Fire-eyed Diucon, Xolmis pyrope

The Tyrant Flycatchers are the largest family of birds and they are found from the  far north of North America to Tierra del Fuego in the far south of South America.

The Fire-eyed Diucon, Xolmis pyrope, is one of the members that can be found in Tierra del Fuego. It is an impressive bird that often stands on a favored perch, its bright eye gleaming. Like many flycatchers it darts from this perch to catch insects.

Fire-eyed Diucon, Xolmis pyrope

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Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris male

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, is the only Hummingbird species that normally breeds in eastern North America. Like many Hummingbird species they can be very aggressive. This often shows around feeders as they fatten up for their fall migration. They need these stores as they cross the Gulf of Mexico, a journey of 500 miles (800 km.) over water.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris female

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Snowy Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus

The Snowy Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus, breeds on beaches and is found in Europe, Asia, Africa as well as North and South America. Outside of the Americas, its is known as the Kentish Plover.

Its habit of breeding along sandy beaches has made it subject to disturbance but it seems to be holding its own. Birdlife International lists it as being of Least Concern.

Snowy Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus

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Masked Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus ridgwayi, male

The Northern Bobwhite has a wonderful subspecies called the Masked Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus ridgwayi. It has been extinct or close to it in the wild primarily caused by loss of breeding habitat. A great deal of work has been done to try to re-establish wild populations using birds raised in captivity. One of the target locations for this has been the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR) in southern Arizona. There has been no conclusive success to this point.

Masked Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus ridgwayi,female

These pictures are of captive birds kept in The Desert Museum aviary.

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Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus

The Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus, is one of the most exciting birds to watch in the world, especially when it chases its prey at speeds of 200 mph (320 kmph).

It breeds widely, in fact it can be found everywhere but the polar regions. It has suffered breeding failure due to DDT contamination but has made an excellent recovery after that chemical was banned.

This increased breeding success has happened here in Ontario with a good number of pairs raising young birds. They prefer tall manmade structures like buildings and bridges, especially if there is a supply of pigeons nearby.

Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus

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