to the Mangrove Cuckoo the Yellow-billed Cuckoo can be distinguished by it’s lack of any ochraceous buff on the underparts, the lack of any black around the eye, and a more obvious yellow lower mandible. It’s voice is higher pitched and less guttural, and the call ends in a rather deliberate cow-cow-cow-cow. It occupies similar habitat to that of the Mangrove Cuckoo, preferring lowland dry scrub woodland. It’s diet also consists of insects, spiders and small lizards.



#Yellow-billed Cuckoo #Coccyzus americanus #Cuckoos #Cuculidae #birds of the West Indies #birds of Trinidad & Tobago #birds of Tobago #birds


Bird identification images

White-lined Tanager

White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus)

White-lined Tanager

Order : Passeriformes
Also known as Passerines or perching birds. Any member of the largest avian order which includes more than 5,700 species, more than half of all living birds. Passerines are true perching birds with four toed feet, three toes facing forward and one larger toe facing backwards.

Family : Tanagers (Thraupidae)
The Tanagers are a large group of over 200 species of songbirds of new world forests and gardens mainly in the tropics. Many are brightly coloured. They range in size from 10 - 20 cm ( 4 - 8 in ), and most are arboreal, living in trees, undergrowth and shrub. The diet consists mainly of fruit, though some species eat insects.

Name : White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus)
Length : 18 cm ( 7½ in )
Local Names : Parson

The white-lined Tanager inhabits suburban areas and light woodland and forest edges where it feeds on fruit, nectar and insects. The male is a glossy black all over with a small patch of white on the underwing covets which are best observed when the bird is in flight, and has a partially white lower mandible. The female is entirely rufus brown. The pair are usually seen together. The nest is a large cup of leaves, usually situated in thick vegetation.


#White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus Tanagers Thraupidae Passeriformes birds of the West Indies birds of Trinidad & Tobago birds of Tobago birds


Bird identification images

White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus) female

Whimbrel

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

Whimbrel

Order : Gruiformes
Traditionally there were about 12 wading and terrestrial bird families that did not seem to belong to any other order and were classified together as Gruiformes. These include the Buzzards, Cranes, Crakes, Rails and Buttonquails. Recent DNA analysis however shows that they are more closely related to each other than to any other bird and the order has remained surprisingly intact.

Family : Rails (Rallidae)
Consisting of about 134 species in 33 genera the Rallidae family has, in some circles, been alleviated to that of ordinal status (Ralliformes). Most members inhabit damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers with reedbeds being a favoured habitat. Most nest in dense vegetation and are generally shy, secretive birds. Island species often become flightless, preferring to run or swim from danger than taking to wing, and most are more likely to be heard than seen. Numbers are threatened due to the introduction of terrestrial predators such as cats and rats.

Name : Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Length : 37 - 45 cm ( 14 - 18 in )

The Whibrel is a widespread wader breeding across much of sub arctic North America, Europe and Asia. It’s a migratory species, wintering in Africa, South America, including the Caribbean and southern North America, south Asia and Australasia. It is patterned grey brown above, underparts turning white on the belly, the long bill being decurved. The species feeds by probing soft mud for small invertebrates and by picking small crab and similar prey off the surface. Berries forming an important part of their diet prior to migration. The nest is a bare scrape on tundra or arctic moorland where 3 - 5 eggs are laid. Adults are very defensive of the nest even attacking humans who venture too close.


#Whimbrel #Numenius phaeopus #Rails #Rallidae #Gruiformes #wading birds #migrating birds #birds of Trinidad & Tobago #birds of Tobago #birds


Bird identification images

Tropical Mockingbird

Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)

Tropical Mockingbird

Order : Passeriformes
Also known as Passerines or perching birds. Any member of the largest avian order which includes more than 5,700 species, more than half of all living birds. Passerines are true perching birds with four toed feet, three toes facing forward and one larger toe facing backwards.

Family : Mockingbirds (Mimidae)
The mimidae family consists of about 34 species in 10 genera including Thrashers, Tremblers and Mockingbirds. The Mockingbird accounting for about 17 species in 4 genera. These birds are noted for their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of other birds and other outdoor sounds. They are confined to the New World and tend to be dull grey or brown in appearance.

Name : Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)
Length : 25 cm ( 10 in )
Local Names : Mockingbird, Day Clean

The Tropical Mockingbird is grey above with dark eye-steaks and whitish below, with a long white-tipped tail. It builds a rough nest of twigs in a bush or tree and is aggressively territorial while rearing it’s chicks, chasing off any bird that enters it’s territory with determination. They feed mainly on insects which they hunt in low bush or from the ground where they will open their wings causing a sudden shadow, grabbing any insects that instinctively move. They will also eat fruits and some berries. The Tropical Mockingbird is widespread in suburban areas, cultivated land, open countryside and forest edges, ranging through the West Indies, Central and South America.


#Tropical Mockingbird #Mimus gilvus #Mockingbirds #Mimidae #Passeriformes #birds of the West Indies #birds of Trinidad & Tobago #Birds of Tobago #birds

Bird identification images

Smooth-billed Ani

Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)

Smooth-billed Ani

Order : Cuculiformes
Cuculiformes are group of birds made up of two distinct families, the Turacos (Musophagidae) made of 20 species found only in Africa, and Cuckoos (Cuculidae) containing around 127 species from around the world. The Cuckoos are an ancient group with no living near relatives, even the turacos are quite distinct with no intermediate connecting species. Cuckoos display a large variation on breeding habits as some are brood parasites, others make regular nests while others make communal nests.

Family : Cuckoos and Anis (Cuculidae)
Ani’s consist of three tropical American species that make up the genus Crotophaga, subfamily of the Cuckoo family Cuculidae. All three are similar in appearance where the Smooth-billed or Common Ani (Crotophaga ani) which is recorded in Florida, West Indies, Central and South America,can be distinguished from the slightly larger Grooved Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) which has three distinct grooves in the upper mandible and ranges from southern North America through Central America to Northern South America. The largest aptly named the Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) which is found in the West Indies, Mexico and South America mainly east of the Andes. Apart from slight physical differences all three species display similar characteristics as described for the Smooth-billed Ani.

Name : Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)

An all black cuckoo, though the black is made up of intricately patterned blue and brown feathers, the Ani is easy to identify due to it’s distinctive curved bill. The tail, which, like other cuckoos, broadens towards the end and then tapers at the tip consists of only 8 feathers, which the bird uses to steady itself on what often appear to be precarious landings. The Ani live in groups of about twelve and feed mainly on grasshoppers and insects found at ground level. It is usual for at least one member of the group to remain on an open perch and sound the alarm, a shrill repeated ‘wer-ik’ at the approach of danger. The call is also used as members of the group fly with alternate glides to another location informing remaining members still feeding on the ground that the group is moving. The nest is a communal affair where several females usually deposit their eggs in layers, more or less separated by leaves, in a large bulky nest in the centre of a bush or tree. The lower eggs fail to hatch. The young are fed and guarded by all members of the group.

#Smooth-billed Ani ##Cuckoos Anis #Cuculidae #Cuculiformes #birds of North America #birds of the West indies #birds of South America #birds of Tobago #birds of Trinidad & Tobago #birds



Bird identification images

Shiny Cowbird

Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)

Shiny Cowbird

Order : Passeriformes
Also known as Passerine’s or perching bird’s. Any member of the largest avian order which includes more than 5,700 species, more than half of all living birds. Passerines are true perching birds with four toed feet, three toes facing forward and one larger toe facing backwards.

Family : Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)
The Icteridae is a family made up of 88 species of diverse songbirds from across the Americas including blackbirds, grackles, orioles, cowbirds, meadowlarks, and oropendolas. The majority of Icterids have black in the plumage with yellow also being a predominant colour in many species. Males are usually decidedly larger than females.

Name : Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)
Length 18 - 20 cm (7 - 8 in)
Local Names : Lazy bird, Blackbird’s cousin.

Originally from South America, this species is considered a rather recent arrival to the West Indies. The male is black with a strong violet gloss, the female a greyish brown with the juvenile being similar to the female. The song is a series of loud, musical whistles and a melodious warble and also soft unmusical call notes.The Shiny Cowbird is omnivorous it’s diet consisting of insects and seeds. It is a bird of open countryside and suburban areas and may roost colonially with Grackles. The Cowbird is parasitic, the female laying her eggs in the nests of other, usually smaller species. The foster parents are left to rear the young Cowbird, quite often at the expense of their own young.



#Shiny Cowbird #Molothrus bonariensis #Blackbirds #Icteridae #Passeriformes #songbirds #birds of the West Indies #parasitic birds #birds #birds of Tobago #birds of Trinidad & Tobago


Bird identification images

Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) female

Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) juvenile

Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) male

Palm Tanager

Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum)

Palm Tanager

Order : Passeriformes
Also known as Passerine’s or perching birds. Any member of the largest avian order which includes more than 5,700 species, more than half of all living birds. Passerines are true perching birds with four toed feet, three toes facing forward and one larger toe facing backwards.

Family : Tanagers (Thraupidae)
The Tanagers are a large group of over 200 species of songbirds of new world forests and gardens mainly in the tropics. Many are brightly coloured. They range in size from 10 - 20 cm ( 4 - 8 in ), and most are arboreal, living in trees, undergrowth and shrub. The diet consists mainly of fruit, though some species eat insects.

Name : Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum)
Length : 17cm ( 7 in )

Closely related to the Blue-grey Tanager, the Palm Tanager is a dull olive green all over with yellowish wing coverts and dark primaries. It is a bird of cultivated land and suburban areas, though tends to feed at higher levels, often in Palm trees foraging among the palm leaves for insects, or taking berries and fruits from other trees. The nest is usually built in Palm trees, but may also be placed under the eaves of houses.



#Palm Tanager #Thraupis palmarum #Tanagers #Thraupidae #Passeriformes #perching birds #songbirds #arboreal birds #birds #birds of Tobago #birds of Trinidad & Tobago


Bird identification photos