Semipalmated Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Order : Charadriiformes
This is a diverse order which includes about 350 species of birds in all parts of the world. Most Chardriiformes are strong flyers, some species performing the most extensive migration of any birds. Most live near water and eat invertebrates or other similar small animals and most nest on the ground. the order is split into 3 main suborders; Charadrii (about 200 species including Sandpipers, Plovers and Lapwings ), Lari ( about 92 species including Gulls, Turns, Skimmers and Jaegers), and Alcidae ( about 21 species including Auks, Guillemots and Puffins)

Family : Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)
Predominantly birds of arctic regions, the Scolopacidae is a large family of waders or shorebirds, the majority of which eat small invertebrates picked out from mud, soil or sand. Different bill lengths mean that different species can feed in the same habitat without competing with each other. They are usually found in groups on or near the beach. For the most part they are silent in winter and on migration.

Name : Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
Length : 13 - 15 cm ( 5 - 6 in )

Adults have black legs and a short straight dark bill. The upperparts are dark grey-brown, underparts white, head and neck are tinged light grey-brown. Their breeding habitat is the southern tundra in Canada and Alaska where they nest near water. The males make several shallow scrapes, the female chooses one and adds grass and other materials to line the nest. The male assists in incubation, and a few days after hatching the female leaves the young with the male, however the young are able to feed themselves. The birds forage on mud flats and beaches picking up aquatic insects and crustaceans by both sight and feel. (the bill). They are long distance migrants and winter in coastal South America, the Caribbean and southern North America, migrating in flocks that can number in the hundreds of thousands, but such large groups are highly dependent on some key stop over habitats during their migration.

#Semipalmated Sandpiper #Calidris pusilla #Sandpipers #Scolopacidae #Charadriiformes #arctic shorebirds #migrant birds #coastal birds #North American migrant birds #birds #birds of Tobago

Bird identification images

Rufus-vented Chachalaca

Rufus-vented Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficauda)

Rufus-vented Chachalaca

Order : Galliformes
The Galliformes include about 240 species of fowl-like birds of which the best known is the Turkey, but also contains birds like pheasants, chickens, partridge, peacock, and grouse. All Galliformes have the same general body plan, adapted for a terrestrial existence and although no galliforme is flightless, none are capable of long flights.

Family : Chachalacas (Cracidae)
The Chachalacas compromise 11 species of the lesser known Cracidae family, which also includes Guans and Curassows. Cracidae are mostly black or brown most having lores or some form of ornament on either the face or crown.

Name : Rufus-vented Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficauda)
Length : 55 cm ( 22 in )
Local Names : Cocrico
Best known for it’s loud call, the Rufus-vented Chachalaca is a forest bird but will venture into secondary growth and even urban areas. The Cocrico is quite nimble for it’s size and can move through thick bush silently and with astonishing speed, the Cocrico’s hind toe being longer and more useful than other Galliformes due to the time spent in trees. In the open, it will normally run for cover as opposed to taking to flight. Soon after hatching the young leave the nest and join their parents as the group move around the forest in search of young shoots, fruit and berries.


#Rufus-vented Chachalaca #Ortalis ruficauda #Cocrico #Chachalacas #Cracidae #Galliformes #fowls #forest birds #tropical birds #birds #birds of Tobago


Bird identification photos

Rufus-brested Hermit

Rufus-brested Hermit

Order : Apodiformes
The Apodiformes are made up of two distinct groups of aerial masters, the Swifts (Apodi) and Hummingbirds (Trochili). The Swifts being split into two families True Swifts (Apodidae) and Tree Swifts (Hemiprocnidae), The Hummingbirds are one family (Trochilidae). The feet in true Swifts are weak and they are unable to perch on wires or branches but cling to a vertical surface except when nesting. Swifts drink by swooping down at the surface of a body of water and take nesting materials and prey in full flight. Most courtship rituals take place on the wing and copulation is known to take place in full flight. Tree Swifts and Hummingbirds can perch, and some species can be highly territorial and will attack vastly larger birds such as Hawks, and even mammals such as Humans.

Family : Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Hummingbirds are only found in the Americas ranging from southern Canada and Alaska to Tierre del Fuego, including the West Indies. Some northern American species migrate thousands of kilometres south, an amazing feat for such small birds, and certain species are increasingly migrating to eastern North America due to the hanging of artificial feeders in gardens, surviving in temperatures as low as -20%C. They are capable of hovering in mid air and they are the only bird that can fly backwards. All are nectar eaters being attracted to brightly coloured flowers, mainly red, and most take insects. Some species have developed special bills adapted to specific flowers. Unlike other birds the Hummingbirds wings connect at the shoulder and they can achieve between 15 and 80 beats per second depending on the size of the bird, the larger the bird, the slower the beat. The Bee Hummingbird of Cuba and the Isle of Pines is the smallest living bird, measuring around 5.5 cm and weighing 2g.

Name : Rufus-brested Hermit (Glaucis hirsuta)
Length : 12 cm ( 5 in )

The Rufus-brested Hermit is one of the larger hummingbirds. It’s mostly brown with a long decurved bill, the lower mandible being yellow, and has white tail tips. Both sexes being similar. It feeds chiefly on nectar from a variety of plants found in shaded area’s of forest and cultivated land, and can usually be seen around cool mountain streams where it may also search for spiders and insects. The nest is a fragile hammock attached by spiders webs to the underside of a fern or similar plant, often overhanging a bank or stream.


#Rufus-brested Hermit #Glaucis hirsuta #Hummingbirds #Trochilidae #Apodiformes #birds #birds of Tobago



Bird identification photos

Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaia interpres)

Ruddy Turnstone

Order : Charadriiformes
This is a diverse order which includes about 350 species of birds in all parts of the world. Most Chardriiformes are strong flyers, some species performing the most extensive migration of any birds. Most live near water and eat invertebrates or other similar small animals and most nest on the ground. the order is split into 3 main suborders; Charadrii (about 200 species including Sandpipers, Plovers and Lapwings ), Lari ( about 92 species including Gulls, Turns, Skimmers and Jaegers), and Alcidae ( about 21 species including Auks, Guillemots and Puffins)

Family : Turnstone (Charadriidae)
The bird family Charadriidae is made up of about 64 to 66 species and includes the Plovers, Turnstones, Dotterels and Lapwings. They are small to medium sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks and long usually pointed wings. The have world wide distribution and inhabit open countryside usually near water. They feed mostly on insects, worms and other invertebrates, usually obtained by a run and pause technique rather than probing like some other wader groups.

Name : Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaia interpres)
Length : 21 - 25 cm ( 8 - 10 in )

A short legged chunky shorebird the Ruddy Turnstone ranges from northern North America to Europe and Asia. The North American species winters as far south as Argentina and Chile. In breeding plumage the species develops striking chestnut upperparts with black across the wing covets, underparts are white, the legs orange. The bill is small slender and dark. Usually seen by the coast in small numbers, the Ruddy Turnstone scavenges for small crustaceans and insects. The flight is fairly strong and direct. In the evenings each member of the group takes a sea bath, usually immersing itself completely under water, preening is accompanied with short erratic flapping that may lift the bird a few inches off the ground.



#Ruddy Turnstone #Arenaia interpres #Turnstone #Charadriidae #Charadriiformes #shorebirds #North American migrants #birds #birds of Tobago

Bird identification photos

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird (Chrysolampis mosquitus)

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

Order : Apodiformes
The Apodiformes are made up of two distinct groups of aerial masters, the Swifts (Apodi) and Hummingbirds (Trochili). The Swifts being split into two families True Swifts (Apodidae) and Tree Swifts (Hemiprocnidae), The Hummingbirds are one family (Trochilidae). The feet in true Swifts are weak and they are unable to perch on wires or branches but cling to a vertical surface except when nesting. Swifts drink by swooping down at the surface of a body of water and take nesting materials and prey in full flight. Most courtship rituals take place on the wing and copulation is known to take place in full flight. Tree Swifts and Hummingbirds can perch, and some species can be highly territorial and will attack vastly larger birds such as Hawks, and even mammals such as Humans.

Family : Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Hummingbirds are only found in the Americas ranging from southern Canada and Alaska to Tierre del Fuego, including the West Indies. Some northern American species migrate thousands of kilometers south, an amazing feat for such small birds, and certain species are increasingly migrating to eastern North America due to the hanging of artificial feeders in gardens, surviving in temperatures as low as -20%C. They are capable of hovering in mid air and they are the only bird that can fly backwards. All are nectar eaters being attracted to brightly coloured flowers, mainly red, and most take insects. Some species have developed special bills adapted to specific flowers. Unlike other birds the Hummingbirds wings connect at the shoulder and they can achieve between 15 and 80 beats per second depending on the size of the bird, the larger the bird, the slower the beat. The Bee Hummingbird of Cuba and the Isle of Pines is the smallest living bird, measuring around 5.5 cm and weighing 2g.

Name : Ruby-topaz Hummingbird (Chrysolampis mosquitus)
Length : 8 - 9 cm ( 3 - 3½ in )

A Hummingbird of open countryside, garden and cultivated areas, the Ruby-Topaz ranges from the Lesser Antilles and tropical northern South America south to Brazil. The male has green glossed dark brown upperparts the crown and nape are glossy red and the throat and breast are a brilliant gold, though these colours only show at specific angles. The tail is chestnut tipped with black. Females and immature irds are brownish above with grey below and a short black strip from chin to breast. The bill is short and straight. This species can be seen taking nectar from trees and bushes and flowers, or hunting for insects at the forest edge. The female lays two eggs in a tiny cup nest in the fork of a low branch.


#Ruby-topaz Hummingbird #Chrysolampis mosquitus #Hummingbirds #Trochilidae #Apodiformes #birds of the West Indies #Birds of Tobago #birds


Bird identification photos

Royal Turn

Royal Turn (Thalasseus maximus)

Royal Turn

Order : Charadriiformes
This is a diverse order which includes about 350 species of birds in all parts of the world. Most Chardriiformes are strong flyers, some species performing the most extensive migration of any birds. Most live near water and eat invertebrates or other similar small animals and most nest on the ground. the order is split into 3 main suborders; Charadrii (about 200 species including Sandpipers, Plovers and Lapwings ), Lari ( about 92 species including Gulls, Turns, Skimmers and Jaegers), and Alcidae ( about 21 species including Auks, Guillemots and Puffins)

Family : Gulls and Turns (Laridae)
The Laridae family compromises two distinct subfamilies Lari (Gulls) and Sterninae (Turns). Gulls account for over 40 species, and are heavily built web footed scavengers that take insects, molluscs, crustaceans, fish and garbage from beaches and shorelines, worms and grubs from fields, and some will even take eggs and chicks of other birds including their own. Turns account for about 40 species of slender water birds that often form large breeding colonies nesting on the ground on remote Islands sometimes numbering millions of individuals. Many Terns are long distance migrants covering thousands of kilometres in just a few days.

Name : Royal Turn (Thalasseus maximus)
Length : 45 - 50 cm ( 18 - 20 in )
Local Names : Sprat Bird, Gabby

The Royal Turn has two distinct races, Sterna maxima breeds on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of southern North America and Mexico, and throughout the West Indies. While Sterna albididorsalis breeds in coastal west Africa. The species nests in colonies on coasts and Islands the nest being a scrape on the ground where one or two eggs are laid. The male will offer the female fish as part of the courtship ritual. Like all white Turns it’s fiercely defensive of it’s nest and young. The Royal Turn’s diet consists of fish which it plunge dives to catch, usually diving directly as opposed to the ‘stepped hover’ preferred by the Arctic Turn. The Royal Turn is a large crested Turn with a heavy orange or yellow bill, grey upperparts and white underparts. It’s black cap turns grey in winter.


#Royal Turn Thalasseus maximus Gulls Turns Laridae Sterninae Sterna maxima Charadriiformes migrating birds seabirds Sea Birds birds birds of Tobago

Bird identification photos

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus)

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Order : Piciformes
The order Piciformes consists of 6 families of largely arboreal birds. The Picidae (Woodpeckers and relatives over 200 species), the capitonidae (Barbets about 80 species), the Ramphastidae (Toucans about 42 species), the Galbulidae (Jacamars 18 species), the Bucconidae (Puffbirds, Nunbirds and Nunlets 33 species), and the Indicatoridae ( Honeyguides 17 species). All bar the Honeyguides are hole nesters, the Honeyguides being parasitic. In general they are insectivorous, and although the Toucan’s main diet is fruit the Toucan will also take insects, eggs and small birds.

Family : Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Woodpeckers have a near world wide distribution with the notable exceptions of Australia and New Guinea. They are generally resident birds woodland birds most spending their entire lives in trees, a few feeding on the ground. Most feed mainly on insects, but fruits and berries are also taken, and some species regularly feed on sap from certain trees (Sapsuckers). Known for the drumming sounds emitted against tree trunks or even metal poles, this unusual behaviour is attributed to several different factors including the excavation of the nest, marking territory, and, to a lesser extent, searching for food. Most tend to be solitary birds being seen alone or in pairs.

Name : Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus)
Length : 17 cm ( 7 in )

The Red-crowned Woodpecker is one of the few common birds of Tobago not found in Trinidad. The upperparts and wings are barred black and white, the underparts are olive brown, while the crown and nape are red, often to a greater degree in males. The nest is dug in Palm trees, usually dead or decaying ones, and occassionally in telephone poles. Both parents attending to nesting duties. It feeds mainly on insects and grub taken from amoung trees, but will take ripe fruits, especially paw paw. It inhabits lowland open countryside, woodland and suburban areas.



#Red-crowned Woodpecker #Melanerpes rubricapillus #Woodpeckers #Picidae #Piciformes #arboreal birds #endemic birds of Tobago #birds #birds of Tobago



Bird identification photos

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

Osprey

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Osprey

Order : Falconiformes
Falconiformes are seldom abundant but may be common or widespread. The 290 species occur around the world except in Antarctica and some Oceanic Islands. None are nocturnal, and all have hooked beaks used for tearing flesh from prey held in their strong feet, the primary means of killing their prey except for Vultures that feed on carrion. Their sight and hearing are highly developed, but their sense of smell is either poor or non existent. The wings are usually long and broad. Falconiformes are usually monogamous and have exceptionally long lives, most have low reproduction rates.

Family : Ospreys (Pandiondae)
The Osprey differs in several respects from other diumal birds of prey and is treated as the only member of the family Pandiondae.

Name : Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Length : 53cm - 63 cm ( 21 - 25 in )
Local Names : Fish Hawk

This is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish eater with near world wide distribution. It is Brown above, white below with a white head often streaked with brown. The Osprey has special adaptations suited to it’s main prey of fish with closable nostrils to keep water out when diving, a reversible outer toe, and backward facing scale on the talons which act as barbs when catching fish. It’s grip is so strong that some Ospreys have been known to drown when they have caught prey that was heavier than expected. The Osprey locates it’s prey from the air, often hovering before diving feet first into the water to seize a fish. As it returns to the air the fish is usually turned head forward to reduce drag and will often pause in mid flight and ruffle it’s feathers to shake off excessive water. The raptor finds a suitably quite perch, normally quite high in a tree, where it may take several hours to eat it’s catch. Ospreys breed by freshwater lakes and sometimes on coastal brackish waters. The nest is a large heap of sticks built in trees, rocky outcrops or on man made structures such as telephone poles, where the female lays 2 - 4 eggs. Both parents raise the young, and usually mate for life. European Osprey migrate to Africa, USA and Canada Osprey migrate to southern North America, Throughout the Caribbean and South America. Autralasian Ospreys tend not to migrate.


#Osprey #Pandion haliaetus #Fish Hawk #Ospreys #Pandiondae #Falconiformes #migrant birds #birds of prey #birds #birds of Tobago



Bird identification photos

Orange-winged Parrot

Orange-winged Parrot (Amazona amazonica)

Orange-winged Parrot

Order : Psittaciformes
Commonly referred to as Parrots, the Psittaciformes are a group of about 300 species of brightly coloured, noisy tropical birds which include Budgerigars, Macaws, Amazons, Parakeets and cockatoos. They have a characteristic curved beak and a generally erect stance, the four toes being split evenly with two facing forwards and two backwards, with one toe always being longer. Most inhabit forests although some are grassland birds and most feed on plant material.

Family : Parrots (Psittacidae)
The Parrot family extends across most of the warmer parts of the world including India, south east Asia, and west Africa, with the largest numbers of the species in Australasia, South and Central America. Many species can imitate human speech and other sounds and many have been exploited as pets encouraging an often illegal trade in the birds and threatening many species with extinction. The smaller species tend to feed on grass seeds, fruit and berries while the larger species tend to feed on fruits, nuts, bulbs and roots from the ground.

Name : Orange-winged Parrot (Amazona amazonica)
Length : 32 cm ( 13 in )

This Amazon Parrot is green with orange in the wings and tail. The forehead and lores are blue with yellow on the crown and cheeks. It is a forest bird that nests in tree holes, often in palm trees, feeding mainly on fruits, seeds and flowers, either as individuals or pairs, or in groups of up to 20 or so. Sometimes considered a pest, a group of Parrots can cause damage to cocoa crops. Like most Parrots they are captured and sold as pets, though they are not known to be a great talker.


#Orange-winged Parrot #Amazona amazonica #Parrots #Psittacidae #Psittaciformes #Birds of the West Indies #birds #birds of Tobago



Bird identification photos