MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD IN FLIGHT, HOTEL RIU GUANACASTE AREA,PLAYA DE MATAPALO,GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA, 6/14/18

SHARON & HOTEL RIO GUANACASTE, PLAYA DE MATAPALO,GUANACASTE,COSTA RICA, 6/14/18

FEMALE MORELET'S SEEDEATER, ROUTE 922, PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK,GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA, 6/13/18

   This post was updated on 6/3/2020 to reflect the split of the White-collared Seedeater into two speces: Morelet's Seedeater and Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater, the latter being endemic to Western Mexico.

BREEDING MALE MORELET'S SEEDEATER, ROUTE 922, PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK,GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA, 6/13/18

    We updated this post on 6/3/2020. This species was formerly a White-collared Seedeater.  In 2018 the White-Collared Seedeater was split into two species: Morelet's Seedeater and Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater.  The latter seedeater is endemic to Western Mexico.

   We can ID this bird as a  breeding male Morelet's Seedeater by its small size (about 4"); short, stubby, dark bill with strongly curved culmen; black wings with two white wingbars (you can see part of the wingbars in the photo;the wingbars differentiate it from the similar male Variable Seedeater of the Pacific race, which has no wingbars); black hood; bold white collar; black tail and grayish-white underparts.
   Morelet's Seedeater eats mainly seeds and insects, and occasionally berries.  This Seedeater is resident within it's range, it does not migrate.  It is abundant in Mexico and Central America and can be found in southern Texas.
   The Morelet's Seedeater is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 794.
   

ROSEATE SPOONBILL, ROUTE 922, PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK,GUANACASTE,COSTA RICA, 6/13/18

MALE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, ROUTE 922, PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK TO BEGACES, GUANACASTE,COSTA RICA, 6/13/18

RABBIT, PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK,GUANACASTE,COSTA RICA, 6/13/18