The first was on the cover of ABA's North American Birds quarterly journal, vol 64: no 4, 2011, that arrived in my monthly mail packet from Seattle. No, I didn't go to South Dakota last year to add this species to my ABA list. I've got them in my yard here on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro.
The next happening was a flutter of excitement out my kitchen window. I'm not sure what was going on. Two birds flew onto my window ledge and were flapping at each other, while making all sorts of racket. I thought they were fighting. One was an adult Orange-billed, the other was a juvenile. See photo above.
The adult flew away to a nearby tree, then flew off into my neighbor's garden. The juvenile sat on my window sill for some time, allowing me to get this photo before it, too, flew off.
The third is a norm at this time of year: Orange-billed nightingale-thrushes in my yard sing constantly. They start at the crack of dawn and don't stop until dark. And I mean they sing throughout the day. Mind you, they are not easy to see - they tend to sit still and you have to be lucky to catch some movement to locate them. Yet, once heard, you will not forget their song.
Check out www.xeno-canto.org for recordings of this species.
Check out www.xeno-canto.org for recordings of this species.
