Michael Felz

Migration is bringing the Yellow-rumped Warblers (Setophaga coronata) to lower elevations, this one and a modest amount of others to St. Vrain State Park near Longmont, CO.
#birdsoftheworld
#stvrainstatepark
#coloradobirds
#yellowrumpedwarbler
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I don’t often see Black-crowned Night Herons here in Colorado. They are most active during early dawn and late dusk when light is dim. Today I saw two, an adult here with a freshly-caught fish, and a juvenile further along the pond.
#birds
#coloradobirds
#blackcrownednightheron
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With a light green beak, slightly smaller size, and a habitat high in the mountain-side forests, the Red-breasted Toucan is easily distinguished from the similar Channel-billed Toucan. Here’s one showing off its tomial teeth on the grounds of Trilha dos Tucanos, near Tapiraí, Brazil. #birds

These Olive-green Tanagers were on the grounds of the Trilha dos Tucanos Lodge near Tapirai, west of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Endemic to Brazil, they are a olive-green/dull yellow above, with a darker crown and brighter yellow breast.

#birds
#trilhadostucanos
#olivegreentanager
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American Coots (Fulica americana) in the mud flats, Cherry Creek Reservoir, Colorado. #birds #birdsoftheworld #americancoot www.felzfotoz.com

The hummingbirds are readying for their trip south from Colorado, with a few species passing through from higher elevations or northern climates. This one was at the Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farm this morning. #birds #birdsoftheworld www.felzfotoz.com

The Red-and-white Crake (Rufirallus leucopyrrhus) is a marsh bird that was the first of a few new species for me that I photographed at Sitio Macuquinho near Sao Paulo, Brazil. Its greenish beak, red eyes, rufous head, chestnut back, coral legs, and white and black under-feathers are quite a look!

The Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana) often frequent treetops looking for insects, though this rainy day they came down to check out a flower pot at Ninho da Cambacica, just north of Ubatuba, Brazil. Here’s a male (bright blue, black throat) and female (light green, light blue crown).
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We found these loud and beautiful Channel-billed Toucans (Ramphastos vitellinus) in the tall forests along Southeast Brazil's Atlantic Coast. We observed them eating the plentiful palm nuts and other fruits at Pousada Salve Floresta, a bit south and east of Sao Paulo. #birds www.felzfotoz.com

The Sharpbill has a cone-shaped sharp bill and is greenish-yellow with white and black spots below. It has a rarely seen reddish-orange crest on top of its head, and is about 6-7 in long. This one was on the grounds of the Hotel Donati north of Itatiaia, Brazil. #birdsoftheworld www.felzfotoz.com

This sweet little Bay-breasted Warbling Finch (Castanozoster thoracicus) is endemic to southern Brazil. Its habitat is at elevation (this one was at 2,130m). Its distinctive white eye patch is plainly seen in this photo. #birds #birdsoftheworld www.felzfotoz.com

This Curl-crested Jay (Cyanocorax cristatellus) was one of a small group on the outskirts of Itatiaia SP, Brazil, that showed up at an old petrol station when we stopped to photograph some Toco Toucans that we spotted along the road. #birdsoftheworld #hoteldonati #curlcrestedjay
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For a bird that loves to perch at the forest’s edge, you’re bound to been seen and named a Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris). We saw this one on our way to Ninho da Cambacica Villa, a wonderful spot to photograph just north of Ubatuba, Brazil.

After a few days at Ninho da Cambacica, we hit the road for the coastal town of Ubatuba, Brazil. We saw this handsome male Yellow-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes flavifrons) along the way. Females have a blue-black crown, not red. #birdsoftheworld #yellowfrontedwoodpecker www.felzfotoz.com

Southeast Brazil is such a nice place for bird photography that even when you stop for lunch you mustn’t forget your camera. Here’s a Plain Parakeet juvenile (Brotogeris tirica) sitting out the rain on a palm leaf just downhill from our picnic table. #birdsoftheworld #plainparakeet www.felzfotoz.com

I followed this Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) through 3 perches around 2 lakes to get a closer photo. I catch up & I lift 10+ lbs of camera and lens only to find a branch in the hawk’s face. I mutter my complaint, and as if hearing, it leans its head to my right for a clear shot. #birds

Near the top of the list of entertaining birds, the Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leverianus) is one of a kind as the only member of the genus Cissopis. This Magpie Tanager was in the forest edge at Trilha dos Tucanos, near Tapiraí, SP Brazil. #birds #birdsoftheworld #magpietanager www.felzfotoz.com

I tried for a good long while to photograph this Sapphire-spangled Emerald (Chionomesa lactea) in flight with its pinkish/reddish lower mandible showing - best I could get is this glimpse at the Sitio Macuquinho near Salesópolis, Brazil. #birds #birdsoftheworld #sitiomacuquinho #nikonphotography

We found this wind-blown Rufous-fronted Thornbird near Brazil’s Parque Nacional do Itatiaia. It would have been nice to find its nest. Nests are built as long cylinders, often with thorny branches, and may be up to 6 feet long containing several “chambers”. #birds #birdsofbrazil www.felzfotoz.com

This male Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis) was photographed at Hotel Donati, located in the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, located between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. #birdsoftheworld #birdsofbrazil #violetcappedwoodnymph #nikonphotography www.felzfotoz.com

Tanagers are known for their vibrant, sexually dimorphic plumage, a fruit and insect diet, and living in the forest canopy. The male Brazilian Tanager (Ramphocelus bresilius) is also known for its vivid, rich red plumage. #birdsoftheworld #birdsofbrazil #braziliantanager www.felzfotoz.com

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) along the Fern Lake Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park. #birds #birdsoftheworld #crow #americancrow www.felzfotoz.com

One of many interesting tanagers in Southeast Brazil, this male Black-goggled Tanager (Trichothraupis melanops - “black-faced tanager”) was accompanied by a shy and flitting female. The male has a black mask and yellow crown, as shown here, while the female has neither. #birdsoftheworld

2/... I don't speak Portuguese, at least not well enough to inquire about these Owls' backstory. I assume they've been injured and are being cared for by someone associated with the cafe. Bravo!

August 4th is International Owl Awareness Day. These two Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) caught our attention as we drove along Baía de Ubatuba in southeast Brazil. They were in a grassy area fronting a cafe. "Obrigado for me proteger" is Portuguese and means "Thank you for protecting me". 1/...

Maybe you can settle the argument. Here's a Kiskadee; my apps disagree on whether Lesser or Great. Taken at Pousada Salve Floresta in Brazil, it appears to lack the rufous-edged wing and tail feathers of Great Kiskadees, though Cornell reports populations in South America are less strongly rufous.

Cliff Flycatchers (Hirundinea ferruginea) were originally observed hunting flying insects from cliff perches, though they will also hunt from tree and building perches. Here's one near Tapiraí SP, Brazil. #birds #birdsoftheworld #birdsofbrazil #cliffflycatchers #nikonphotography www.felzfotoz.com

One advantage of misty, wet days is that it lifts up the texture of feathers, as in this Chestnut-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia pectoralis) on the grounds of Trilha dos Tucanos in southeast Brazil. #birds #birdsoftheworld #birdsofbrazil #chestnutbelliedeuphonia #euphonia #nikon www.felzfotoz.com

Near Tapiraí SP, Brazil, here's a male White-shouldered Fire-eye (Pyriglena leucoptera). Females also have the "fire-eye" but are generally a light olive-brown without the white shoulder. #birds #birdsoftheworld #birdsofbrazil #nikonphotography www.felzfotoz.com

Here's a Saffron Toucanet (Pteroglossus bailloni) near Tapiraí, São Paulo on the Trilha dos Tucanos Lodge grounds. #birds #birdsoftheworld #birdsofbrazil #saffrontoucanet #toucanet #nikon www.felzfotoz.com