Author: Jim Gain
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SHORT-TAILED HAWK – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Short-tailed Hawk is a smallish, broad-winged buteo with 2 distinct color morphs. READ MORE
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BROAD-WINGED HAWK – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Broad-winged Hawk is a rather small, compact hawk; about the size of Red-shouldered Hawk READ MORE
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ROADSIDE HAWK – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Roadside Hawk, which is found from northern Mexico south to Argentina, is one of the most widespread raptors of… READ MORE
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COMMON BLACK HAWK – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Common Black Hawk is an entirely black hawk with broad wings and short tail with a distinct white band. READ MORE
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DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Double-toothed Kite is named for its most distinguishing morphological trait, the presence of two tomial “teeth:” tooth-like emarginations on… READ MORE
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SWALLOW-TAILED KITE – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
With its striking black and white plumage, deeply forked tail, and extraordinary aerial grace, the Swallow-tailed Kite is rarely misidentified… READ MORE
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GRAY-HEADED KITE – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Gray-headed Kite is widely distributed in lowland forested habitats from Central America south to southern Brazil and Uruguay. READ MORE
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HOOK-BILLED KITE – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Hook-billed Kite is a widespread raptor of tropical America, occasionally reaching as far north as southern Texas. READ MORE
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BLACK VULTURE – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Black Vulture is a large, uniform black raptor with silvery patches on undersides of wingtips. READ MORE
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ROSEATE SPOONBILL – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Roseate Spoonbill is unmistakable and one of North America’s most unusual looking wading birds. READ MORE
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
Reflections of the Natural World 