The Curve-billed Thrasher is a striking desert songbird often seen among prickly pear cactus at the Desert Botanical Garden. This oasis in the city is found between Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. Its distinctive curved bill helps it feed on cactus fruit and insects hidden among spines. Visitors can easily spot this grayish-brown bird by its…
A California Condor soaring above Navajo Bridge is unforgettable especially for those first timers. Its wingspan reaches an impressive nine and a half feet making them the largest bird in North America. White patches under its wings shine brightly against the blue Arizona sky, making it the easy identifier vs Turkey Vultures. The condor glides…
Introduction: Jewels in Motion Few sights are as dazzling as a hummingbird in flight. Their wings beat up to 80 times per second, blurring into invisible motion. These tiny dynamos hover like helicopters, dart backward like drones, and flash iridescent colors that shift with every light change. Found only in the Americas, over 300 hummingbird…
The White-winged Dove is common in Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary. It shows gray-brown plumage with white wing patches running from the shoulder down to the start of the primaries. The bill is dark and slightly curved at the tip. The eyes are bright orange with a blue orbital ring. This species feeds on seeds, fruit,…
The South Okanagan in British Columbia is one of Canada’s top birding destinations. Its desert valleys and forested mountains support rare birds. This area is the only desert in Canada and is the northern extent of the Mohave desert. Birders exploring this region encounter unique habitats filled with species rarely seen elsewhere in Canada. It’s…
White Terns (Gygis alba), also known locally as Manu o KÅ«, are elegant seabirds common around Honolulu and Waikiki Beach. Their snow-white plumage, long pointed wings, and dark eyes make them easy to spot above hotels and palm-lined streets. Uniquely, these birds balance a single egg on open branches, often choosing plumeria trees near the…
When many people think of OÊ»ahu, they picture WaikÄ«kÄ« beaches, North Shore waves, and Honolulu’s nightlife. For birders, the island offers a different paradise. OÊ»ahu blends rare native birds, seabird colonies, seasonal shorebirds, and colorful introduced species. It is a living laboratory of birdlife and a reminder of fragile island ecosystems. Native Forest Birds in…
At Desert Meadows Park in Green Valley Arizona, the Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) stands out with its brilliant red plumage. The vivid coloring contrasts against the muted tones of the desert landscape when they are not in a park setting. This small member of the tyrant flycatcher family is most often seen perched low. It…
A Brief History of Reifel Bird Sanctuary The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary has been a protected haven for birds and nature lovers since the 1960s. The Sanctuary is located on Westham Island in Delta, BC. Originally farmland owned by the Reifel family, the property was transformed into a sanctuary by George Reifel. He…
On the outskirts of Coba Laguna, this Limpkin looked like it had just stepped out of nature’s spin cycle. It had its wings out, feathers askew, and probably questioning its life choices after a rainstorm. Native to Florida, the Caribbean, and much of Central and South America, Limpkins are specialists in one thing: apple snails….
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