Author: Jim Gain
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DOUBLE-STRIPED THICK-KNEE – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Double-striped Thick-knee is a medium-large wader with a strong black and yellow bill, large yellow eyes, which give it… READ MORE
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MANGROVE HUMMINGBIRD – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Mangrove Hummingbird is a small/medium-sized hummingbird and is found only along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, most often… READ MORE
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RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) is a handsome, small/medium-size hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. READ MORE
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CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila) is a striking, medium-size hummingbird of dry tropical lowlands. READ MORE
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BLUE-VENTED HUMMINGBIRD – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Blue-vented Hummingbird (Saucerottia hoffmanni) is a fairly small dark hummingbird, green overall with dark blue tail. Straight, medium-length bill. READ MORE
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SCALY-BREASTED HUMMIINGBIRD – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird (Phaeochroa cuvierii) is a rather large, dull-plumaged hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. READ MORE
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BLACK-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
Male Black-bellied Hummingbirds give the species its name, with their black underparts that extend up through the face to the… READ MORE
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COPPERY-HEADED EMERALD – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
Coppery-headed Emeralds have a decurved bill and white outer tail feathers with black near the tip. READ MORE
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SNOWCAP – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
Snowcap is a spectacular, tiny hummingbird of Central American cloud forests. READ MORE
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CROWNED WOODNYMPH – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
The adult male Crowned Woodnymph has a violet crown, upper back, shoulders and belly, a shiny green throat and breast,… 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 