English - Streamer-tailed Tyrant
Portuguese - Tesoura do Brejo
Latin - Gubernetes yetapa
I think this would be one of the prettiest birds I photographed when I spent the month at REGUA. (Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu) I photographed the Streamer-tailed Tyrant when I went on an excursion to a place called Sumidouro and Carmo which is about 107 kms north of REGUA. We were in a small town and we had stopped the van we were driving in next to a field to see what was there. In this field there was an water outlet that ran into this field which created a small stream. There were a few different species of birds there that we were photographing when suddenly the Streamer-tailed Tyrant flew in. First of all, it didn’t come to close but after a while it flew closer and landed on a banana tree not to far from where we were standing. The photos are a bit flat as the day was hot but quite overcast.
* The Streamer-tailed Tyrant is a big species of flycatcher with a length of 42cm from head to tail.
* Its call is a harsh “wurreep”, repeated multiple times when hovering over foraging area.
* The Streamer-tailed Tyrant is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
* Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland.
* The Streamer-tailed Tyrant is an insectivore.
* The nesting behaviour of the Streamer-tailed Tyrant is poorly known.
* The Streamer-tailed Tyrant is not globally threatened. It is classed as uncommon to locally fairly common in its range. it is classified on the IUCN red list as a species ”of least concern” for the time being.
English - Red-crested Finch
Portuguese - Tico-tico-rei
Latin - Coryphospingus Cucullatus
I photographed the Red-crested Finch when we were visiting the Pantanal. We were driving down a dirt road called MS184. We stopped at one of the many watering holes that are created when the water evaporates in the dry season. I got out of the car and I was observing what was out and about when I saw a movement in a bush to my right and noticed a pair of Red-crested Finch rustling around in that bush. The day was hot but a bit over cast so I couldn’t get my shutter speed up to where I would have liked. The first photo is of a male and the second photo is of a female.
* The Red-crested Finch is a compact wee bird of 14 cm in length and weighs around 18 gr.
* It has a song a musical 2 or 3 notes series ’chidut-WEET chidut-WEET chidut-WEET or a high ‘spit’ when calling.
* It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay and Peru east of the Andes.
* Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrub land, and heavily degraded former forest.
* The Red-crested Finch mainly forage on the ground, taking seeds, fruits and invertebrates.
* The female lays 2-3 white eggs with a few brown spots, which she incubates alone for 11-15 days. The chicks fledge 11-14 days after hatching, but are not yet able to fly. They continue to be fed by the male and only become independent 3-4 weeks later. Each pair can raise 2-3 clutches per year.
* The Red-crested Finch is generally a common species within its range. Its population trend seems to be steady. It has a very extensive range and therefore on the IUCN red list it is a species ”of least concern”.
English - Blue Dacnis
Portuguese - Saí-Azul
Latin - Dacnis Cayana
I photographed the Blue Dacnis in a small reserve called EBMAR (Estacao Biologia Marinha Augosto Ruschi) which is situated around 58 kms north of Vila Velha. I have photographed the Blue Dacnis in other parts of Brazil that I have visited but at EBMAR I was able to get quite close to them to photograph thanks to the feeders that are put out every morning. An attractive looking bird which would have been best photographed in full sun but unfortunately (for me) the feeders are placed under trees in the shade. Photos 1 & 2 are of male Blue Dacnis. Photo No 3 is of a wee female
* The Blue Dacnis is a small bird of 13 cm in length and weighs around 16 gr.
* It used to be called the Turquoise Honeycreeper, but since it was not a honeycreeper, it’s name was changed.
* The Blue Dacnis call is a thin tsip, tsip.
* It occur naturally in Central / South America - Nicaragua south to Bolivia and northern Argentina.
* It prefers forest edges, open woodlands, scrub and second growth. From lowlands to 1,200 m above sea level.
* The Blue Dacnis is an omnivorous, feeding on insects, fruits, seeds and nectar.
* The female lays 2 white, brown-blotched eggs that are incubated only by the female. The nestlings fledge 13 days after hatching. The Blue Dacnis has around 2 to 4 broods per season.
* The Blue Dacnis is not globally threatened. Fairly common to common and widely distributed throughout its large range. Is found in many protected areas, Therefore the Blue Dacnis is classified as a species ”of least concern”.
