Caribbean Flamingo

Our Flamingo is actually a deeper red version of the African Greater Flamingo. Firs year birds, born as grey chicks, have gray and brown plumage with only traces of pink in it, which intensifies during the next couple of years until the red adult colour has been reached.

For centuries Bonaire has been the principal breeding site for the Flamingo population in this area (currently estimated at 20,000 birds). Since 1988 they also breed in the Los Olivitos reserve near Maracaibo, Venezuela. Outside the breeding season the Flamingos spread out along the coast of Venezuela. Formerly the Flamingos flew only past Aruba and Curacao on their way to and from Venezuela. For the last few years, however, a flock of 300 to 400 birds can be found in the salt pans of Jan Kok and St. Michiel on Curacao. In 1991 they even built nests there but the breeding was disturbed. Flamingos filter their food out of the water. Their diet may contain small marine snails, larvae of brine flies and mosquitoes, but also the seeds of wigeon grass.

We have managed to see a number of flamingo's in our travels. This shot was taken on the north end of the island, just south of the park. It is very hard to get close to the birds, and we were lucky with this sole bird. After we parked, he walked back toward the truck, so I was able to get some closer shots.

 

Bananaquit

This is probably the most popular bird on the islands. With its yellow belly (the Papiamento name means "yellow belly") and black back and wings it looks as if dressed in a tailcoat. It got its Dutch name ("sugar thief") because it has adjusted so remarkably to the human environment that it has become a well-known raider of sugar pots on breakfast and coffee-tables. It also likes to build its nest in lampshades and decorative trelliswork.

In a more natural environment it collects nectar from flowers, snapping up insects as well. If they cannot reach the nectar in the normal way they will puncture the base of the flower to get at it. This robs the flower of its chance of pollination of course. Fruits are also pierced to get at the sweat juice. They breed the whole year round, building one nest after another.

This little guy was making a nest in our back yard. There are a pair of them flying around our yard. The day after I discovered the nest, I found it on the ground, but noticed that they are making another one.

 

Tropical Mockingbird

This bird is a resident breeding bird from southern Mexico south to northern Brazil, and in the Lesser Antilles and other Caribbean islands. The birds in Panama and Trinidad may have been introduced.

This mockingbird is common in most open habitats including human habitation. It builds a twig nest and the normal clutch is three greyish-green eggs. Incubation, by the female alone, is 13-15 days, with slightly longer again to fledging.

This bird aggressively defends its nest against other birds and animals, including large iguanas, dogs and mongooses.

Adults are 25cm long and weigh 54g. They are grey on the head and upperparts with yellow eyes, a white eyestripe and dark patch through the eye. The underparts are off-white and the wings are blackish with two white wing bars and white edges to the flight feathers. They have a long dark tail with white feather tips, a slim black bill with a slight downward curve, and long dark legs. Text taken from Wikipedia.

There are a number of these guys around the island; we have at least three that frequent our house. We purchased some nuts, and they were a little stale, so I put them out for the birds. This guy was one of the first to sample the nuts.

 

White-tipped or White-faced Dove

This dove resembles the Eared Dove, but it is larger and does not have any conspicuous markings. It has a plain greyish purple colour with a lighter belly and reddish brown undersides of the wings. A blue ring of bare skin surrounds the eye.

In flight the white edge of the tail stands out. Its behavior offers a possibility for identification: when disturbed it does not flee immediately, but will perch on a nearby branch to take a better look at the present danger before flying further away. It can be found in the bushes, looking for seeds on the ground. It builds its nest in trees and the cup-shaped construction is sturdier than the ones made by most doves.

This dove is also common around our house, and they to liked the peanuts I was offering.

 

Troupial

This certainly is the most characteristic bird of our islands. Its full, melodic call is one of the first sounds heard in the early morning. With its bright orange and black feathers it makes a striking appearance on the high cacti, in trees and in bushes,but it will also readily visit a well-provisioned feeding station. The juveniles are of a lighter colour, almost yellow and therefore they may be confused with the Yellow Oriole

The adults possess territories, which they defend fiercely against intruders. The territorial and courtship behavior is spectacular, especially as both birds call out loudly all the time.

The Troupial eats all kinds of fruits, but also insects and eggs and young ones of other birds. It builds its nest in high cacti but it may also appropriate nests from other birds. It is found on all three islands. On Bonaire it has been introduced by man and it may well become a competitor for the Pearly-eyed Thrasher there.

This is a beautiful bird, and we have a pair in the neighbourhood. I have yet to get a good photo of one, and is the best I have so far. Because they are territorial, they like to perch on high things, like the lamp post, giving them a good view of the area.

 

Common or Blue-tailed Emerald

Only 8 cm, including the 2-cm bill, is the entire overall length of this bird. The male is of a glittering green (the emerald), while the female is duller with grey underparts. The Emerald is a familiar guest in our gardens, where it will defend its territory against intruders. It is very pugnacious indeed and the opponent is a fight make spectacular dive-flights in which they seem intent on stabbing each other with their long bills.

They sip nectar from flowers and if the nectar is too deep down they will pierce the flower near the base to get at it. Of course, in this way the pollen of the flower is not being carried to other flowers. The nest, with a circumference of about 3 cm is often built under an overhanging leaf which offers protection against sun and rain.

Caribbean or Brown-throated Parakeet

If loudly screaming bright green birds flash-by, then they must be Parakeets. The interesting thing about these birds is that there exists a different race on each island. On Aruba the Parakeet has a greenish brown head with at the most a little yellow near the eye. On Curacao the whole head with the exception of the crown, is yellow, while on Bonaire the crown and sometimes the neck is yellow too. Unfortunately there has been some mixing between the races because, e.g. cage birds from Curacao have been set free on Aruba. This disturbs the natural evolution process and should be prevented by all means.

The Parakeets eat seeds from wabi, dividivi and indju trees and of course all kinds of fruits. As nest sites they often choose termites' nests in which they dig out a tunnel, sometimes with the termites still occupying the structure. It is deplorable that the mindless clearing of vegetation going on nowadays is causing a lot of these nests to disappear. Eventually this is bound to affect the parakeet population.

I have a photo of a pair of these guys on this page, but they were far away. We have seen them twice now, so I am hopeful I can get a better picture. Updated photo now in place. Trudy managed to spot this guy when we were driving back from the north end of the island.

 

Magnificent Frigatebird

These birds, hanging like flying "anchors" in the sky, form a typical sight on our islands. Their long wings, deeply forked tails and long hooked bills are unmistakable. Adult males are completely black. In October the bright red throat pouch may become visible, signaling the start of breeding season. Females have white breast feathers while the young birds show white heads, necks and under-parts.

The Frigatebirds have roosting sites in the mangroves, e.g. on Isla di Makuaku (makwaku island) on Curacao, in the Lac on Bonaire and on the reef-islets of Bucuti on Aruba. They catch fish by sweeping down and picking the fish out of the water. Often they try to steel the catch from other birds; in these efforts they display unbelievable feats of aerobatics. Concentrations of Frigatesbirds will show fisherman where to find fish. Frigatebirds do not breed on our islands.

Black-faced Grassquit

This is a small, compact bird with a short, thick bill. The male makes a completely black impression, while the female is more grayish brown. A typical seed-eater, it is dependent upon grasses and all kinds of weed for its food. These plants are of course most abundant in the wet season. The bad habit of "cleaning" a terrain, clearing it completely of all existing vegetation, kills of course exactly the food plants which these birds need.

The male, when signing, resembles an opera star: after a short strophe it opens its beak wide and emits one piercing high note. The nest is a globular structure with a narrow entrance pointing downwards. It is often built between the stems of Opuntia-cacti.

Lesser Yellowlegs

Like the Stilt, this bird is an excellent watchdog. When danger threatens its sharp "chu-chu-chu" warns all birds around. It is 25 cm long and naturally its long yellow legs are its principal recognizable feature. The upper-parts have a mottled brown appearance; the upper-parts are white. The only difference with the Greater Yellowlegs is its bill which curves slightly upward at the tip.

The Lesser Yellowlegs can be found on mud-flats in bays, salt-pans and freshwater pools. It feeds on insects, small crustaceans and small snails. The nervous bobbing up and down it performs, helps on recognizing the bird. Coming down in numbers in the winter from North America, it can be found on the islands throughout the year.