Chronicles of a Birders Life List

Over the past 40 years I have had the good fortune to photographically document 85% of the bird species added to my “Life List.” This blog series showcases the images and anecdotal accounts that document those “Lifer” sightings and a little about the environment and culture of the area. This Lifer blog series begins with the first LIFER outside of the US, Lifer #624 and proceeds chronologically forward from there.

A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

Cozumel Emerald (Cynanthus forficatus) > Trochilidae > Caprimulgiformes

IDENTIFICATION: Only on Cozumel Island, Mexico, where it is usually the most frequently encountered hummingbird. Feeds low to high on a variety of flowers, preferring forest edge, gardens, and other semi-open habitats. Male is stunning, emerald-green with a long, deeply forked tail. Female has distinctive broad dark facemask, rather long forked tail. No similar species on the island (Canivet’s Emerald occurs on the Yucatan mainland).

FIRST “LIFER” OBSERVATION:
Birding with: Miguel Amar Uribe from Mexico Kan Tours and my wife Maria
Date: 10 Dec 2021 @ San Miguel Bello Caribe, Cozumel Island, MX
San Miguel Bello Caribe | MX-ROO

SPECIES GLOBAL eBIRD DISTRIBUTION MAP
Yellow Star indications the location of my Lifer sighting

DETAILS ABOUT SIGHTING: We arrived an hour early at the dock in Playa del Carmen to take the ferry across to Cozumel Island. We lost a little sleep getting there so early, but we were treaated to a beautiful sunrise. The trip across on the ferry was curious, but uneventful. We met up with Miguel Amar Uribe from Amar Aves Birdwatching and headed to our first stop on the north end of San Miguel, San Miguel Bello Caribe. Right after stepping out of the car we were treated to the sounds of calling Cozumel Emerald (LIFER 670), Black Catbird (LIFER 671) and Western Spindalis (LIFER 672). While I was not able to photograph my lifer Cozumel Emerald, we were successful at our next couple of stops.

PHOTOS TAKEN: No images were captured of the first bird at our first birding stop on Cozumel at San Miguel Bello Caribe, but we got more great views and photos at each of the other birding stops on the island.

Previous 3 posts in my LIFER Blog Series.

• 
  Lifer 684 – Yucatan Flycatcher
  by Jim Gain
  February 20, 2024
• 
  Lifer 683 – Lesson’s Motmot
  by Jim Gain
  February 19, 2024
• 
  Lifer 680 – Squirrel Cuckoo
  by Jim Gain
  February 18, 2024