My brother recently took a trip to Nicaragua from 7/7/2010 – 7/14/2010 and I’ve been helping him ID some of the birds he saw there. He only had a point and shoot, but I think that should be alright for ID purposes. I’m pretty sure I’ve got most of these right, but a little confirmation wouldn’t hurt and there are some that are just out of my league. Any help would be great. Here goes:
Female Boat-tailed Grackle, taken in Florida
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2549/boattailedgrackle.jpg
Thinking all are Tropical Kingbirds, or is there a Western thrown in there? First two are the same individual, third is a different one. Taken in Granada, Nicaragua.
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/6793/tropkingbird1.jpg
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/892/tropkingbird2.jpg
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4549/tropkingbird3.jpg
Thinking Southern Rough-winged Swallow, taken in Granada, Nicaragua.
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5855/srwswallow.jpg
Pretty sure both are Ruddy Ground Doves, different individuals. Taken in Granada, Nicaragua.
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/692/ruddygrounddove1.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/9113/ruddygrounddove2.jpg
Pretty sure all are Great Kiskadees, but just posting them in case a missed a Social Fly or something. First was taken in Granda, second on Ometepe Island, third in San Juan del Sur.
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8797/kiskadee1.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8576/kiskadee3.jpg
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9675/kiskadee2.jpg
Thinking Tricolored Heron. Flying over ferry landing in Granada.
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5554/tricolored.jpg
I believe this is a Mangrove Swallow. Brother said he saw a white rump on the bird. Same individual. Taken on the actual boat between Granada and Ometepe Island.
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3888/mangroveswallow1.jpg
http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/7730/mangroveswallow2.jpg
Black-crowned Night Herons? Probably different individuals, flying between Granada and Ometepe Island.
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/1767/bcnightheron.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6636/bcnightheron2.jpg
Woodpeckers, taken on Ometepe Island. Unknown if these were different individuals but they were taken at the same exact location over two different days. My theory is that they are all Golden-fronted Woodpeckers on account of the bright yellow belly, but I don’t really have the experience to differentiate between that and Hoffman’s Woodpecker.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5003/goldenfrontedwoodpecker.jpg
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5003/goldenfrontedwoodpecker.jpg
http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5003/goldenfrontedwoodpecker.jpg
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5003/goldenfrontedwoodpecker.jpg
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/5003/goldenfrontedwoodpecker.jpg
I believe these are all Red-billed Pigeons. Each pic taken at different locations on Ometepe Island.
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2338/redbilledpigeon1.jpg
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5646/redbilledpigeon2.jpg
100% certain this is a White-throated Magpie-Jay, but as I’ve never personally seen one, might as well get a confirmation. Taken on Ometepe Island.
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9562/wtmagpiejay.jpg
Thinking Dusky-capped Flycatcher for this one. Again, taken Ometepe Island.
http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/6913/duskycappedfc.jpg
Raptor of some description. Taken on Ometepe Island. Not the greatest pic for identification, but maybe something can be gleaned. Wingspan originally made me think Osprey, but facial pattern reminded me of Bicolored Hawk, but I’m really not at all familiar with that species.
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/8832/raptor.jpg
Unknown Passerine, possibly flycatcher? As with any tropical birding expedition, there are just some birds that are unidentifiable, and this may be one of them. Any help would be appreciated. Taken on Ometepe Island.
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/4263/flycatcher.jpg
By the grooves on the bill, I’m thinking Groove-billed Ani for this one. Taken once again on Ometepe Island.
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/7969/groovebilledani.jpg
Due to the lack of grooves, I’m thinking Smooth-billed Ani. Again, on Ometepe Island.
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/2074/smoothbilledani.jpg
I believe in Nicaragua you can only get Brown Pelicans and Neotropic Cormorants, as in this picture, but some confirmation would be nice. Taken on Lake Nicaragua.
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8773/pelicancormorant.jpg
Gull sp. of some kind, in basic plumage. Perhaps Laughing Gull? Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5651/gull1.jpg
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/480/gull2.jpg
Nearly 100% on this White-winged Dove. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/44/whitewingeddove.jpg
Crimson-fronted Parakeet? I think there’s only one species of red-fronted green parrot in Nicaragua, but I could be wrong. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2377/crimsonfrontedparakeet.jpg
No idea on this one, perhaps an Emberizid of some kind? Reminds me of a Field Sparrow, but I don’t think they occur in Nicaragua. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/3117/emerizid.jpg
Nearly 100% sure this a Great-tailed Grackle, but would like some confirmation. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6726/greattailedgrackle.jpg
Another grackle, probably a female Great-tailed but perhaps a Nicaraguan Grackle. Taken in San Juan del Sur, but I don’t know how to distinguish the two species and haven’t really found any good literature on the subject, so I really need some help here.
http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/8687/nicagrackle.jpg
A bird I’ve always wanted to see, but my brother managed it first! Almost 100% on this sweet Blue-gray Tanager. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9417/bluegraytanager.jpg
A Magnificent Frigatebird, but would like some confirmation just for completeness’s sake. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4589/frigatebird.jpg
Pretty sure this is a Black Vulture, taken in the caldera of Masaya Volcano.
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1273/blackvulture.jpg
I believe this is a Stripe-headed Sparrow, taken on Masaya Volcano.
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/734/stripeheadedsparrow1.jpg
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/5078/stripeheadedsparrow2.jpg
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/7168/stripeheadedsparrow3.jpg
The last bird of the trip, please confirm this Loggerhead Shrike taken in South Carolina.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1931/loggerhead.jpg
And as a bonus, can anybody tell me what species of squirrel this is? We’ve narrowed it down to Deppe’s Squirrel and (my personal theory) a gray morph Variegated Squirrel. However, I can’t find a good picture/description of Deppe’s Squirrel and I can’t find anything to say that Variegated Squirrels even have a gray morph. Hopefully someone knowledgeable can weigh in. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/4605/squirrel.jpg
Thanks for the help!
Female Boat-tailed Grackle, taken in Florida
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2549/boattailedgrackle.jpg
Thinking all are Tropical Kingbirds, or is there a Western thrown in there? First two are the same individual, third is a different one. Taken in Granada, Nicaragua.
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/6793/tropkingbird1.jpg
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/892/tropkingbird2.jpg
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4549/tropkingbird3.jpg
Thinking Southern Rough-winged Swallow, taken in Granada, Nicaragua.
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5855/srwswallow.jpg
Pretty sure both are Ruddy Ground Doves, different individuals. Taken in Granada, Nicaragua.
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/692/ruddygrounddove1.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/9113/ruddygrounddove2.jpg
Pretty sure all are Great Kiskadees, but just posting them in case a missed a Social Fly or something. First was taken in Granda, second on Ometepe Island, third in San Juan del Sur.
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8797/kiskadee1.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8576/kiskadee3.jpg
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9675/kiskadee2.jpg
Thinking Tricolored Heron. Flying over ferry landing in Granada.
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5554/tricolored.jpg
I believe this is a Mangrove Swallow. Brother said he saw a white rump on the bird. Same individual. Taken on the actual boat between Granada and Ometepe Island.
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3888/mangroveswallow1.jpg
http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/7730/mangroveswallow2.jpg
Black-crowned Night Herons? Probably different individuals, flying between Granada and Ometepe Island.
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/1767/bcnightheron.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6636/bcnightheron2.jpg
Woodpeckers, taken on Ometepe Island. Unknown if these were different individuals but they were taken at the same exact location over two different days. My theory is that they are all Golden-fronted Woodpeckers on account of the bright yellow belly, but I don’t really have the experience to differentiate between that and Hoffman’s Woodpecker.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5003/goldenfrontedwoodpecker.jpg
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5003/goldenfrontedwoodpecker.jpg
http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5003/goldenfrontedwoodpecker.jpg
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5003/goldenfrontedwoodpecker.jpg
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/5003/goldenfrontedwoodpecker.jpg
I believe these are all Red-billed Pigeons. Each pic taken at different locations on Ometepe Island.
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2338/redbilledpigeon1.jpg
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5646/redbilledpigeon2.jpg
100% certain this is a White-throated Magpie-Jay, but as I’ve never personally seen one, might as well get a confirmation. Taken on Ometepe Island.
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9562/wtmagpiejay.jpg
Thinking Dusky-capped Flycatcher for this one. Again, taken Ometepe Island.
http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/6913/duskycappedfc.jpg
Raptor of some description. Taken on Ometepe Island. Not the greatest pic for identification, but maybe something can be gleaned. Wingspan originally made me think Osprey, but facial pattern reminded me of Bicolored Hawk, but I’m really not at all familiar with that species.
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/8832/raptor.jpg
Unknown Passerine, possibly flycatcher? As with any tropical birding expedition, there are just some birds that are unidentifiable, and this may be one of them. Any help would be appreciated. Taken on Ometepe Island.
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/4263/flycatcher.jpg
By the grooves on the bill, I’m thinking Groove-billed Ani for this one. Taken once again on Ometepe Island.
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/7969/groovebilledani.jpg
Due to the lack of grooves, I’m thinking Smooth-billed Ani. Again, on Ometepe Island.
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/2074/smoothbilledani.jpg
I believe in Nicaragua you can only get Brown Pelicans and Neotropic Cormorants, as in this picture, but some confirmation would be nice. Taken on Lake Nicaragua.
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8773/pelicancormorant.jpg
Gull sp. of some kind, in basic plumage. Perhaps Laughing Gull? Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5651/gull1.jpg
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/480/gull2.jpg
Nearly 100% on this White-winged Dove. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/44/whitewingeddove.jpg
Crimson-fronted Parakeet? I think there’s only one species of red-fronted green parrot in Nicaragua, but I could be wrong. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2377/crimsonfrontedparakeet.jpg
No idea on this one, perhaps an Emberizid of some kind? Reminds me of a Field Sparrow, but I don’t think they occur in Nicaragua. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/3117/emerizid.jpg
Nearly 100% sure this a Great-tailed Grackle, but would like some confirmation. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6726/greattailedgrackle.jpg
Another grackle, probably a female Great-tailed but perhaps a Nicaraguan Grackle. Taken in San Juan del Sur, but I don’t know how to distinguish the two species and haven’t really found any good literature on the subject, so I really need some help here.
http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/8687/nicagrackle.jpg
A bird I’ve always wanted to see, but my brother managed it first! Almost 100% on this sweet Blue-gray Tanager. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9417/bluegraytanager.jpg
A Magnificent Frigatebird, but would like some confirmation just for completeness’s sake. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4589/frigatebird.jpg
Pretty sure this is a Black Vulture, taken in the caldera of Masaya Volcano.
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1273/blackvulture.jpg
I believe this is a Stripe-headed Sparrow, taken on Masaya Volcano.
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/734/stripeheadedsparrow1.jpg
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/5078/stripeheadedsparrow2.jpg
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/7168/stripeheadedsparrow3.jpg
The last bird of the trip, please confirm this Loggerhead Shrike taken in South Carolina.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1931/loggerhead.jpg
And as a bonus, can anybody tell me what species of squirrel this is? We’ve narrowed it down to Deppe’s Squirrel and (my personal theory) a gray morph Variegated Squirrel. However, I can’t find a good picture/description of Deppe’s Squirrel and I can’t find anything to say that Variegated Squirrels even have a gray morph. Hopefully someone knowledgeable can weigh in. Taken in San Juan del Sur.
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/4605/squirrel.jpg
Thanks for the help!