Puerto Rican Owl

Gymnasio nudipes

A small nocturnal species of most wooded habitats including suburban areas and parks. During the day it roosts in tree cavities or dense vegetation. Note that this species comes in two color forms: rust and gray. Both morphs have prominent eyebrows and the facial discs are bordered below and behind by white. The “ears” are not always visible. Occasionally sings during the day. Song is a low tremulous trill, typically growing louder towards the middle and softer towards the end, which is sometimes followed by a low cackle. Pairs sometimes duet; female song is higher-pitched. No similar species within its range.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Gymnasio nudipes
Authority
(Daudin, 1800)
Order
Strigiformes
Family
Strigidae
Genus
Gymnasio

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Zone-tailed Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Dark raptor that soars with a "V" or dihedral shape and rocks side-to-side in flight. Black overall with silver bars on flight feathers and white banded tail. Yellow feet and cere; small pale gray area in front of eyes. Sexes similar; immature similar to adult but lacking dark trailing edge to wings and with more finely banded banded gray and black tail. Shape and flight style remarkably similar to Turkey Vulture. Plumage much like Common Black Hawk but wing shape is very different. Rarely seen perched. Found in a variety of habitats, including mountains, deserts, and mangroves.

Crowned Cormorant

Crowned Cormorant

Microcarbo coronatus

A small, plain-backed cormorant that is restricted to near-shore marine environments, where it is uncommon. Sometimes it occurs in coastal estuaries alongside the similar Long-tailed Cormorant, which has a shorter crest (year-round), a pale-speckled back, and a relatively longer tail. Nonbreeding and immature plumages are brownish with paler underparts. Frequently roosts on coastal rocks with other marine cormorants, which are larger and have blue or brownish eyes. Flies poorly on short, stubby wings; avoids the deeper marine waters frequented by Cape and Bank cormorants.

Rufous-shafted Woodstar

Rufous-shafted Woodstar

Chaetocercus jourdanii

Tiny, mostly green bumblebee-like hummingbird with a straight bill, glittering magenta throat, white chest band and sides of rump, and short forked tail. Female very different, with buffy underparts, dark brown ears, and unforked rufous tail with a black band. Found in cloud forest, edges, second growth, and gardens, with some seasonal movements. Often hard to see, but sometimes perches at the top of bare branches. In Andes, compare to the similar Gorgeted Woodstar; male Gorgeted has longer purple feathers on the throat, and female lacks green central tail feathers. At lower elevations compare with Amethyst Woodstar, in which the male has a longer tail and female has a whitish throat and black tail tipped with white. Restricted to Colombia and Venezuela.

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