Mexican Fauna Part 9

You might know about the amazing jaguar or golden
eagle of Mexico. But there are hundreds of other
bird species that call the country home. If
you're on vacation with a bird-watcher, you'll
have lots to explore and look for! Don't forget
your binoculars as you look for these avian
gems.

Orchard Oriole

This lovely bird is the smallest icterid
blackbird in North America, measuring only 6.3
inches long. It's a very attractive species; its
breeding range is from eastern coast of Mexico to
the forests of Baja California Sur and Sinaloa.
They enjoy shaded trees that grow near lakes and
streams. Orchard Oriole males have
chestnut-colored chests and rumps, with black
plumage on their heads and wingtips. Sporting
pointed bills and white wing bars, the females
and juveniles are mainly olive-green and yellow.
During breeding season, the Orchard Orioles feed
on insects and spiders; at other times, they
prefer fruit, nectar, and seeds as well. The
mating dances of these orioles are fairly
unique, and they are a favorite bird of
birdwatchers; the displays include seesawing
motions, 'begging', and bowing.

Barred Forest Falcon

Think that falcons and eagles are only seen in
the cooler parts of North America? Think again.
An excellent example of the many tropical falcon
species is the Barred Forest Falcon; it inhabits
the upland forests from Central America all the
way down into Brazil. This bird of prey is dark
slate gray as an adult, with white tail tips and
pale gray throats. Small birds, rodents,
marsupials, and squamates are the main prey of
the Barred Forest Falcon. They will lure birds
by imitating their calls and will also chase
them on foot, but generally they usually wait
for their prey to wander into range. The Barred
Falcon does not build a nest; it lays eggs in
tree cavities, and will often occupy the same
territory for many years. Furthermore, mating
pairs will often stay together almost entirely
exclusively, though the Barred Forest Falcon is
not as strictly monogamous as other bird
species.

Flammulated Flycatcher

What does 'Flammulated' mean? Derived from the
Latin flammula, meaning 'little flame', it
refers to the cinnamon-reddish markings on this
little bird's wings (although the name may seem
nonsensical). The Flammulated Flycatcher is
endemic to the Pacific woodlands and thorn
forests of Mexico, where it normally skulks
beneath the underbrush looking for insects. This
little bird is about 6 inches long, with
gray-brown or olive plumage on its upper parts
and pale gray chests. Edged with red, the wings
are a familiar brown. One of the few endemic
species in Mexico that is not endangered is the
Flammulated Flycatcher; their range is large and
their population is abundant. The Flycatchers
breed around June each year, nesting in shallow
tree cavities close to the ground. Their
cup-shaped nests are made out of vegetation and
shredded park, and the female lays three eggs
each time.


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