October 14, 2026

I am a female Hooded Merganser

My head is floofy but not as much as my mates

When I'm not breeding I can be seen in Florida
But when breeding, I'm more common near the Great Lakes.

I have been too busy to get out and photograph lately, so David has been combing through his archives for photos of his that I have not used. The funny thing is, he submitted an almost identical photo to this one, and I thought - wait a minute - that is MY photo. But it wasn't - I found this almost identical photo in my own archive that for some reason I never used. So this is actually one of my photos from Biggest Week in May of this year!

Location: Pearson Park Oregon OH

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/maps-range

Photo and text © 2026 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.

October 15, 2026

I am a Botteri’s Sparrow

I live in Arazona in the sacaton grass

In the summertime I like to perch and sing

Otherwise I'm quiet on the ground and you'll walk right past.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Portal AZ

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Botteris_Sparrow

Photo and text © 2026 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.

October 13, 2026

I am known as a Barred Hawk

I've white bars on my tummy but the rest of me's black

After heavy rains, I hunt for Caecilians

A subterranean amphibian on which I snack.

Location: Bellavista, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/barhaw1/cur/introduction

https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/caecilian

Photo and text © 2026 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.

October 12, 2026

I'm a male Plain-colored Seedeater

My name is all anyone needs - 

I'm mostly varying shades of grey and

I hang out in the Paramo eating Espeletia seeds.

Location: Antisana Ecological Reserve, Quijos, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/plcsee1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2026 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.

October 11, 2026

I am known as a Buff-throated Saltator

I have a stout bill that resembles a finch

I mostly eat fruit and nectar

But will also eat wasps, ants or seeds in a pinch.

Location: Sendero Frutti Tour & Birdwatching, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/butsal1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2026 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.

October 10, 2026

We are a group of Blue-gray Tanagers

We generally travel in flocks or in pairs

We will join mixed species flocks to dine

We share food but do not share our air.

Location: Sachatamia Lodge, Ecuador

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

October 9, 2026

I am a Rufous-Throated Tanager

I have no sub-species, so I'm called "monotypic"

I'm a homebody, I'm resident and don't migrate

I'm pretty but somewhat soporific.

Location: Reserva Amagusa, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/ruttan1/cur/introduction?login&continue#distrib

Photo and text © 2026 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.