April 25, 2025

I am known as a Broad-winged Hawk

Like vultures, to relax we sometimes fly in kettles

That means we glide in circles in warm air currents

Because flying there does not test our mettle.

Location: Chilamate, Heredia, Sarapiquí, Costa Rica

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-winged_Hawk/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.

April 24, 2025

I am a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

You can see part of my rufous tail from this angle

My tail color's distinct

My bill is bright pink

And I practice Polygyny, my love life's a tangle!

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

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.

April 23, 2025

I am a Southern Rough-winged Swallow

I live near water where I nest and forage

I very much love

Eating beetles and bugs

Of which, near water, there's never a shortage.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/srwswa1/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.

April 22, 2025

I am known as a Laughing Falcon

I really enjoy eating snakes

At every dawn and dusk

I raise a loud fuss

Emitting laughing-like yelps, hence my name.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/laufal1/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.

April 21, 2025

I am known as a Crested Guan

I'm a large bird in the genus Penelope

I honk and cry loud

And make crashing sounds

As I make my way through the subcanopy.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/cregua1/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.

April 20, 2025

We are known as Black River Turtles

We are cream-yellow with spots underneath

But we mostly are black

On our head and our back

And like all turtles, we do not have teeth.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=3878

https://www.littlepassports.com/blog/animals/turtle-facts-for-kids

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.

April 19, 2025

I am a Banded Peacock butterfly

I'm mostly brown with white marginal bands

I have a broken median band that is orange-red

And I prefer herbaceous host plants.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anartia_fatima

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Anartia-fatima

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.

April 18, 2025

I am a male Black-cowled Oriole

My mate has olive-green on her back and head

We nest in basket-shapes structures

Technically in sin though, we aren't known to wed.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

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

April 17, 2025

I am a Tropical Kingbird

I'm gray with a white chin and yellow breast

I can be found in many different climates

And like to eat some fruits, but mostly insects.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

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

April 16, 2025

We are White-necked Puffbirds

We vaguely resemble a pair of saddle shoes

We eat large insects and small invertebrates

And can be found from Guatemala to Bolivia and Peru.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/whnpuf2/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.

April 15, 2025

I am known as a Squirrel Cuckoo

I have a very long, black, spotted tail

You only see about half of it here

The rest is hidden by leaves - photographer fail!

(Google it for better photos - my photo does not do it justice!)

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/squcuc1/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.

April 14, 2025

I am a male Rufous-winged Woodpecker

I like to forage up high in trees

I like to eat beetles and larvae

And tap-tap-tap on trees incessantly.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/ruwwoo1/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.

April 13, 2025

I am an Apricot Sulphur butterfly

I'm known to be partial to red plants

I can be found from Paraguay to Mexico

And sometimes Texas, when I go long distance.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Phoebis-argante

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.

April 12, 2025

I am a Boat-billed Flycatcher, 

I'm another bird that's white, yellow and black

But I have a distinctly large, curved bill

Which similar-looking flycatchers lack.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/bobfly1/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.

April 11, 2025

I am known as a Social Flycatcher,

I'm yellow, black and white and quite stocky

I can only be found in the Neotropics

There go my dreams of playing ice hockey.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/socfly1/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.

April 10, 2025

I am a female Yellow-crowned Euphonia

If male, my back,wings and throat would be blue

I live in humid areas along forest borders

And I eat insects, berries and other small fruits.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/yeceup1/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.

April 9, 2025

I am known as a Long-tailed Tyrant

I'm black with a white with a very long tail

Even from this distance, it's not hard to make an ID -

Just compare my tail to my body for scale.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/lottyr1/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.

April 8, 2025

I am a female Rufous-tailed Jacamar

If I was male, my chin would be white

I'm slightly duller than my iridescent mate

And we both like to dine on dragonflies.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rutjac1/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.

April 7, 2025

I am a Chestnut-colored Woodpecker

I have a light roufus brown crest

My bill is a pale yellow color

And I'm chestnut with black chevrons on my back, wings and breast.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/chcwoo1/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.

April 6, 2025

I am a Broad-billed Motmot

I can be found from Panama to Honduras

There are other subspecies in South America

But we have racket tails so you can rest assured it's us.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/brbmot1/cur/introduction#distrib

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.

April 5, 2025

I am a juvenile White-whiskered Puffbird

If I was an adult, I'd be more chestnut-brown

Instead my underparts are heavily streaked

And I have gray and brown on my crown.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/whwpuf1/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.

April 4, 2025

I am a Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Though it's easy to confuse me with Dee -

But she has 5 toes on each hand and foot,

I have 2 on my hand, but on my feet I've got 3.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://www.podvolunteer.org/blog/the-difference-between-two-and-three-toed-sloth

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.

April 3, 2025

I am a male Green Honeycreeper

I'm mostly bright aqua with a black head

I like to eat fruits and nectar

From southern Mexico to Brazil, I'm widespread.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica; La Fortuna's Ecocenter, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grehon1/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.

April 2, 2025

I am known as a Green Basilisk

I have fringed skin on my long rear toes

This helps me to run short distances on water

I can also swim so I don't sink like a stone.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/green-basilisk-lizard

Very informative video with additional details about how the Basilisk is able to walk on water: https://youtu.be/UdUcRoQkiJ4?si=Vk8Tx6j2yeiVXLKD

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.

April 1, 2025

We are known as White-collared Swifts

As Swifts go, we are one of the largest

If you look close you can see the white band round our necks

We're related to Taylor, the recording artist.

(Haha! April Fools! We aren't really related to Taylor, but we both have bands!)

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

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