Geothlypis speciosa

Endemic to central Mexico, the Black-polled Yellowthroat is only known within four population centers located in the states of Guanajuato, México, and Michocán. Like many other species of yellowthroat, it typically found within riparian and palustrine areas, particularly within reedbeds. It can be visually distinguished from other species of yellowthroat by a longer, narrower bill, a dramatic black mask and dark cap, and overall darker coloration than other members of Geothlypis.

Adult Male

BirdLife International 2012. Geothlypis speciosa. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2

Basileuterus belli

The Golden-browed Warbler is a resident of cloud forests that ranges from Tamaulipas, where it occupies the high-elevation areas of the El Cielo biosphere reserve, to Honduras and El Salvador. Although this species typically remains on the same territory year-round, during the winter it has been observed joining mixed species foraging flocks that pass through their home range.

Typical Adult

I wrote a short personal piece about my experiences as an intern for IBP working with Great Gray Owls back in 2006 for their 2012 annual report. It’s located here: http://www.birdpop.org/DownloadDocuments/2012_IBP_Annual_Report.pdf.

The bird that started it all…

Hylomanes momtula

The Tody Motmot is a reclusive resident of mid-to-low elevation moist tropical forests of southern Mexico, Central America, and northern Colombia. Although they are probably common within their range, they are rarely seen due to their secretive nature and their tendency to remain very still throughout the day as they wait for prey. Although they do not posses the racquet-like tail typical of other motmots, they still display the behavior of slowing swinging their tails back and forth like a pendulum that is characteristic of the family.

Typical adult

Notes from the Field

This is a piece I wrote for Daily Kos near the end of a two month stay spent working in Honduras

A possible symbol for the park – the Long-billed Hermit

Since the last time I wrote, I’ve left the fires of California for far greener pastures to the south. Once again, my mission was ornithological, although I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting involved in this time. Operation Wallacea aka OpWall, a British research and ecotourism organization, hired me to be part of their research staff at Cusuco National Park in Honduras based purely off of a resume that starts with the header Lynn Schofield: Mercenary Ornithologist without inquiring about the details of my activities or into the particulars of my character. In kind, I didn’t bother to ask too many questions about Operation Wallacea before I started my expedition. At the time, I was tired of traveling and a little bit ambivalent about going, so I hadn’t admitted to myself I was leaving or even purchased plane tickets until the last moment.

Buteo Lineatus

This medium sized generalist is able to hunt anything from birds to fish and nests commonly in the eastern US and in the Californias and observed during the winter as far south as southern Oaxaca. Despite existing in a wide variety of habitats on both sides of the continent, they interestingly do not typically occur in the western or midwestern United States. This separation has created two noticeably different  group of birds with the eastern birds supporting much drabber plumage than their much redder Californian counterparts. Juvenile birds, especially in the east, are easily confused with Broad-winged hawks, but they can usually be differentiated in flight by the dramatic translucent-white crescents in the wing.

Californian adult

Circus cyaneus

The Northern Harrier is common throughout North America and winters throughout Mexico. Preferring open, grassy habitats, the Northern Harrier is typically seen hunting low to the ground. This bird is uniquely proportioned with a light body and exceptionally long wings and tail and a distinctive mixture of traits. At first glance they are often confused with other raptors since they have such a strange combination of characteristics. In flight the most identifiable field mark is the bright white rump patch that all individuals display. Their owl-like facial disks also differentiate them from all other diurnal North American raptors.

Juvenile