Nicaragua

Turquoise-browed Motmot - Laguna de Apoyo, MS-NI This amazingly colored bird is the National bird of Nicaragua. The racket tail is the dead give away with only other species of Motmot possibly giving some chance of mis-identification. The motmot is named for the sound that it makes while sitting waiting for its dinner. This bird was with a mate moving from perch to perch after flying out to collect an insect on the wing. This was particularly close to the laguna, but they are found almost everywhere in the country. This particular bird is missing one of its
Turquoise-browed Motmot - Laguna de Apoyo, NI
Golden-olive Woodpecker - Selva Negra, Nicaragua This little woodpecker was extremely shy for a bird that was making its nest along the main thoroughfare at Selva Negra. There was no getting her sticking her head out of the hole any more than this and one step closer and she was off. You can certainly tell where the
Golden-olive Woodpecker - Selva Negra, Nicaragua
Bushy-crested Jay - Selva Negra, Nicaragua This very striking member of the Jay family lives in the mountains of Nicaragua at its southern most range. The Bushy-crested Jay is one of the 4 species of blue and black jays that are found in Central America and is distinguished by the legs being black rather than yellow. Apparently the bushy crest is kept lowered most of the time but is not large. The group of Jays that I came across was enjoying the first sun anyone had seen here for days and was helping to feed some young ones in the area. This adult was making soft sounds to the others close by. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Bushy-crested Jay - Selva Negra, Nicaragua
Common Gallinule - Selva Negra, Nicaragua Working the large lilly pads in the pond at Selva Negra, this parent was looking for breakfast for her young. If you came too close, a call went out to the babies picking their way though the floating leaves to move away from the perceived danger and into the water. These water fowl are found in most of Central America and a good portion of South America. As many of the folks in the east and south can also vouch, they are a summer resident of the eastern United States and southern most regions of eastern Canada and hang out year round in the southern states Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Common Gallinule - Selva Negra, Nicaragua
Blue-gray Tanager - Selva Negra, Nicaragua At the end of the pond at Selva Negra, there is a lone tree that serves as a nesting spot for a couple of birds. One is a pair of Blue-gray Tanagers. They are a common bird in the tropics, or at least they seem to be everywhere. As tropical tanagers go, they are not the most colorful, but still a beautiful bird all the same. The success of these birds has much to do with the flexibility in their diet and the areas that they will live in. They will eat fruit as will as insects and live in semi open areas including towns, farmland, roadsides and clearing edges. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Blue-gray Tanager - Selva Negra, Nicaragua
Lesser Ground-Cuckoo - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua Our last day in San Juan del Sur this interesting bird was calling from the forest below the house at Casa Serena. I whistled back and sure enough the ground cuckoo poked his head out from the under story. We traded whistles for 15 minutes with the bird wondering where the impostor was. He finally figured out it was just me which is why he was looking at me like this in the photo. With interest lost he headed up the hill from here. These birds are nic-named the Cleopatra bird for coloring on the head and especially the
Lesser Ground-cuckoo - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Ferruginous Pygmy-owl - Playa Marsella, Nicaragua Overlooking Playa Marsella was several homes within the forest. A closer look revealed three Pygmy owls sitting among the branches of an overhanging tree to the road. On further inspection, they were waiting for mom and dad to bring back food. The little ones were voracious and the parents could barely keep up. It would appear that the three birds were ready to head off on their own very soon. Most pygmy owls are active in the twilight hours, but based on the amount of food being handed over, daytime was needed to fill the void. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl - Playa Marsella, Nicaragua
Bare-throated Tiger-herons - Cardenas, Nicaragua Love on the banks of Rio Sabalos. These two very amorous herons were in display mode while another watched on from the other side of the bank very close to the town of Cardenas, Nicaragua. The two pointed in the same direction with their bare throats in obvious display mode. I always wondered if they were actually bare and now that question is answered. The displays moved on to arched necks while birds pointed in different directions almost making a full heart. I wish them luck in their future together. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Bare-throated Tiger-herons - Cardenas, Nicaragua
Green Heron - Cardenas, Nicaragua There were several of these herons working the margins of the pools just around the bridge in Cardenas that crosses Rio Sabalos. These herons are always weary and show it when the flick their tail. Once settled in, they have laser focus and will sit staring at the same patch of water for what seems an eternity. I have also watched this birds use bait to fish. smart critters. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Green Heron - Cardenas, Nicaragua
White-throated Magpie-Jay - Las Mercedes, Nicaragua It was a tad wet just before we saw these Magpie-Jays. OK it was a monsoon!. That didnt stop any of the critters from doing what they had to do as soon as the rain stopped. There was a mad dash for several caterpillars on the ground that these birds were watching intently. The photo was taken just out side of Los Mercedes on the south end of Lake Nicaragua. We were as close as you can get to the Costa Rican border without going over. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
White-throated Magpie-Jay - Las Mercedes, Nicaragua
Turquoise-browed Motmot - Laguna de Apoyo, NI The national bird of Nicaragua with breakfast. An early morning walk along the road around the Laguna de Apoyo had many birds, but these guys were common along the way. I am only guessing, but this looks like a cicada to me. It appeared that some of the birds had longer tails than the others and slightly different degrees of color. Either way, the motmots definitely have one of the most vibrant color schemes in the land. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Turquoise-browed Motmot - Laguna de Apoyo, NI
Groove-billed Ani - Nandaime, Nicaragua Picture
Groove-billed Ani - Nandaime, Nicaragua
Ringed Kingfisher - Laguna de Apoya, NI It was twilight when we got to the beach at Casa Marimba, but there was just enough light to photograph the first bird in Nicaragua. This handsome Ringed Kingfisher are almost double the size of the Belted Kingfishers we see here but are similar in color. The most famous of the Kingfishers are Kookaburras from Australia, but the group has relatives on every continent but Antarctica numbering 114 species. Lots of these birds fish for a living, but there are some that have made their home in the dry forests as well. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Ringed Kingfisher - Laguna de Apoyo, NI
Black-bellied Whistling Duck - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua Like water off a ducks back! And there was more than enough water. We made the trip down to Nicaragua which is the start of the rainy season and we hit our fair share of wet, but about equal dry. This day on the way back into San Juan del Sur we came across this pair in a puddle formed just earlier that day in a plowed field which looked like it had sugar cane in it. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Black-bellied Whistling Duck - San Juan del Sur, NI
Violet Sabrewing - Selva Negra, Nicaragua Central America's largest hummingbird was guarding a patch of Heliconia flowers during our visit to Selva Negra. They prefer the mountainous regions of the neotropical forests staying above 1000 feet above sea level. This male was working the patch of Lobster Claw Heliconia keeping all other birds well away from his prized possession. They didn't even have to be interested in the flowers for them to get a reaction. Notice the bill is perfectly curved to fit into the curved opening to allow for the best reach into the nectar. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Violet Sabrewing - Selva Negra, Nicaragua
Black Vulture - Punta Cangreja, Nicaragua In the yard of a little beach house on Lake Nicaragua, this Black Vulture was taking a break from some kind of feast in the front yard. The thing I love about this picture was the way the palm tree and coconuts in the back ground change the feel of the picture. Most times vultures aren't painted in a great light, but they do their fair share to keep the ecosystem renewed. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.comPicture
Black Vulture - Punta Cangreja, Nicaragua
Rufous-naped Wren - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua There were three Rufous-naped wrens that were constantly making trips to the balcony at Casa Serena. It took a couple trips to figure out they were building a nest in the palm just off the deck. There were a couple times they showed up with what looked like the tops of grass stems and separately roots. It is not uncommon for wrens to build multiple nests and even have multiple family roost together in these nests. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Rufous-naped Wren - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Turkey Vulture - Cardenas, Nicaragua A single Turkey vulture was surveying the creek along with a sing Black vulture and assorted herons. The rain had just stopped and everyone was drying out. When these birds are standing up right on the ground you can really tell why the birds are nick named after the largest game in North America. These birds aren't small and when you add the wingspan they are considerably larger than one would think. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Turkey Vulture - Cardenas, Nicaragua
Bare-throated Tiger Heron - Punta Cangrejo, Nicaragua This handsome heron was hunting the shoreline of Lake Nicaragua with a couple other herons of the same flavor and some that were white (egrets). This bird was nice enough to let me get close enough with the truck that he wasnt just a spec on the shore. This was taken just off of Punta Cangreja in the very south west corner of the lake where Costa Rica's border is very close. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Bare-throated Tiger Heron - Punta Cangrejo, Nicaragua
Rose-throated Becard- Cuajiniquil, Nicaragua This very monochrome bird does not live up to its name. For some reason, the birds in the southern part of its range don't get a rose throat. This particular bird was just below its nest which was woven onto the upper wire. It made several trips into the nest, but I did not see another bird come and go. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Rose-throated Becard- Cuajiniquil, Nicaragua
Neotropic Cormorant - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua I don't get to watch the miniature versions of our double crested cormorants but there were plenty in San Juan del Sur. This photo was on the breakwater just of the docks on the south side of the bay where they were drying off from a swim near the shore. They are very adept at fishing the surf and I am guessing that they use the bubbles as cover. As always, the blue-green eye is always striking. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Neotropic Cormorant - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Crested Caracara - Sapoa, Nicaragua This is one of the larger species in the falcon family and it is a scavenger at heart. the bare skin on the face make sure that nothing sticks when eating. They are omnivores and eat live prey and vegetable mater as well as carrion. They are typically found walking the open plains looking for something to eat. This encounter was on the side of the road and there were many of the birds and it led me to believe that there might be some kind of march across the highway the night before? Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Crested Caracara - Sapoa, Nicaragua
Great Kiskadee - Laguna de Apoyo When I have traveled to any of the southern North American or Central American destinations, this bird seems to be front and center. This includes trips to Panama, Belize, Mexico and Texas. Great Kiskadee are named for their calls which are very loud and conspicuous. They are very comfortable around humans as well which is most likely why the note that they are everywhere. This nest was built in the radio tower used for Casa Marimba guests but the tower has obvious secondary uses. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Great Kiskadee - Laguna de Apoyo, NI
Canivet's Emerald - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua This little female hummingbird was filling up a the harbor flower bed in San Juan del Sur. This beautiful flower is called Flamboyant Nain and is native to the area. This little bird had given me some trouble with identification when I first arrived in San Juan as I had the same species at our hotel, pegged as a White-eared Hummingbird, and a friend that I had just met there thought maybe a Mountain Gem but I hadn't given him enough to go on. Later i found this lovely girl and was able to call her the right name, Canivet's Emerald. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Canivet's Emerald - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Hoffmann's Woodpecker - Laguna de Apoyo, NI This mother woodpecker was taking good care of the youngin's in this dead end branch. The hole was well positioned making sure that it was protected from the rain and far enough up the tree that it was not accessible from the ground. This was next to Casa Marimba on Laguna de Apoyo in a lot that looked like it was vacant for some time. The offering that she is bringing to her offspring is a caterpillar which the Hoffmann's woodpeckers make part of their diet but also eat fruit like bananas and figs. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Hoffmann's Woodpecker - Laguna de Apoyo, NI