Wild Bird Wednesday 710 - Cuban Grassquit

The Cuban Grassquit (Phonipara canora) is a small bird that is endemic to Cuba.  Both male and female birds are about 11cm long

This species is a member of the Tanager family.  This family of birds are restricted to the Western Hemisphere and mainly to the tropics. About 60% of tanagers species live in South America, and almost a third of these species live in the Andes. Most species are endemic to a relatively small area.

According to my sources the Cuban Grassquit can be found in 'subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and heavily degraded former forests'.  The last of this list of habitats closely matches my experience as I photographed these birds at the side of a farm track near a road! 

The male birds have a black face and breast, while the females are paler around the face, and have chestnut tints in these areas.

When this post publishes I will be very near the end of my trip to India - so hopefully there will be lots of new birds (and other things!) coming along soon!

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the link below.  Cheers  SM.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 709 - Cuban Emerald

The Cuban Emerald (Riccordia ricordii) is a humming bird that is described as 'pugnacious' in a number of the sources I have accessed.  That's not how I remember this bird - but I was probably just being too excited at being in the presence of hummers to cast a judgement on its behaviour!

Despite its common name this species can be found in a few places outside of Cuba including on Grand Bahama.  These birds were all photographed in Cuba.

As can be seen from a number of these images, this species will readily feed around feeders, and readily uses other human-made habitats including gardens.  Possibly because of this adaptability, this species is not considered to be under threat.

Male Cuban emeralds are between 10.5 and 11.5 cm long, while females are 9.5 to 10.5 cm long. The species weighs between 2.5 and 5 g (0.088 and 0.18 oz).  So while it may be pugnacious it is not very big!

I'd love to get back to the wider Americas to see more species of humming bird - but I think I may have to wait a while.  Meanwhile I will be in the second week of my current adventure when this post publishes.

Hope all is well.  Stewart M.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 708 - Canada Goose

The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), sometimes referred to as the Canadian Goose is a large goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. 

It is native to the Arctic and temperate regions of North America. It has been introduced widely around the world and can now be found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands.  

The species seems to be well suited to living in human-altered areas, and has established breeding colonies in urban and cultivated habitats, which provide food and few natural predators. The success of this common park species has led to it often being considered a pest species in many regions where it has been introduced. 

Thankfully these are legitimate Canadian Canada Geese and not some sort of introduced blow in!

Interestingly, a small 'version' of this goose which was once considered a sub-species of the Canada Goose has recently be elevated to full species level; it is called the Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) and it can be separated from the Canada Goose by its smaller size (!), its shorter neck and smaller beak. 

By the time this post publishes I will have just started a new adventure that will keep me away from home for a couple of weeks: it should include many species of new birds and possibly even tigers!  More details to come.

As ever, to join in with WBW click the link below.  Cheers  SM

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Wild Bird Wednesday 707 - Cuban parrot

The Cuban Parrot (Amazona leucocephala), also known as the Cuban Amazon or the Rose-Throated Parrot, is a medium-sized mainly green parrot found in Cuba, the Bahamas and Cayman Islands in the Caribbean.

Interestingly, the Cuban Parrot  lives in different habitats on each of the different islands where it is found. In Cuba it can be found in woodlands and dry forests It was once widespread throughout Cuba, but it is now mainly confined to the forested areas of the main island. It is thought that there are about 10,000 individuals of this species in Cuba.

I think this individual is feeding on figs.

I'm always amazed at what parrots can do with their feet!

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the blue link below.  Cheers  SM

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Wild Bird Wednesday 706 - White-Throated Sparrow

According to my limited sources the White-Throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) breeds in northern North America and winters in the southern United States.  Which makes me wonder what it was doing in Southern Canada in December.  

There is a good chance I have the ID wrong - what are peoples thoughts?

Anyway, assuming it is a White-Throated Sparrow it's a rather dapper looking bird, and I was pleased to see a sparrow with such colourful plumage - I was brought up with much less flamboyant sparrows.  This bird is common in bushy patches and in mixed woodlands - which is exactly the type of habits I saw it in!

Sorry this post is a wee bit short - I have a lot on today!

Hope all is well with everyone!

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Cheers - SM

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705 - Wild Bird Wednesday - White-Breasted Nuthatch

Before I went to Cuba I spent a wonderful time in Canada, hosted by David from Travels with Birds.  

One of the birds I was looking forward to seeing in Canada was the White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis).  As a kid in the UK seeing the European Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) was always a source of excitement.  I believe this species has expanded its range in the UK in recent years and is now more 'visible' than in the past - but we have no nuthatches in Australia so I was keen to catch up with one.

The White-Breasted Nuthatch is the  largest nuthatch in North America.  This species is found in much of southern Canada, most of the United States and areas of Mexico. This species shows a good deal of variation over its range and it has been suggested that it is in fact not a single species, but four separate species.  At present this suggestion has not been accepted by the taxonomic powers that be.

As you can see from these pictures this is a species that will readily come to bird tables and feeding stations - so maybe this weeks WBW should really be called Partially Wild Bird Wednesday!

We are experiencing some terribly hot weather here, so I is very nice to see some pictures from a much cooler time and place!

As ever, to join in with WBW, click on the link below.  Cheers  SM

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