July 15, 2025

I am a male Collared Inca

I'm mostly green-black with a white tail and bib

My bill is quite long

Squeaky chatter's my song

Girl Incas dig the cut of my jib.

Location: Guango Lodge, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/colinc1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

July 14, 2025

I am a Buff-winged Starfrontlet

Named for the distinctive buff patch on my wing

I like to hang around forest borders

And repeat "unk, unk, unk" while dining.

Location: Reserva Yanacocha, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/buwsta1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

July 13, 2025

I am a female Green Thorntail 

My flight is similar to that of a bee

Unlike my mate

I have white on my face

But he has a much longer tail than me.

Location: Sendero Frutti Tour & Birdwatching, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/gretho1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

July 12, 2025

I am a Velvet-Purple Coronet

I'm iridescent blue-purple and white

I prefer to live in wet tropical forests

Where I feed on flowers or insects in flight.

Location: Sachatamia Lodge, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/vepcor1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

July 11, 2025

I am known as a Buff-tailed Coronet

I must have a good sense of humor

I'm handsome and green 

And a joy to be seen

But I also wear fluffy white bloomers!

Location: Refugio Paz de las Aves, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/butcor1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

July 10, 2025

I am a Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

You can see how I got my name

My body's otherwise green

But can hardly be seen

With my wings beating so fast, what a shame!

Location: Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rtlhum/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

July 9, 2025

Now let's resume our preview of my upcoming Ecuador book!

I am a male (top) Long-tailed Sylph

Shown with my wife who doesn't look quite the same

I have spectacular aqua blue rectrices

My wife does not live up to our name!

Location: Cuyuja, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/lotsyl1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.