Reflections of the Natural World

Travel with me as I explore the wild things and wild places of our planet. – Jim Gain

  • Green-breasted Mango

    Green-breasted Mango

    This bird is named after its brilliant green breast feathers and its scientific name honors the French naturalist, Florent Prévost. The males have a shiny green body with a black throat, while the females have a duller green coloration with a white throat. Read more

  • Valley Blackbirds

    Valley Blackbirds

    By Jim Gain Learn 100 Common Valley Birds is a photo blog series highlighting the 100 most common Valley bird species. Post #29 in the Learn 100 Common Valley Birds series. (Species 49, 50, & 51/100 + 1 BONUS bird) Red-winged Blackbird #49 The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a common species found in the Read more

  • Collared Trogon

    Collared Trogon

    The Collared Trogon is a medium-sized trogon species found in the forests of Mexico, Belize, Central and South America. Males are easily distinguished by their striking plumage, with a metallic green back, a bright red breast, and a white collar around the neck. Females have a similar color pattern but with duller colors and a… Read more

  • Red-throated Ant-Tanager

    Red-throated Ant-Tanager

    These birds are known for their distinctively colored plumage, with the males sporting a vibrant red throat, reddish-gray head, and brownish back and wings, while the females are more subdued with brownish-gray plumage overall. These birds primarily feed on insects (ants) and other small invertebrates, which they forage for in the understory and midstory of… Read more

  • Hairy Woodpecker

    Hairy Woodpecker

    By Jim Gain Beautiful Birds of the Sierra Nevada – Blog Post #5 ABOUT THIS SPECIES The Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) is a species of woodpecker found in various regions of North America, including the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It is a fairly common year-round resident that is more frequently found in Lower and Read more

  • Roadside Hawk

    Roadside Hawk

    The Roadside Hawk is a common bird of prey found throughout Mexico, Central and South America. It is a medium-sized raptor with a distinctive reddish-brown back and wings, a pale belly, and a grayish-white head. Its eyes are large and yellow, and its bill is short and curved, making it well adapted for hunting small… Read more