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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) 10 June 2026. San Pedro Creek, Pacifica, California, USA. This fearless juvenile almost landed on my leg. They fledged young in our yard for the first time this year and juveniles are still being fed by their parents. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) 08 May 2026. Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay, California, USA. Also called Red-throated Diver, this is an adult in winter (basic) plumage lacking the red throat of breeding. They are the smallest loon species. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) 04 March 2026. Tangolunda, Oaxaca, Mexico. A female with characteristic brown mantle. Closely related to Avocets, these elegant waders sweep their bills though the shallows in a feeding strategy similar to that of the American Avocet. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Green Flash 12 March 2026, At sea off Acklins, Bahamas. The green flash can occasionally be seen briefly at sunset as the solar disk disappears below the ocean. It is caused by sunlight refracting through the maximum possible horizontal atmospheric thickness.

$Green Flash 12 March 2026, At sea off Acklins, Bahamas. The green flash can occasionally be seen briefly at sunset as the solar disk disappears below the ocean. It requires crystal clear skies with no clouds or haze. Sometimes it appears as a separate green "flame" above the sun, sometimes as a green halo around the setting sun as seen here. It is caused by sunlight refracting through the maximum possible horizontal atmospheric thickness.$

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) 28 May 2026. San Pedro Creek, Pacifica, California, USA. An adult visiting our water dish. Juveniles are similar but lack the white nape crescent. They are the largest North American Pigeon. Increasing now with reduced hunting. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) 28 May 2026. San Pedro Creek, Pacifica, California, USA. It takes two years before adult males get their full orange and black plumage. Both sexes sing all day long, even while sitting on the nest. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 10 May 2026. San Pedro Terrace Road, Pacifica, California, USA. A male of the race "J. h. pinosus" which is largely resident. They are distinguished by having more extensive pinkish color on their sides. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) 06 March 2026. Aldea El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. An adult in breeding plumage. The world's largest tern, identified by its large, bright coral red bill. They have a scattered breeding range throughout the world including its namesake Caspian Sea. #Birds

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
06 March 2026. Aldea El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala.

An adult in breeding plumage. The world's largest tern, easily identified by its large, bright coral red bill. They have a scattered breeding range throughout the world including its namesake Caspian Sea. Unique in its own genus, but formerly included in "Sterna."

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina) 13 March 2026. Pirates Cove, Little San Salvador, Bahamas. A male visiting a seed feeder showing pink face and a contrasting gray nape. This is the race "C. p. bahamensis" which averages smaller, paler and grayer. #Birds

Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)
13 March 2026. Pirates Cove, Little San Salvador, Bahamas.

A male visiting a seed feeder showing chestnut wing linings.

Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)
13 March 2026. Pirates Cove, Little San Salvador, Bahamas.

A male visiting a seed feeder showing spread wings.

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita) 13 March 2026. Pirates Cove, Little San Salvador, Bahamas. Resembling the more familiar Mourning Dove, but stockier with a much shorter tail and white secondary tips. This is the subspecies "Z. a. zenaida" which lacks white highlights to its black wing spots. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Bahama Mockingbird (Mimus gundlachii) 13 March 2026. Pirates Cove, Little San Salvador, Bahamas. Lifer! Similar to the familiar Northern Mockingbird, but larger with streaked flanks and lacking white wing patches. This species only sings its own song. It is not known to mimic. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 13 March 2026. Pirates Cove, Little San Salvador, Bahamas. This delicate warbler often forages high in the canopy where they can be difficult to see. One of the most mispronounced bird names. It is "PAR-a-la" or "PAR-ya-la," not "par-U-la." #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Chestnut-winged Chachalaca (Ortalis garrula) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. Lifer! A range restricted endemic to the lowlands of northwest Columbia and the only Chachalaca species in its range. Some individuals have a chestnut head but a brown head is typical. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Carib Grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. Visiting a water feature, this small, relatively short-tailed grackle ranges from Northern South America through the Lesser Antilles. Fairly common, this is a male of the nominate race. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. Spreading wings in the sun showing distinctive wing pattern. Unlike the familiar Turkey Vulture which can find food in the forest by smell, the Black Vulture relies on line-of-sight. #Birds

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala.

Spreading wings in the sun showing distinctive wing pattern. They have benefited from deforestation. Unlike the familiar Turkey Vulture which can find food in the forest by smell, the Black Vulture relies on line-of-sight. Unique in its own genus, it is characterized by slender bill and narrow nostrils. Presumably the pale race "brasiliensis" but subspecies poorly defined. Formerly classified with the Storks, they are now placed in their own New World Vulture family. Sometimes called "American Black Vulture.

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. Showing its blue iridescence, here is a male of this abundant and widespread blackbird. Their loud screaming shrieks and brazen demeanor are hard to overlook. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. Large, shy and uncommon. Adult male (left). Female (right) is smaller with less bulge at bill base and less extensive red facial warts. There are wild and domestic types. These are wild type. #Birds

Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia.

Large, shy and uncommon. Adult male. Female s smaller with less bulge at bill base and less extensive red facial warts. There are wild and domestic types. This is a wild type showing iridescent greenish wings and bold white wing patches. Pronounced MUSS-kuh-vee. Name derived from the Muisca Indians of South America. It has nothing to do with Moscow.

Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia.

Large, shy and uncommon. Smaller female with less bulge at bill base and less extensive red facial warts. There are wild and domestic types. This is a wild type showing iridescent greenish wings and bold white wing patches. Pronounced MUSS-kuh-vee. Name derived from the Muisca Indians of South America. It has nothing to do with Moscow.

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. The only New World member of the genus "Tachybaptus" which includes the little grebes (dabchicks) of the Old World. In winter (basic) plumage lacking gray face and black throat. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. An adult male. The Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal are very closely related. In fact mtDNA is virtually identical between Blue-winged and South American Cinnamon Teal subspecies. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) 22 May 2026. Pigeon Point, Pescadero, California, USA. Checked out the lighthouse yesterday and was pleased to see this pair of breeding plumage Pigeon Guillemots. One perched at the entrance to their nesting burrow and the other on a nearby rock. #Birds

Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)
22 May 2026. Pigeon Point, Pescadero, California, USA.

Checked out the view from the lighthouse yesterday and was pleased to see this pair of breeding plumage Pigeon Guillemots. One perched at the entrance to their nesting burrow and the other on a nearby rock. Note the subtle post-ocular feather crease and brilliant scarlet red feet. California birds are the race "C. c. eureka" which are smaller with shorter wings, but with a longer bill than populations breeding further north. These distinctive alcids nest along coastal cliffs as well as offshore islands. They reverse the usual pattern of migratory birds in North America by wintering north, not south of their breeding grounds. Although its name is of French origin it is almost universally Anglicized: "GILL-eh-mott".

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

White-faced Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. An adult with contrasting head pattern. A distinctive, largely nocturnal whistling-duck near the northern end of its range in South America. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. Formerly known as Black-bellied Tree-Duck, they frequently perch in trees. The genus "Dendrocygna" means "Tree Swan." Males and females are alike. These are adults. #Birds

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia.

Subadult.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia.

Note variable grayish chest.

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. Adult. The short legs and neck tucked in creates a stocky hunch-backed look Most active at night, they often roost quietly in trees or bushes during the day. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Brant (Branta bernicla) 19 May 2026. Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay, California, USA. Formerly split as a separate species, the "Black Brant," this Pacific Rim population is darker has a more extensive white necklace connecting in front. #Birds

Brant (Branta bernicla)
19 May 2026. Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay, California, USA.

Went down to Mavericks yesterday. There are now at least nine of these small sea-going geese hanging around near the harbor mouth. Formerly split as a separate species, the "Black Brant," this Pacific Rim population is darker has a more extensive white necklace connecting in front. This subspecies, "B. b. nigricans" migrates from Arctic breeding grounds to bays and estuaries in Mexico and the Far East. An uncommon Fall migrant but locally abundant in the Spring when they stage in large bays and estuaries. Sometimes called "Brent Goose."

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. Adult male. Females lack the dewlap and dorsal spines. They can change color to match their environment. This one is oddly turquoise. #Reptiles #Wildlife #Nature #Photography

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia.
Adult male. Females lack the dewlap and dorsal spines. This prehistoric looking neotropical lizard is variously called Green Tree Iguana, Common Iguana or Green Iguana. They can change color to match their environment. This one is oddly turquoise. Widely introduced, they are invasive in Florida and the Caribbean and are popular in the pet trade.

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia.

Adult male sunning in a bush. .

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia.

Adult male close up.

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Black-chested Jay (Cyanocorax affinis) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. They usually stay hidden. Fairly common but shy ranging from NW South America to Costa Rica. Breeding biology poorly known; likely a social breeder. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti) 10 March 2026. Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia These small doves are common around settlements, forest edges and gardens. This is a male. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. The most abundant gull on the Guatemala Coast by far. This is an adult in non-breeding plumage lacking the black head. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) 08 March 2026. Miraflores Locks, Cocolí, Panama. Seen from our cruise ship as we entered the Panama Canal. An adult male by its lack of a blue-gray chest band. The largest kingfisher in the Americas, note its massive bill. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Yellow-headed Caracara (Daptrius chimachima) 08 March 2026. Miraflores Locks, Panama City, Panama. Seen from our cruise ship as we entered the Panama Canal. This is an adult showing unstreaked head and breast and dark postocular stripe. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Nazca Booby (Sula granti) 07 March 2026. Offshore, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. This is a near adult with bright pink bill and white central tail feathers which distinguish it from Masked. The name "Nazca" comes from the name of the tectonic plate in the Eastern Pacific where these birds breed. #Birds

Nazca Booby (Sula granti)
07 March 2026. Offshore, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Now split from Masked Booby. This is a near adult showing a bright pink bill and white central tail feathers which distinguish it from Masked. It still shows some dark spotting on the lower back suggesting that it may not be fully adult. The name "Nazca" comes from the name of the tectonic plate in the Eastern Pacific where these birds breed.

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) 06 March 2026. Puerto Quetzal, Escuintla, Guatemala. Named by Linnaeus who apparently thought the type was collected in the East Indies, thus the misnomer "asiatica". In fact it was collected in the West Indies (Jamaica).

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) 11 May 2026. Pillar Point Pond, Half Moon Bay, California, USA. Found last Thursday, 7 May by Dave Koehler. Still present this afternoon. A rare migrant in California. First San Mateo record since 2022. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. This denizen of southern swamps ranges well into South America as far as Uruguay. This is an adult. Immatures are white or dappled and take two years to mature. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. Famous for their animated foraging with erratic, dashing and spread wings, this is an adult of the darker headed West Coast race "E. r. dickeyi." #Birds #Video

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens)
06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala.

Famous for their animated foraging with erratic, dashing and spread wings, this is an adult of the darker headed West Coast race "E. r. dickeyi." A more significant racial difference is their lack of a white morph. The pink bill indicates breeding plumage. A rare and local winter visitor it is listed as "near threatened." Formerly placed in the genera "Hydranassa" or "Dichromanassa."

Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens)
06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala.

Loose feathers blowing in the wind.

Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens)
06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala.

Canopy feeding with wings spread.

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. A unique fish-eating raptor in its own family. The yellow eye indicates an adult. Ospreys lack the supraorbital ridge above the eye making them appear less fierce and more bug-eyed than most other raptors. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Scripps's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus scrippsi) 08 May 2006. Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay, California, USA. I did a quick trip down to Half Moon Bay hoping to photograph the two Scripps's Murrelets found this morning by Richard Jeffers. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. The acute angle to the gular pouch at the gape, lack of yellow extending on to the lores and the longer wedge shaped tail help separate this immature from the similar Double-crested Cormorant. #Birds

Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)
06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala.

The acute angle to the pale yellow gular pouch at the gape, lack of yellow skin extending on to the lores and the longer wedge shaped tail help separate this immature from the similar Double-crested Cormorant. This is the smaller, longer billed race "N. b. mexicanus" which breeds from Costa Rica north into the southern United States where it continues to expand its range. Formerly known as Olivaceous Cormorant (N. olivaceus), and placed in the genus "Phalacrocorax."

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) 06 March 2026. Aldea El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. Non-breeding plumage. Note the distinctive black bill with yellow tip. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) 06 March 2026. Aldea El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. These large terns have a white forehead and crown in non-breeding (basic) plumage but they sport a black crest at all seasons. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) 05 March 2026. Aldea El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. Skimmers use their longer lower mandible to slice the shallow water in flight. When they touch a fish, the upper mandible snaps shut to catch it. #Birds

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)
05 March 2026. Aldea El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala.

In non-breeding plumage they have a white collar.

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 04 May 2026. Devil's Slide, Pacifica, California, USA. The Peregrine chicks are now very close to fledging. I stopped by the site this morning and photographed both adults and four chicks. #Birds.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
04 May 2026. Devil's Slide, Pacifica, California, USA.

Older chick.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
04 May 2026. Devil's Slide, Pacifica, California, USA.

Youngest chick.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
04 May 2026. Devil's Slide, Pacifica, California, USA.

Getting close to fledging.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
04 May 2026. Devil's Slide, Pacifica, California, USA.

Adult male.

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) 06 March 2026. Aldea El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. A winter visitor in non-breeding plumage without the black cap. Formerly in the genus "Sterna" but now placed in "Gelochelidon." They snatch insects from the air in swooping flight. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. Immature with a white wedge up the back indicating formative plumage. Juveniles have an all dark back. It takes two years to acquire full adult plumage. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. An adult with long neck typically folded in front. The large eyes are well adapted for their crepuscular and nocturnal habits. They have large swollen bills specialized for eating crabs. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Guatemala. A female lacking male's chestnut breast patch. Medium sized neotropical kingfisher resembling smaller Green Kingfisher but Amazon has a larger bill and no white on the wings. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Escuintla, Guatemala. Resident from Mexico to Panama, identified by its white rump and a small white chevron across the base of the bill. #Birds

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Joe Morlan @jmorlan.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) 06 March 2026. El Paredon, Guatemala. An adult, formerly called "Louisiana Heron." The yellowish bill indicates non-breeding plumage. The bill of both sexes turns bright turquoise during courtship. This is the larger, darker subspecies "E. t. ruficollis". #Birds

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