February 28, 2025

I am a Northern Emerald-Toucanet

A am a medium sized Toucan

I like to eat a wide variety of fruit

And my babies eat more spiders than you can.

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

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/noremt1/cur/foodhabits

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.

February 27, 2025

I am a White-nosed Coati,

Like humans and bears, I walk plantigrade

I'm a carnivore

But I also support

Fruit growers and the banana trade.

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

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

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.

February 26, 2025

I am a Blue-gray Tanager

I'm light gray and blue with a black beak and eyes

I am pretty well known

For building nests high and low,

Frequently using stolen supplies.*

*As described in the linked article, "[the Blue-gray Tanager]... often pilfers material from unfinished or even occupied nests of other species"

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

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/bugtan/cur/introduction#repro

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.

February 25, 2025

I am a Silver-throated Tanager

I'm yellow streaked with a pale throat patch

I can be found from Costa Rica to Ecuador

My singing voice is buzzy like the insects I catch.

(This was one of my favorite birds we saw on this trip. I think I took hundreds of photos of them, they are just so adorable, photogenic, and willing posers.)

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

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/sittan1/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.

February 24, 2025

I am a Great-tailed Grackle

I'm about twice the size of my mate

Because she is smaller, she requires less food

And has a higher and longer survival rate.

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

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great-tailed_Grackle/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.

February 23, 2025

I am a Scintillant Hummingbird

"Scintillant" means glittery or sparkly

When the sun hits me right,

My neck show up bright

As I fly around orchards and coffee.

Location:  Corso Gate, Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Ric

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/scihum1/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.

February 22, 2025

I am known as a Lesson's Motmot, 

You know I'm me from my neon-turquoise head

I have a long tail that ends in two racquets

I don't play tennis, I'm just trying to get bred.

Location: Hotel Bougainvillea, Heredia Province, Cantón de Santo Domingo, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/bucmot2/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.