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.