Yesterday I posted about the Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago, and it was noted that one of its former subspecies from North America had been split off as a full species.
The new species was called Wilson’s Snipe, Gallinago delicata. One of the plumage differences is that the Wilson’s Snipe has more barring under the wing giving it a darker appearance. You can see this in the image above.
Wilson's Snipe, Gallinago delicata
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The Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago, is found in in Europe Asia and Africa. There are two subspecies, G. g. faeroeensis, which is found in the Faroes, Orkney and Shetland, and Iceland, and the nominate subspecies which is found every where else. The above bird is of the former subspecies as it eas found in Orkney.
There was formerly thought to be an additional race in North America, but it has been split to full species status and is now known as Wilson’s Snipe, G. delicata.
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The Tyrant Flycatchers are the largest family of birds with more than 400 member species. They can be found from the southern parts of South America to the northern reaches of North America but reach their greatest numbers in the tropics.
The Gray-capped Flycatcher, Myiozetetes granadensis, ranges from Honduras in Central America to Bolivia in South America. It is somewhat similar to the Social Flycatcher, M. similis, which lacks the distinctive gray head of this species. It often nests near water where it hunts in typical flycatcher fashion, sallying forth from a favored perch to catch insects.
This bird was seen near Bouquette in the Chiriqui highland region of Panama.
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Filed under: Flowers, Video — Harold Stiver @ 7:00 am
Ox-Eye Daisy
B.B. Mandelbrot in “The Fractal Geometry of Nature” describes fractals as “a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is (at least approximately) a reduced-size copy of the whole”. There are many things in nature that exhibit some of these characteristics such as snowflakes, crystals, rivers,and some plant structures.
There are some interesting software programs that generate fractals. Have a look at the video below of one such creation.
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It is always a thrill to see this tiny heron, more often I only hear it, or perhaps catch a fleeting glimpse. The Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis, breeds from Canada to Northern Argentina. In winter they move south from the colder northern portions of its range. The breeding mals shows a red portion at the base of its bill.
Least Bittern female
Least Bittern male
Least Bittern female
This pair was photographed in Texas, near the Louisiana border.
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I am a big fan of the little wrens, they seem to have a bit of attitude for a such a small bird. The Ochraceous Wren, Troglodytes ochraceus, is endemic to the highlands of Panama and Costa Rica. It builds its nest in epiphytes about 15-20 feet high.
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Stumble It!
