Every year, a pair of Grenada Flycatchers makes their home in a trunk cavity of our Ice Cream Bean tree. The first sign of their presence is a somewhat mournful “quip…quip…quip…quip…” — a sound so pure that it resembles raindrops softly falling on a tranquil pond. Grenada Flycatchers (Myiarchus nugator) are only found in the… Continue reading Observing Grenada Flycatchers: A Yearly Ritual
Category: Land Birds
Exploring the Lesser Antillean Tanager
The Lesser Antillean Tanager is a bird found only on the islands of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This attractive tanager is believed to have arrived in the Lesser Antilles from South America around ten million years ago. While unique to the West Indies, it is part of the cayana group, which includes… Continue reading Exploring the Lesser Antillean Tanager
The Elusive Mangrove Cuckoo
When I first heard the call of the Mangrove Cuckoo, I didn’t realize it was a bird; the sound was a deep ahrk-ahrk-ahrk-ahrk-ahrk that resembled a large frog laughing or burping. Sometimes it sounded like the frog was growling – kruk-kruk-kruk-kruk – with the quick notes blending together. It soon became clear that the strange… Continue reading The Elusive Mangrove Cuckoo
Discover the Sweet Bananaquit Bird
“Yellow birdUp high in banana treeYellow birdYou sit all alone like meDid your lady friend leave the nest again?That is very bad, Makes me feel so sadYou can fly away, In the sky awayYou more lucky than me…” Did you know that the Bananaquit is the “yellow bird” featured in Harry Belafonte’s iconic calypso? Calypso,… Continue reading Discover the Sweet Bananaquit Bird
Shiny Cowbird: a prowler on the loose
There’s this prowler in my neighborhood, and it’s pretty wild. Dressed in muted colors, she lingers about, biding her time for homes to be unoccupied. At dawn, she slips in and out with stealth and confidence, yet she never takes anything; instead, she leaves her own treasures behind! This isn’t your average prowler; it’s a… Continue reading Shiny Cowbird: a prowler on the loose
the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch: a relative of the Galapagos Finches
The Lesser Antillean Bullfinches are seed-eating birds in the Tanager family (Thraupidae). They are closely related to the Galapagos Finches, which helped inspire Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Although Lesser Antillean Bullfinches have strong beaks for crushing hard seeds, they are flexible eaters that enjoy various foods like ripe fruit, nectar, and insects. They use… Continue reading the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch: a relative of the Galapagos Finches
The Grey Kingbird: a Tyrant Ruler
I often see him perched on a mangrove tree, standing tall with his head held high and eyes bright with assertiveness. Dressed simply, he flies gracefully, diving to catch an insect and then chasing away a passing bird. His loud calls of “Pit-pitiri-ri-ree! Pitcherreee!” ring out through his territory, and I can almost picture him… Continue reading The Grey Kingbird: a Tyrant Ruler
The Tropical Mockingbird: a keen-eyed songster
I really like Tropical Mockingbirds. Their stylish grey and white feathers and bold personalities make them unique. Their smart eyes seem to say, “Hey, human, I’m watching you…” Face Recognition and Memory Yes, they are always watching and can remember you. A 2009 study by biologists at the University of Florida found that Mockingbirds can… Continue reading The Tropical Mockingbird: a keen-eyed songster
Birdy: The spectacled Thrush
This post is dedicated to an amazing little bird affectionately known as Birdy. Birdy was a nestling Spectacled Thrush that I rescued, raised, and successfully released into his natural habitat a few years ago. He came to us as a weak creature caught in our cat’s jaws, but he left as a determined, incredibly charismatic… Continue reading Birdy: The spectacled Thrush
BELA'S BIRDS 