April Turnstone

Arenaria interpres
Photo by Jerry Ligon

This shorebird, in April, is showing the bright colors of breeding season but it is a long way from its breeding grounds, Arctic Circle of Northern U.S. Almost all turnstones will leave Bonaire during May and will return from their breeding in August and September.

Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola
Photo by Scott Kacos

This is the common "sugar thief" and is easily lured in by placing a container with sugar out in the open. Do not put water with the sugar because they will bathe in the sticky mixture. Place another container with plain water and you will have a complete package for this popular bird to come in to your patio.

Yellow-shouldered Parrot

Amazona barbadensis rothschildi
Photo by Jerry Ligon

This is a remarkable photo of the rare genetic mutation in this species that turns all greenish feathers to a blue color and yellow to a white color. The species is endangered and the Bonaire population is around 400. Do not confuse with the more common Caribbean Parakeet, which appears to be the case with most tourists.

Caribbean Parakeet

Aratinga pertinax xanthogenius
Photo by Jerry Ligon

Notice the elongated tail feathers and the head which is entirely yellow. It is also smaller than the Yellow-shouldered Parrot and makes a squeaky call versus a deep squawk made by the parrot. Nests in termite mounds.

Common Emerald Hummingbird

Chlorostilbon melisugus
Photo by Scott Kacos

One of two species of hummingbirds on Bonaire, this photo shows a male sipping nectar from aloe flowers which bloom in the early months of the year on Bonaire.

Common Emerald Hummingbird

Chlorostilbon melisugus
Photo by Jerry Ligon

Female

Brown Booby

Sula leucogaster
Photo by Jerry Ligon

This photo shows an adult. Juveniles are all brown. They have a peculiar habit of landing on the surface of the ocean and stick their heads underwater looking for fish. They are able to focus only because their nictitating membrane allows all birds to cover the eye during times when abrasions might be possible in their environment. This allows seabirds to be able to focus underwater, like humans with our snorkel mask.

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus
Photo by Jerry Ligon

This is very similar to the Great Crested Flycatcher of the eastern U.S. and is also similar in voice. In the U.S. this species can be seen along the Rio Grande River in sw Texas and in the sw desert of the U.S. Rufous coloration in forked tail and in wing feathers.

Northern Scrub Flycatcher

Sublegatus modestus
Photo by Jerry Ligon

Similar to previous species, but smaller and without the rufous colors in tail and wings.

A species that is usually added to a birder's "life list" while enjoying Bonaire's avafauna.

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo
Photo by Jerry Ligon

Photo is of two birds in winter plumage which is characterized by the conspicuous carpal bar on the wings. They nest on Bonaire in the summer, but are almost entirely absent during the remainder of the year.

Reddish Egret

Egretta rufescens
Photo by Scott Kacos

This photo shows both color morphs and the species has the characteristic of dancing around with wings flapping when chasing small fish which no other egret does.

Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca and Tringa flavipes
Photo by Jerry Ligon

These two shorebirds are often difficult to tell apart unless they are standing together as in this photo. They are nesters in Northern Canada and Alaska, and winter here in the tropics.

Green Heron

Butorides virescens
Photo by Jerry Ligon

This species is common on Bonaire and can be seen almost anywhere along the coast.

Osprey

Pandion halliactus
Photo by Jerry Ligon

This species is considered cosmopolitan but is becoming rarer in England with only a few nesting records lately. One can usually find one as they drive around the coast of Bonaire.

Piping Plover

Charadrius melodus
Photo by Jerry Ligon

This species comes through Bonaire on migration to and from South America to its limited and decreasing nesting grounds in just a few states along the Canada-U.S border and is considered endangered in the U.S.

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus
Photo by Jerry Ligon

This species is seen on Bonaire in passage and winters in South America and nests in the far north of Alaska and the Arctic Circle.

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus
Photo by Jerry Ligon

Most common dowitcher on Bonaire and very difficult to tell apart from Long-billed Dowitcher (and not by the bill length). Look for the barring under the tail and posterior abdomen and long straight bill.

White-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus carolinensis
Photo by Jerry Ligon

Difficult to add to one's life list unless guided to a particular site by the author and then guaranteed to see it after dark. Permanent resident on Bonaire.

Sandwich Tern and Royal Tern

Sterna sandvicensis and S. maxima
Photo by Chris Powell

The tern in the foreground is the Sandwich Tern and is only seen during the summer breeding season and the larger tern with the reddish-orange bill is the very common Royal Tern.