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.

March 10, 2025

I am a male Summer Tanager, 

Superficially, I look like a Cardinal

But I don't have a crest

Nor black accents

In fact, other than red feathers, our similarities are marginal.

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.

March 9, 2025

I am a Scarlet-rumped Tanager

I'm solid black, except for my flaming red butt

When breeding, at dawn,

I sing a long song,

And impress girls by fluffing my stuff. 

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

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/y00599/cur/sounds

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 8, 2025

I am a Violet Sabrewing

For a hummingbird, I'm remarkably large

My feathers are electric purple and blue

You might say I look super-charged!

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

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/viosab1/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 7, 2025

I am a Buff-throated Saltator

I am in the Tanager family

Scientists thought I was related to Cardinals and Finches

But Phylogenetic Analysis proved that to be a fallacy.

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

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

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6126798

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 6, 2025

I am a Red-headed Barbet

My bright crimson head makes me unique

I'm  mostly green and yellow with a white neck stripe

And I have a large greenish-yellowish beak.

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

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rehbar1/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 5, 2025

I am a female Red-legged Honeycreeper,

I'm more plain than my blue boyfriend

I'm mostly olive green 

With some pale yellow streaks

And my legs are more pinkish than red.

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

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/relhon1/cur/introduction#fieldid

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 4, 2025

I am a male Red-legged Honeycreeper,

I'm known to have a catholic diet

This means that my diet is universal and broad -

Whether arthropods, fruit or nectar,  I'll try it!

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

Sources:  https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/relhon1/cur/introduction

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/catholic

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 3, 2025

I am known as a Clay-colored Thrush

I am Costa Rica's national bird

My song is believed to summon the rains

And represents renewal - the honor's deserved.

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

Sources: https://originslodge.com/blog/national-bird-of-costa-rica

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 2, 2025

I am a male Baltimore Oriole,

You might recognize me from baseball caps

The oldest Baltimore Oriole lived to 12 years old

Which beats even Cal Ripken's stats.

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

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Ripken_Jr.

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 1, 2025

I am a female Baltimore Oriole,
I'm not as brightly colored as my baseball-famed mate

Although my color gets bolder

As I get older

I might be orange someday at this rate.

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

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