August 24, 2026

I am a Moss-backed Tanager

My head is big with a thick, stubby bill

My face is blue and my back is moss-green

And my song's described as "...a rattling trill.

Location: Reserva Amagusa, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/.../mobtan1/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.

August 23, 2026

I am known as a Rusty-Margined Flycatcher

Named for the rusty patch on my wing

I've a yellow belly and white eyebrow and chin

And a tiny yellow patch on my head, just for bling.

Location: Sachatamia Lodge, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/.../rumfly1/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.

August 22, 2026

I am a Pale-edged Flycatcher

My outer rectrices are edged in pale yellow

Rectices are my tail feathers

Which help me fly in the direction I want to go. 

Location: Cabañas San Isidro, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/.../paefly1/cur/introduction

https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/.../anatomy-retrices/

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.

August 21, 2026

I am a female Yellow Garden Spider

Males don't get anywhere close to this big

I'm large and bulky like a might old oak

My mate's just a skinny little twig.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

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

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.

August 20, 2026

I am a female Clark's Spiny Lizard

If I was male, I'd have blue on my belly and chin

I live in elevations from 3000-6000 feet

And I lay up to 20 eggs in the spring.

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Arivaca Cienega Nature Trail, Arivaca, AZ

Sources: https://reptilesofaz.org/lizards-subpages/h-s-clarkii/

Photo © 2026 David Simpson 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.

August 19, 2026

I am a Desert Blonde Tarantula

My mating process is a little strange. 

The male weaves and then fills a purse with sperm

Then the female carries it till she's ready to lay eggs

She then fertilizes the eggs herself

Using the sperm purse in which the eggs bathe.

(I guess that's cheaper than buying her a Louis Vuitton bag, but considering that she will lay up to 1000 eggs, spiderling support must be outrageously expensive!)

Thanks to special guest photographer and my sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Arivaca Cienega Nature Trail, Arivaca, AZ

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

Photo © 2026 David Simpson 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.

August 18, 2026

I am an Arizona Mountain Kingsnake

David took this photo, but I'm not on his arm

My stinky musk is the worse thing about me, but

Some people mistake me for a Coral snake and do me harm.

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Chiricahua Mountains, AZ

Sources: https://www.zooamerica.com/animals/arizona-mountain-kingsnake/

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.

August 17, 2026

I am known as a Red Crossbill 

So named for my misaligned beak

I use it to gather seeds from

Cones of conifer trees.

As described in the article, sometimes they also gather grit from the ground. If you click on David's video below, they appear to be gathering grit from the side of a stone building. 

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Check out this super cool video, also taken by David. https://youtu.be/in0VW_Dsp20

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Restroom wall, Rustler Park in Chiricahua Mountains, AZ

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red_Crossbill/id
Check out this super cool video, also taken by David. https://youtu.be/in0VW_Dsp20

Photo © 2026 David Simpson 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.

August 16, 2026

I am a Pygmy Nuthatch

Climbing pine trees is something I enjoy

I'm highly social

And when I get vocal

I make a squeaky-toy noise.

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Barfoot Park in Chiricahua Mountains

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pygmy_Nuthatch/id

Photo © 2026 David Simpson 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.

August 15, 2026

I am a Western Bluebird

I'm mostly an insectivore but I'll also eat mealworms

My songs tend to have a few "kew' notes

But are not known to have meaningful words.

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Rustler Park in Chiricahua Mountains, AZ

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

Photo © 2026 David Simpson 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.

August 14, 2026

I am a Hooded Oriole

I sew my hanging nest to palm fronds

My voice is scratchy and variable

Unlike other, sweeter Oriole songs. 

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Portal, AZ

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Oriole/sounds

Photo © 2026 David Simpson 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.

August 13, 2026

I am a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

I'm large with lemon-yellow underparts

I hunt for insects during breeding season

Which gives me buggy smelling farts. 

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: South Fork, Cave Creek Chiricahaua Mountains. AZ

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sulphur-bellied_Flycatcher/lifehistory

Photo © 2026 David Simpson 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.

August 12, 2026

I am a Beyer’s Jewel Scarab

I'm pale green and my legs are lavender-blue

I have the smallest range of Arizona Jewel Beetles

But I can be found in New Mexico and Mexico too.

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

Location: Miller Canyon Hereford, AZ

Sources: https://arthurevans.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/reflections-on-arizonas-jewel-scarabs-part-1/

Photo © 2026  David Simpson, 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.

August 11, 2026

I am known as a Harris's Hawk

I live in a social unit of up to 7 birds

We have sophisticated hunting strategies

To catch bunnies, other birds, and ground squirrels.

Location: Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/hrshaw/cur/foodhabits

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.

August 10, 2026

I am light morph Broad-winged Hawk

In Ecuador, I'm probably not breeding

I breed further north, mostly in the US

In spring I join a hawk flock, you might see us leaving.

(As described in the referenced article, the Broad-winged Hawk is one of the few North American raptors that migrates in flocks.)

Location: Refugio Paz de las Aves (Angel Paz), Ecuador

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

August 9, 2026

I am a Purple-bibbed Whitetip

But I'm female, so I a lack a purple bib

I've a white tip on my tail, where my mate has a spot

But he still likes the cut of my jib.

Location: Sachatamia Lodge, Mindo, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/pubwhi1/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.

August 8, 2026

I am a Green-backed Hillstar

My tummy is grey, and my tail’s white and bronze

I have blue neck and my back is green

And “tseee, tsing” are the notes of my song.

Location: La Brisa hummingbird feeders, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/whthil3/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.

August 7, 2026

I am a male (Green) Crowned Woodnymph

You know I'm male cause I have a forked tail

My crown and belly color vary

Based on my location and if I'm male or female.

(This bird has many plumage variations and subspecies.) 

Location: Sendero Frutti Tour & Birdwatching, Nanegalito, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/crowoo1/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.

August 6, 2026

I am a female Great Sapphirewing Hummingbird

If I were male, my chest would be greenish-blue

You can find me in the slopes of the Andes

From Venezuela to southern Peru.

Location: Reserva Yanacocha, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/gresap1/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.

August 5, 2026

I am an Astylus bonplandi

Unlike most Astylus species, you can find me in the páramo

That means that I live above the forest line 

But below the line where it snows.

Location: Quito, Ecuador

Sources: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277012785_A_contribution_to_the_genus_Astylus_Laporte_de_Castelnau_1836_in_Ecuador_with_descriptions_of_three_new_species_Coleoptera_Melyridae

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A1ramo#/media/File:Paramos.JPG

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.

August 7, 2026

I am a male (Green) Crowned Woodnymph

You know I'm male cause I have a forked tail

My crown and belly color vary

Based on my location and if I'm male or female.

(There are many plumage variations and the specific subspecies are still under discussion.) 

Location: Sendero Frutti Tour & Birdwatching, Nanegalito, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/crowoo1/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.

August 4, 2026

I am a a Northern Warrior Wasp

And we're called that for a very good reason

We defend our nest by loudly beating on it

And if you don't run, you are the one who is beaten. 

Location: Refugio Paz de Las Aves, Nanegalito, Ecuador

Sources: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/warrior-wasp-sting

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.

August 3, 2026

I am an Ennya sobria

I'm in the Treehopper family 

I'm diurnal, so I'm active during the day

And I'm an herbivore, hence I hop in the trees.

Location: Via Cosanga Caucheras Kilometro 3, Cosanga, Ecuador

Sources: https://eol.org/pages/22166275

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.

August 2, 2026

I am a Paratriarius becki

In the Galerucinae family

I have only been recently described

So there's not much written info about me. 

(Still trying to find details for this one - mine is one of of only two observations of this beetle on iNaturalist.)

Location: Quijos, Ecuador

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1520630-Paratriarius-becki

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.

August 1, 2026

I am a male Red Peacock Butterly

If I were female, I'd be bigger and orange-yellow

I've small scales on my wings for thermoregulation

Which helps keep me comfy and mellow.

Location: Mindo, Ecuador

Sources: https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/images/Anartia%20amathea%20-%20Scarlet%20Peacock%20Butterfly.pdf

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.