Whereas I’ve picked up 26 lifers thus far this yr, all however seven have been from exterior of Mexico, and solely two haven’t concerned air journey. After 10+ years of birding the world round my dwelling in Morelia, it has grow to be very tough to choose up new species right here. (I additionally discovered two in 2022, and just one in 2023.)
So it was a little bit of a shock to choose up my second Michoacán lifer for the yr simply final week. Not that I used to be completely with out hope. My ornithologist buddy Jonathan Várgas had explored an space simply uphill from my beloved website of Paso Ancho, Michoacán, and had seen an endangered Black-capped Vireo wintering there, in addition to a considerably out-of-range pair of Nice Black Hawks. Both of these would have been lifers for me, though they weren’t for Jonathan.
We spent a lot of the morning exploring additional this new space, principally making an attempt to find the elusive Black-capped Vireo once more. By the early afternoon, it was fairly clear that was to not be, and it was nearly definitely too late to seek out the Nice Black Hawks. Nonetheless, the birding had been good, the December climate was very nice for this usually scorching area, and we have been having fun with the tall inexperienced forest, fairly totally different from the Paso Ancho thorn forest habitat solely three kilometers away.
Then, we heard what was clearly a Pygmy-Owl name. I nearly anticipate to listen to and see Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls in Paso Ancho. They’ve the charming behavior of accepting me as one in every of their very own, eagerly responding to my very own whistled toot-toot-toot-toot-toot-toot-toot-toots. However I by no means toot lower than eight instances; the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl toots between eight and twenty instances with every name.
This Pygmy-Owl, nevertheless, tooted solely two or 4 instances, way more tentatively than the extra aggressive Ferruginous name. And it additionally typically gave an extended fluty trill earlier than its sluggish toots. Jonathan, extra versed in tropical birds, mentioned excitedly, “Colima Pygmy-Owl!”
The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl‘s scientific title is Glaucidium brasilianum, as a result of it may be discovered from Arizona and Texas all the best way to Brazil and past. It may be discovered in lots of habitats and elevations, together with inside the metropolis of Morelia. In distinction, the Colima Pygmy-Owl can solely be present in southwestern Mexico. It favors hiding out in dense woods, and is far tougher to visually find than its Ferruginous cousin. For each Colima statement on eBird, there are 45 Ferruginous observations. I had, for sure, by no means earlier than seen a Colima Pygmy-Owl.
And I nearly didn’t see it this time. Because it trilled and tooted, we anxiously looked for its actual location. Ultimately, Jonathan managed to see it. However I used to be caught on an space simply to the left, and couldn’t appear to know his directions relating to the dense assortment of branches the place it was positioned. Till, lastly, I did. And by that point, we had heard its mate trilling and tooting close by.
Visually, it wasn’t that a lot of a revelation. Aside from their calls, the primary distinction between the 2 species is that the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (which I’ve reported 56 instances) has white stripes on its crown, whereas the Colima Pygmy-Owl has white dots. It’s, at 5.7 inches/17.8 cm, additionally 20% smaller than its extra frequent relative. However that, in fact, is tough to evaluate within the wild.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Colima Pygmy-Owl
Nonetheless, realizing that our discovering was solely the tenth for the complete state of Michoacán, and solely the second with images, made this an enormous deal. An enormous deal, with a really small owl.
After all, even the perfect sighting isn’t the one pleasure of a day of birding. Shortly after our owl encounter, I noticed a Hook-billed Kite. This was the primary expertise for both of us of this species perched, relatively than flying. On a department, it seems to be very totally different from the way it seems to be on the wing.
There have been many, many hummingbirds current, from six totally different species. Right here, a pair of Lucifer Hummingbirds challenged a bigger Plain-capped Starthroat.
A Violet-crowned Hummingbird tried to cross as a penguin with a soar neck.
Golden Vireos, an Elegant Euphonia, and lots of Orange-breasted Buntings confirmed off their most interesting colours. Though I don’t perceive why that final title options the colour orange, relatively than yellow and blue.
Hey, even the Black Vultures placed on a present.
We additionally noticed one of many weirdest bugs I’ve seen right here in Michoacán. Apparently it’s from the long-horned beetle household.
