Reflections of the Natural World

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Lifer 670 – Cozumel Emerald

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Jim Gain

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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

@ Colonia Huertos Familiares, Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Male @ El Cedral pueblo, Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico

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.

Lifer Photo (male) @ Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales de San Miguel, Cozumel
Female @ Colonia Huertos Familiares
Male @ Colonia Huertos Familiares, Cozumel, MX
@ Colonia Huertos Familiares, Cozumel, MX

Previous 3 posts in my LIFER Blog Series.

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ABOUT THE SITE

With a primary focus on birds, each blog series has it’s own unique look at the wildlife and wild places encountered at different locations that I have visited around the world.

ABOUT ME

I earned my college degree in biology, a foundation that shaped not only how I see the world, but how I’ve spent my life sharing it with others. For more than 40 years, I taught and led in public education, helping students discover the wonder woven into every corner of the natural world. That same drive has carried me through decades of citizen science and conservation work. As an active member of the Modesto Camera Club, I’ve developed a photographic practice that blends natural history with visual artistry, and my award‑winning images have been featured across the Internet on dozens of sites and field‑oriented platforms. This blog brings together my passions for birding, conservation, and storytelling.

~ Jim Gain

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