Tag: american bird conservancy

At roughly three inches long, the tiny White-bellied Woodstar is about the size of a large insect. It’s part of a group of similarly small-sized hummingbirds that includes the Chilean Woodstar and the vulnerable Esmeraldas Woodstar, a species found only in Ecuador.

This hummingbird is easily identified by its namesake white belly patch, along with large white flank patches and a white stripe behind the eye. These ID features are common to both sexes, which otherwise look dissimilar. As with other hummingbird species, the male White-bellied Woodstar is the … Continue

The Greater Roadrunner belongs to a large avian family, the Cuculidae, which includes the Yellow-billed and Mangrove Cuckoos as well as larger, more terrestrial species such as the Rufous-Vented Ground-Cuckoo of Central and South America. The Greater Roadrunner’s scientific name, which translates to “Californian earth-cuckoo,” shows its affinity with this latter group. It’s the only ground cuckoo found in North America.

This charismatic cuckoo is also called Chaparral Cock, Snake Killer, Paisano, and Medicine Bird. It’s the basis for a popular Warner Brothers cartoon character, a frequent team mascot, … Continue

The Plain Chachalaca is a member of the Cracidae family, which includes large turkey or chicken-like tropical birds such as the Blue-Billed Curassow, Great Curassow, and Baudo Guan. Like many of its relatives, the Plain Chachalaca is highly social, living in flocks of up to 15 birds. However, this wary bird can be hard to spot amid its preferred habitat of thick, thorny scrub. It’s reluctant to fly, escaping threats by running or climbing through the underbrush.

When spotted, this chicken-like bird epitomizes the name “plain,” with drab, olive-brown … Continue