Rufus-collared Sparrow

  Here in Costa Rica there are many different species of sparrows and such but there is one particular sparrow that is truly everywhere you go. This is the Rufus-collared Sparrow. Its not that the other sparrows aren't around its just that many of the other sparrows are more common in the mountains or country. Turns out that most wildlife prefers the mountains or country but fortunately for me there are a few birds that thrive in the city and the city is currently all I have to view wildlife in right now. So the Rufus-collared sparrow is readily seen foraging around in the grass for seeds and bugs and hopping from yard to yard and flying from fence to fence. I would say that it is probably the most common bird here in Costa Rica and luckily it happens to be a fairly pretty bird. As you will see in the pictures I've taken it gets it name due to the rufus or rust colored feathers around its neck.

Rufus-collared Sparrow

Note the rust colored collar around his neck.

   A few weeks ago I had a post about the Hoffman's Woodpecker and I showed a few pictures of a yound woodpecker being fed buy its parents. Turns out I saw the same young woodpecker a few weeks later only this time the little guy was bigger and learning to find food for himself. I watched him for about half an hour as he pecked away at a dead branch and then he just chilled out for a while longer before flying off. It was really cool to see this little guy again. 

Get out in the outdoors and see Gods wounder full creation for yourself. :)

Doves

      Two of the most commonly seen doves in Costa Rica are the White-winged and Inca Doves. Consequently these are the two dove species that I have seen the most and taken pictures of. Wherever doves reside there are bound to be many because unlike many birds that nest when food for their young is abundant doves can nest anytime of year and as many times as they like because doves are one of the only types of birds that actually feed their young "milk". This so called "milk" is produced from a gland in the crop of the parent doves. I've counted at least nine dove nest on my school campus and they seem to be producing new broods at an astonishing rate. I enjoy having the doves around because I can always count on being able to find and take pictures of them if all other birds are hiding or shying away. The White-winged dove has a very simple hoo hoo hoo call. Inca doves are seen less than White winged doves but they are fairly common if you look for them. I cant say that I have heard or know what the Inca doves call sounds like. Anyways, here are a few pictures of both species.

Young White-winged Dove. Note the juvenile feathers on head and around eye.

Adult White-winged Dove. Note the color of head compared the the juvenile above.

Inca Dove

Inca Dove (~8in)

 For more information on these doves I have found the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Website very useful for learning about any type of bird. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478