August 31, 2026

We are Andean Ibises

We're in a different genus than the White

We're larger and arguably prettier

And are Near Threatened due to our population size.

Location: Antisana Ecological Reserve, Quijos EC-Napo, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/bkfibi2/cur/introductionv

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 30, 2026

I am a Slate-Throated Redstart

I'm one of many subspecies, widespread

My tummy's yellow in Ecuador

I've no clue what for

But elsewhere it's orange or red.

Location: San Miguel de Los Bancos--Mirador Río Blanco, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/sltred/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 29, 2026

I am known as a Green Jay

Though only my back and wings are green

I'm otherwise yellow with a blue and black face

My crown color changes based on where I'm seen.

(There are many subspecies of the Green Jay, and the crown color changes based on locale.)

Location: Cosanga, Ecuador

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

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 28, 2026

I am an Orange-billed Sparrow

I live in humid tropical forests

My bright orange beak

Is somewhat unique

Among sparrows, I'm a non-conformist.

Location: Sendero Frutti Tour & Birdwatching, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/orbspa1/cur/identification

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 27, 2026

I am a Yellow-Throated Toucan

For Identification, my color's material - 

I am black and yellow, with a bi-colored beak

Unlike the rainbow-beaked bird on Froot Loops Cereal.

Location: Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/bkmtou1/cur/appearance

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 26, 2026

I am a Golden-olive Woodpecker

Probably subspecies rubripileus, based on where I was seen

My head is red, and my breast bars are black and

My back and wings are golden-olive green.

Location: Sendero Frutti Tour & Birdwatching, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/goowoo1/cur/systematics

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 25, 2026

I am a Glistening-green Tanager

I can be found in Columbia and Ecuador

My plumage is shiny, glittering green

Appropriately enough, it's what I'm named for.

Location: Reserva Amagusa, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/glgtan1/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 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 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 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.