Mexican Birds 2

I’m searching through my photos for a good picture of Yucatan Parrots but there seems to be a parrot rule that, in a pair, one bird has to either be slightly out of focus or have its back turned to the camera. Parrots are like that. When I was a teenager many years ago, I looked after tropical birds in a zoo, now long gone. The zoo had a modern outlook, with a big walk-through aviary, so that was good. Needless to say, the parrots were always up to something, then like now. So – no superb pictures of these Yucatans, I’m afraid.

Yucatan Parrots playing Hard to Get

Groove-billed Anis

I was happy to get good pictures of a Groove-billed Ani, and then was quite surprised to find, when I checked my pictures, that there were three birds there. Funny how selective our vision can be sometimes. They look like they should belong to the blackbird family but they’re actually a brand of cuckoo. Seemingly plain, their shoulder, neck and chest feathers sport iridescent emerald flecks.

Early Morning – Mayan Ruins with Agouti

Getting out at sunrise is essential in the tropics. Places that seem to have no wildlife at midday can be noisy with birds. Other animals are moving and feeding too. Families of Javelina, small pig-like animals, are around. The agouti, a large rodent, is common, and not overly shy. And Keel-billed Toucans are active, using those enormous bills dexterously – they can easily pick up a grape!