March 17, 2025

I am known as Red-tailed Squirrel

My color can vary from yellow to orange or black

Capuchin monkeys,  boa constrictors, and humans 

All like to eat me for snacks!

Location: Soda Cinchona, Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sciurus_granatensis/

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.

March 16, 2025

I am known as a Prong-billed Barbet

I'm named for my pronged upper mandible

I'm fairly drab colored except for my shiny red eyes

If you overlook me, that would be understandable.

Location: Soda Cinchona, Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/prbbar1/cur/priorities

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.

March 15, 2025

I am a female Green-crowned Brilliant hummingbird

My underparts are spangled white and green

I molt annually from inner to outer primaries

The order helps flight stability when I'm out making the scene.

Location: Soda Cinchona, Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grcbri1/cur/appearance

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.

March 14, 2025

I am a male Green-crowned Brilliant hummingbird

I'm mostly different shades of blue and green

It almost looks like my eyes have sclera,

But that is a white postocular spot you see.

(In humans, the white of the eye is called "sclera". The white you see on this bird in the second photo is actually little, tiny white feathers that give the bird a slightly creepy human-eye look,)

Location: Soda Cinchona, Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grcbri1/cur/identification

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.

March 13, 2025

I am known as a Palm Tanager

Birds of the World describes me as "drab looking"

And they describe my calls as "unmusical"

But in the neotropics, I'm widespread and enduring.

Location: Soda Cinchona, Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/paltan1/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.

March 12, 2025

I am a Chlorospingus flavopectus

Common Bush-Tanager is my non-scientific name

But I'm actually a New-world Sparrow

Taxonomists drive me insane!

Location: Soda Cinchona, Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/cobtan1/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.

March 11, 2025

I am a female Summer Tanager,

I'm yellow-green where my mate is red

We are not true Tanagers,

Taxonomy managers*

Say we are closer to Cardinals instead.

(* Yes, I know the proper term is "taxonomist", but that doesn't rhyme with "Tanager".)

Location: Soda Cinchona, Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Summer_Tanager/overview

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.