Azara’s Spinetail (Synallaxis azarae)

This skulky spinetail was seen in Colombia, near La Suiza. It took awhile to get this photo because this bird normally stays hidden in the brush.

Red-headed Woodpecker

On our frequent spring pilgrimage to Northern Ohio, we see many warblers species breeding and more migrating north into Canada. It is a special treat if we see the Red-headed Woodpecker. It is a beautiful woodpecker with gorgeous sharp color lines, and what is not to love about that striking red head? This one was photographed at Maumee Bay State Park, Ohio.

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)

I first saw this small sparrow in Ecuador before I knew I was a birder. It caught my eye and I fell in love with them. This photo was taken in near-zero temperature in the high Andes Mountains of Columbia, in February 2022. This explains why it is puffed up into a sphere. I didn’t notice the leg band on the left leg until we returned home and I cropped the photo.

Masked Trogon (Trogon personatus)

The Masked Trogon is common in the Andes of Colombia. This is a female. The male looks entirely different, and I hope to post a photo of the male soon. This one was seen in the Rio Blanca watershed east of Manizales, Colombia.

Prothonotary Warbler

This stunning warbler species flits around the understory of dark forests like a yellow firefly. This individual used the rotten top of a vertical stanchion on the boardwalk to build a nest. It was an easy photo because he returned to the boardwalk railing every few minutes before entering his nest. All I had to do was aim and wait .

The Spectacled Parrotlet

Photos of the male and the female.

A tiny parrot found in northern South America and Panama. It can be up to about 5” (13cm) in length. The male has blue highlighting on his wings and around his eyes. The female has no blue markings.

Bar-crested Antshrike

The male’s upper parts are rufous-colored. Both the male and female were seen at Laguna de Sonso, Colombia.

The female lacks rufous coloring on its upper parts.

Red-headed Barbet

This is the male Red-headed Barbet. We saw quite a few of these in mid-altitude forests. They never ceased to amaze me. Although the male has the bright-red head and face, the female is beautiful too.

Andean Condor

Taken at Parque Condor a short distance from Otavalo, Ecuador. This park is a hospital for injured birds and a permanent residence for those who are beyond return to the wilds.

Cape May Warbler

Whenever I see this pretty warbler I think that someone smeared raspberry jam around its eyes. This one was seen in Northern Ohio in 2018.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet breeds in the far north of the North American continent during the summer. In winter its range covers most of the southern half of the United States including much of California.

This little bird is always on the go as if it is constantly drinking coffee. They have a characteristic call that some liken to a small engine trying to start, but never quite making it.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

This species occurs in Central California, but we normally do not see them often and when we do they tend to be at higher elevations. We were surprised to find this one at Sandy Wool Lake at Ed Levin Park in Santa Clara County, California which is lower than we normally find them. If you are not familiar with nuthatches, upside down is a typical eating posture.

Savannah Sparrow

A small bird with a yellow eyebrow. These are common on the Central California coast where they can be found in grass, sedge marshes, and reedy areas. I photographed this one on a lupine plant in Kodiak Island, Alaska.