Birds

This was mostly birding from a hide about two hours from Dali, Yunnan – so remote that the guesthouse lacked Wifi, prompting my wife to remark, “This is not China then”. Cold beer was out of the question as well. The birds did not seem to mind much, though it is possible that the somewhat poor plumage condition of the local Great Barbet was a consequence of these issues. How would I know. While it is listed as Least Concern, it is hunted for food in some of its distribution range (source: HBW) – apparently by people who are not afraid of food colorants. The smaller Blue-throated Barbet is in the same genus (the somewhat weirdly named Psilopogon – sounds a bit like a fraternity founded by punks). The HBW remarks that it is most easily observed at fruiting trees, but I learned that strategically placed bits of apple work as well. As it does for the Orange-bellied Leafbird. Its scientific name, Chloropsis hardwickii, commemorates one Thomas Hardwicke, an English soldier and naturalist who was in India from 1777 to 1823 (source). Apparently, he combined not marrying with some sexual activity – Wikipedia writes that “Hardwicke was not married but had three illegitimate daughters and two sons apart from two daughters born to an Indian mistress.” The species itself makes a pretty clear distinction by the sexes, as presumably Hardwicke did – here is the female. Habitat selection by birds of the species is based on canopy density and coverage (source) – sounds rather materialistic to me … where is the idealism of earlier bird species? The species seems to be fairly idealistic regarding the seed dispersal of an endangered plant, Taxus chinensis, though. Weirdly, a paper in the (rightly not too renowned) INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE gives the wrong English name for the species, calling it “Long-tailed Minivet”. I know, it would have been polite not to point this out. Still (I just rewatched Reacher series 2), “In an investigation, details matter”. The latter Long-tailed Minivet also showed up, though, both in the orange-taste and the lemon-taste variety (male, female). The photos show mainly what I presume to be juveniles with their much weaker-colored breast feathers. I did not find a good explanation for its scientific name, Pericrocotus ethologus (ethologus means mimic), so I asked ChatGPT – but I have no idea whether this explanation is correct, and I do not find it particularly convincing: “When Edward Blyth named the species in 1846, he may have been alluding to something in the bird’s behavior or temperament — perhaps the way minivets move in conspicuous, coordinated flocks, their active foraging style, or their striking pair behavior (males and females often move together). Unfortunately, Blyth didn’t always explain his naming rationale, but ethologus most likely refers to some notable behavioral trait he observed, rather than a plumage feature or locality. So, roughly speaking, Pericrocotus ethologus could be read as: ‘The minivet distinguished by its behavior.’” Moving on to bulbuls now. The Black-crested Bulbul always tempts me to make another Presley joke (“Elvis has left the bird hide”). But I will refrain this time … … as there was a slightly more uncommon bulbul as well, the Ashy Bulbul. To me, the scientific name Hemixos flavala (which indicates it has yellow wings) sounds misleading (it looks more like green to me) – but the HBW describes them as “broadly fringed bright golden with olive tinge”, and who am I to disagree with the HBW (apart from the cases when specific bird pages are sponsored by individuals, which I find decidedly weird). Of course, Sooty-headed Bulbuls are always present. Also, there were two types of nuthatches – one being the Chestnut-vented Nuthatch. Presumably, the people – Victorians? – who named this bird were probably a bit shy about anatomical areas – the vent is the area around the cloaca. A paper on the breeding of this nuthatch has the following first 3 sections (I added the first sentence for each section): Simple Summary: “Life history and its related theories are one of the most important topics in behavioral ecology, population ecology, and evolutionary biology.”  followed by Abstract: “The breeding ecology of birds is the cornerstone of bird life-history theory, and breeding success directly affects the survival and development of populations.” followed by Introduction: “Life history and its related theories are important topics in behavioral ecology, population ecology, and evolutionary biology.” Hmm, I guess this is academia. The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch is prettier, but it did not allow me to get a very satisfying photo. Interestingly, both HBW profiles of these nuthatches have the same author (Simon Harrap), and he makes a very fine distinction in his description of the size of both species: Velvet-fronted Nuthatch: 12–13·5 cm; A medium-small nuthatch Chestnut-vented Nuthatch: 12·5–14 cm; A medium-small to medium-sized nuthatch As you can see, the added 0.5 cm elevates the latter from a medium-small to a medium-small to medium-sized nuthatch. It seems to me that, given his talent for minute distinctions, he would be unstoppable as the person who writes field-guide captions for ‘barely distinguishable’ species such as my beloved leaf warblers. As I recently had an Oriental Magpie-robin at my feeder on the 14th floor of my Shanghai apartment, that one was not so exciting. Two more species to mention at the hide, just to be able to show some photos: Ashy Drongo … … and Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker. That only leaves the Black-headed Sibia, apparently the only species among the above with a strong sense of hygiene … … as these photos show. Always fun to watch.

Which bird species do you think is the biggest attraction to visitors of your lodge (please only name one species)? The Lovely Cotinga: The Lovely Cotinga is not simply a bird — it is a living jewel of the rainforest. With its radiant turquoise-blue plumage and deep violet crown, it seems to glow against the green canopy like a piece of sky touched by sunlight. To encounter one in the wild is considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many birders. Pico Bonito is one of the finest places on Earth to see this elusive species. The lodge is surrounded by mature primary rainforest, fruiting trees, and untouched river corridors — the exact habitat the Lovely Cotinga depends on. From our forest trails, towers, and river edges, guests often witness this magnificent bird gliding silently through the treetops, offering moments of beauty that remain unforgettable. What is the name of your lodge, and since when has your lodge been operating? The Lodge at Pico Bonito opened on March 18, 2000, and has now been welcoming nature lovers and birders for more than 25 years. For over a quarter of a century, it has stood as a gateway between humans and the living rainforest beneath the iconic Pico Bonito Mountain. Rufous-tailed Jacamar How best to travel to your lodge? International travelers arrive via Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. From there, guests may take a scenic 30-minute domestic flight to La Ceiba’s Guillermo Anderson International Airport (LCE), or enjoy a three-hour private shuttle through lush tropical landscapes, which we are happy to coordinate. White-necked Jacobin What kind of services – except for accommodation and food – does your lodge offer to visiting birders? The Lodge at Pico Bonito operates as a certified bird sanctuary through BirdLife International (Aves de Honduras) and offers one of the richest birding infrastructures in Central America. We maintain over two dozen strategically placed bird feeders throughout the lodge, including around the reception and restaurant, where up to 400 hummingbirds can be observed at once. In addition, we have multiple banana and plantain feeding stations placed deep in the forest and gardens, which regularly attract toucans, Montezuma oropendolas, and aracaris for close viewing and photography. Our Loop Trail and river trails run through different micro-habitats — riparian forest, lowland rainforest, and edge habitat — allowing birders to encounter dozens of species within a compact, walkable area. These trails are ideal for both birdwatching and photography, offering excellent light, open sightlines, and frequent bird activity. We also host a MOTUS wildlife-tracking antenna on the property, contributing to international bird migration research and making Pico Bonito part of a global conservation and monitoring network. Professional local birding guides, trained in the Pico Bonito ecosystem, are available for private and group outings, helping guests locate target species and understand the ecology of the forest. All of this makes the lodge not just a place to stay, but a living, working birding sanctuary where wildlife and people share the same protected rainforest. Speckled Mourner What makes your lodge special? We are located within a protected national park, surrounded by 400 acres of untouched rainforest, bordered by the Coloradito River and the Corinto River. Cacao, orange, and rambutan trees grow along our trails and around our rooms. Our crystal-clear pools, Mermaid Falls and Las Pilas, flow directly from the mountain, untouched and pure. Everywhere you go, birdsong mixes with flowing water, creating a soundtrack that feels ancient and alive. Black-throated Shrike-Tanager What are the 10 – 20 most interesting birds that your lodge offers good chances to see? Lovely Cotinga Violet-headed Hummingbird Slaty-tailed Trogon Black-throated Trogon Central American Pygmy-Owl Black-throated Shrike-Tanager Keel-billed Toucan Great Green Macaw White-collared Manakin Rufous-tailed Jacamar Collared Aracari Montezuma Oropendola Chestnut-colored Woodpecker Gartered Trogon Crimson-collared Tanager Blue-crowned Motmot Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher Royal Flycatcher Pale-billed Woodpecker Red-capped Manakin Collared Aracari What is the best time to visit your lodge, and why? The prime birding and migration season is November through March, when migratory and resident species converge, creating some of the highest bird diversity in Central America. Collared Trogon Is your lodge involved in conservation efforts? If yes, please describe them. Aves de Honduras (BirdLife International) — We are one of Honduras’ most important certified bird sanctuaries. MOTUS.org — Our antenna helps track migrating birds across the Americas. Panthera.org — We support feline conservation by hosting camera traps to study jaguars, pumas, and other elusive wildlife. Project Aura — We raise and release monarch butterflies, house Blue Morphos, and protect rare butterfly species that have appeared naturally on our land. Boat-billed Heron What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in visiting your lodge? Bring a good camera, binoculars, light hiking clothes, and comfortable shoes. Long sleeves and pants are ideal for forest walks. Insect repellent is optional but recommended. Graceful black-throated Trogon Do you have activities for non-birders? If so, please describe.: Guests enjoy swimming in Mermaid Falls and Las Pilas, jungle trails with monkeys and big cats, a butterfly garden, serpentarium, and a river deck perfect for yoga or relaxation Tody Motmot If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in staying at your lodge, how can they best contact you? Book at www.picobonito.comEmail reservation@picobonito.com, reception@picobonito.com, or birding@picobonito.comWhatsApp: Front Desk +504 9462-7841 or +504 9243-2832 Keel-billed Motmot Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds? We have been featured by National Geographic, and in November 2025, became the only Michelin-Guide hotel in mainland Honduras. The Lodge at Pico Bonito is not just a place to stay — it is a living rainforest sanctuary. Come once, and you will never forget it. Pale-billed Woodpecker

Short-eared Owl, Nanhui, Jan 2017 Short-eared Owl, Nanhui, Jan 2017 Short-eared Owl, Fengxian, Mar 2022 Long-eared Owl, Yancheng, Jan 2016 Long-eared Owl, Yancheng, Jan 2016 Long-eared Owl, Nanhui, Oct 2017 Photos by Kai Pflug

Some birds are described as “rare,” others as “difficult,” and some as “unlikely.” But birding brochures tend to prefer the word “elusive,” which sounds much more promising. So this is what the brochure might say: “We will search for several elusive species, including the highly sought-after ground cuckoo and several shy understory specialists.” And this is what it means: We will try to find a few birds that are hard to see and may not appear at all. If we do see one, it will probably be brief. “Elusive” is a reassuring way of saying that failure will not be considered surprising

To illustrate this post, I asked Kai Pflug for some pictures of a Reed Bunting. “Sure, which Reed Bunting?“, came the rapid reply (he’s very responsive). Me: “Is there more than one?” followed immediately by Kai’s “OMG“. I have been accused before of not knowing my birds from my elbow on these webpages so I can’t even claim this was a low for me. It was just another low. Where they go high, we go low! So, taking the literal interpretation of “going low” I jumped on my bicycle and cycled down into the Ackerdijkse Plassen. If you just imagine this place without bicycle paths, electricity pylons, jet trails, signboards and the Rotterdam skyline in the distance, than this is what swampy, low-lying Holland looked like long ago. It was busy with birders because a Bluethroat had been reported on the local rarities website. There was much else to enjoy and since it was my first time to this spot, I was excited. The sun shone – never a guarantee in March – with birdsong everywhere. The ponds in front of the first hide I visited (De Kluut) were filled to the brim with Greylag Goose, a lot of Eurasian Wigeon, too many Canada Goose, a few Egyptian Goose, Common Shelduck, Gadwall, and Mallard. The songbirds in the reeds and alders were not especially rare, but it is always good to hear Common Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch and the aforementioned Common Reed Bunting. A lot of use of the word “common”, I know. I leave it to Kai to dig up an obscure reference for the scientific name of the bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, but I was tempted to mark this post for the Poetry section solely on the strength of this name. Common Reed Buntings are on the up and coming, with an average 5% increase since 1990. Numbers seem to stabilise now, but the species is with 67.000-125.000 breeding pairs relatively easy to find in the swampier parts of the country. No surprise then that I found several singing males. The wind had picked up (to gale strength at the time of writing) and the Bluethroat was nowhere to be heard nor seen. I will return of course; this area still has a lot for me to explore. I will leave you with a cliff-hanger and the promise to show you more Bluethroats without the need to travel to Alaskan tundra and dwarf-shrub meadows.