Author Archives: Lee

Birds of the World – Kingfishers, Australasian Warblers, White-Eyes and Doves

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Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica) at LPZ by Lee

Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica) at LPZ by Lee – taken last week

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (Psalms 40:5 KJV)

I have been working away on the different families of the Birds of the World. In the last few days, I was able to complete three more families at 100% and have one that needs five more images. Three of them have at least a photo or drawing of each of them. 100% done. That is a nice feeling. What beautiful birds are in those families. When the Lord created the birds, He used much variety in sizes, behaviors and colors. Even though it takes lots of time, it is enjoyable to be able to view so many of them. I am keeping an Excel spreadsheet of the families that shows each family, the number of species, how many are needed, and number seen so far. There are “10,476 extant species and 149 extinct species classified in 40 Orders,  231 Families (plus 6 Incertae Sedis) and 2268 Genera.” (IOC 3.3 Version) according to the IOC statement. Yet, when you add up the number of species of each family, they add up to 10,615. (10476+149=10,625) Somewhere there are 10 miscounted birds. Either way (10615 or 10,625), thats a lot of birds that are flying around the world for all of us to enjoy watching.

100 Percent of Images

Alcedinidae – Kingfishers – 95 Species

Acanthizidae – Australasian Warblers – 65 Species

Zosteropidae – White-eyes – 128 Species

The Pigeon and Doves have five photos that need to be found. After extensive search, they are still avoiding all the great photographers and artists out there. If any know of a source for these evaders, please leave a comment as to where to find a link to them. At least looking through these inspired the Birds of the Bible – Coat of Many Colors article.

Columbidae – Pigeons, Doves – 335 Species

** Need Photo **

  • Ryukyu Wood Pigeon (Columba jouyi †) Extinct
  • Rodrigues Pigeon (Nesoenas rodericana †) Extinct
  • Sulu Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba menagei)
  • Mindanao Brown Dove (Phapitreron brunneiceps) 
  • Comoros Green Pigeon (Treron griveaudi)

Below are a few of the birds from each family.

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Click on any of the Families to see the complete list of the species.

Alcedinidae – Kingfishers 

Acanthizidae – Australasian Warblers 

Zosteropidae – White-eyes

Columbidae – Pigeons, Doves

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Wordless Birds

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Birds of the Bible – Coat of Many Colors

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Many-colored Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus perousii) ©WikiC

Many-colored Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus perousii) ©WikiC

While working on the Columbidae – Pigeons, Doves Family, I was enjoying the Fruit Doves and their beautiful colors. Of course the verse about Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors kept crossing my mind. Then I actually found the Many-colored Fruit Dove.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. (Genesis 37:3 KJV)

The Fruit Doves belong to the Ptilinopus genus. There are 53 Fruit Doves at present (I.O.C. 3.3) They eat fruit mostly and they may help enhance their colours, at least that is one opinion. “These small- to medium-sized doves generally have short, fan-shaped tails, and are remarkable for their colorful and often glossy plumage, as evidenced in the aptly named Orange Fruit Dove, Flame-breasted Fruit Dove, and Pink-headed Fruit Dove. Males and females of many fruit dove species look very different. For example, the female Many-coloured Fruit Dove shares the male’s crimson crown and deep pink undertail feathers, but is otherwise green, whereas the male has a crimson on the upper back and has areas of yellow, olive, cinnamon, and grey.

Wompoo Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus) by Dan at National Aviary

Wompoo Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus) by Dan at National Aviary

This is a large genus, most diverse in and around the island of New Guinea, in the Philippines, and in the biogeographical region of Wallacea. Some species have ranges as far west as the Sunda Islands, others north to Taiwan, south to Australia, and east into Polynesia.

Fruit doves, as their name implies, eat fruit — ficus is especially important — and live in various kinds of forest or woodland. Some species are restricted to primary forest, such as lowland rainforest, montane forest, or monsoon forest, while others prefer secondary forest or disturbed areas. Some species specialize in particular habitats, from lowland coastal forest to the cloud forest or moss forest of high altitudes. Some species of fruit doves are only found in habitats dominated by particular plants, such as mangrove, eucalyptus, or pandanus. Only a few species can commonly be seen around human habitation, these include the Knob-billed Fruit Dove, Makatea Fruit Dove, and Black-naped Fruit Dove, which are known to visit gardens and such.

Superb Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus superbus) by Ian

Superb Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus superbus) by Ian

Much is still to be learned about fruit doves. Many species are shy and difficult to observe in their natural habitat. For example, there are several species in the Philippines, and for most of them, little or nothing is known of their breeding or nesting behavior.” (Wikipedia with editing)

We have had the privilege of seeing several of the Fruit Doves at the Zoos we have visited. They are so beautiful and colorful. Isn’t the Lord great in His providing them the ability to show off all their “coats of many colors?” I trust you will enjoy looking at the slideshow below and seeing them. These are the ones that I have permission to show. I am putting the whole list of them from the Family pages so that you can view the others.

Rose-crowned Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus regina) by Ian

Rose-crowned Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus regina) by Ian

Divers colours is only associated with one bird in Scripture and that is with an eagle:

And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar: (Ezekiel 17:3 KJV)

“Divers colours” is used 6 times in the King James Version, others translate that phrase as; various colors, beautiful feathers, long, colorful feathers , full of varicolored feathers, of variety,  feathers covered with spots, rich in plumage of many colors, full of plumage of embroidery, having different colors to him, multi-colored plumage, or in full plumage and bright colors.

I think those descriptions can well describe our feather colors  the Creator placed on these Fruit Doves. Doves are mentioned many times in the Bible. See the Birds of the Bible – Dove and Pigeon page.

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Columbidae – Pigeons, Doves Family

Birds of the Bible – Dove and Pigeon

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P.S. I’ll be adding more of our as I find them.

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Seeing Pink at Circle B Bar Reserve – Gallery

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Because the slideshow won’t allow larger photos, here are the photos for the Seeing Pink at Circle B Bar Reserve article in the Gallery format. Clicking any photo will begin an Image Gallery Carousel.

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Seeing Pink at Circle B Bar Reserve

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Pileated Woodpecker by Lee at Circle B

Pileated Woodpecker by Lee at Circle B 4-9-2013

Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” (Genesis 1:20-22 NKJV)

We spent  a short time at Circle B Bar Reserve today and thought it would be the same old-same old. Well, it wasn’t. A lady we ran into said the same thing I was thinking, “I wasn’t expecting much today.”

When we got out of the car, I spotted a bird landing in the tree nearby which turned out to be a Pileated Woodpecker. That got me excited  right away.

As soon as we turned the corner to head to the marsh, which is extremely dry because there has not had much rain all winter, I saw “Pink.”

Roseate Spoonbill Tree

Roseate Spoonbill Tree

I am putting a Slideshow here so you can see why I got so excited. It turned out to be a fantastic birdwatching adventure today. Ignore some of the blurred photos, but were inserted to help tell the story of this adventure. The Roseate Spoonbills are spotted out there, but I have never seen so many and so close as today. They kept landing on that tree as you will see and it built up until there were 15 of them in that tree.

Not only did we see the Pileated Woodpecker and the Roseate Spoonbills, but we saw quite a few others also. They are included in the slideshow also. Enjoy!

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To See these photos in a Gallery – Click Here

Other Birdwatching Trips

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Birds of the World – Asian and African Barbets

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Fire-tufted Barbet (Psilopogon pyrolophus) by Dan at WA

Fire-tufted Barbet (Psilopogon pyrolophus) by Dan at Wings of Asia

Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and on it was food for all. Wild animals found shelter under it, the birds of the air lived in its branches, and every creature was fed from it. (Daniel 4:12 HCSB)

The Barbets used to be mainly in one big family, but they are being divided up in several families. The Internet Bird Collection and some other still have them in one family, but IOC, whose list is used here, breaks them into Asian Barbets (Megalaimidae Family) with 30 species and the African Barbets (Lybiidae Family) with 42 species. There is another family of Barbets here in the New World called New World Barbets (Capitonidae Family) that has 15 members. There are two Barbets, the Prong-billed and Toucan Barbet, that are by themselves in the Semnornithidae Family. Barbets are in the Piciformes Order which also has the Toucan,  Jacamar, Puffbird, Honeyguide and Woodpecker families.

I finished working on the Asian Barbet and African Barbet Family pages and decided to share some of them with you. They are a colorful bunch. The Lord put designs and color in their creation and yet in their natural habitats, they blend in well (camouflage). Some are beautiful and some are almost “gaudy” and have…started to put personality, but they are not humans, so maybe “birdality” might be a better term. Like this Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica) by Nikhil Devasar. My caption would be “hanging on by a nail.”

Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica) by Nikhil Devasar

Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica) by Nikhil Devasar

Here are some of their photos in a slideshow. (They are from all four families)

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I am working on Our Birdwatching Photos of these families and will ready soon.  (Update – Just Finished Them)

Interesting Articles:

Coppersmith Barbet – The Fruit-giver ~ by ajmithra

Formed By Him – Bearded Barbet

Birds of the Bible – Names of Birds

Dan’s Pix Fire-tufted Barbet – Fire-tufted II

Africa’s Barbets by 10,000 Birds

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Birds of the Bible – Goldfinches Are On The Way

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Goldfinches 4-1-13 No screen clean window (7)

Even the stork in the sky knows her seasons. The turtledove, swallow, and crane are aware of their migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD. (Jeremiah 8:7 HCSB)

We have been having American Goldfinches at the feeders for the last few weeks. Don’t see them often, so was enjoying their presence. They kept building in numbers from 6 at first, then 12 about a week ago, then Easter Sunday there were at least 20 of them. It even motivated me to wash the window and take out the screen on Monday to get better photos of them.

Yesterday morning, Wednesday, I checked out the window to see how many there were now. Not a one! So throughout the morning I kept checking, NONE! When we went out, there was no singing in the trees that we have been hearing lately. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed, but it didn’t take long to figure out where they were. GONE!!!

Keep your eyes open up north, the Goldfinches are on the way. This is a spring occurrence down here. The birds fold up their lounge chairs, pack the bellies full of my sunflower seed and head back home. They have territories to claim, nest to build, broods to raise and give you now the pleasure of viewing them and listening to their songs. ENJOY!

It’s your turn to enjoy the Lord’s beautiful American Goldfinches as they migrate up to you. Treat them nice and when fall comes, send them back, please.

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Birds of the Bible Articles

Bible Birds
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New Project – Our Birdwatching Photos

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Wood Duck - Lake Morton by Lee

Wood Duck – Lake Morton by Lee

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. (Psalms 104:24 KJV)

While working on Family pages, it dawned on me that very few of our photos have been used. We, Dan and I, do take quite a few photos while on our birdwatching adventures into the wild and at the zoos. Actually, I take about 4-5 more than he does on each adventure (more like 10-1). He spends his time trying to compose his shots and do all that sort of stuff. Me, I have a Program mode Panasonic Lumix that I shoot, shoot, shoot. Of course, his photos are always better and he knows how to prep them better, but I get more “action” photos. I have action of the bird moving (blurred), flying off (blurred), turning around (blurred), behind a fence (bird-blurred, fence-clear), in a tree (bird-blurred, branch with leaves-clear). Every once in a while I get a nice photo that isn’t too blurred that could be shared with you.

Another thing he has tried to teach me is the 1/3rd thing. Me, I want that bird right in the middle of my shot so that when I get home I can try to find it behind those clear fences and branches. To me, my photos are for “proof” that the bird was seen and also to try to figure out what it really was. You see, I am a “birdwatcher” and he is a “photographer.” There is a difference! You can blend the two, but there IS a different attitude at work here.

Yesterday the Our Birdwatching Photos page was created and a new tab was placed up at the top. Now, I am working on creating pages, by families, of our photos. Most will be mine, because I take more and he already has a website for his photos at Dan’s Pix. I will be copying some of his over here of course and maybe I can get some of his “unpublished” ones also.

Elegant Crested Tinamou (Eudromia elegans) Cloud Forest at Zoo Miami by Lee

Elegant Crested Tinamou (Eudromia elegans) at Zoo Miami by Lee

Don’t expect the greatest photos, because I am not a great photographer, but I enjoy “watching” the birds. The Lord has created so many birds that are just so beautiful and unique. The variety is amazing. The colors are  breathtaking at times. The birds are adorable, cute, ugly, big, little, tall, short, evasive, calm, fidgety, graceful, etc. They sing some of the most beautiful songs and some have terrible tunes, but don’t you just enjoy watching and listening to them?

O Lord, how many and varied are Your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the earth is full of Your riches and Your creatures. (Psalms 104:24 AMP)

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33 KJV)

Blurred, but isn't it cute?

Sandhill Crane Chick at Circle B by Lee – Blurred, but isn’t it cute?

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Our Birdwatching Photos

Dan’s Pix

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Birds of the Bible – Wing Survey

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Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) Left Wing by Lee at Lowry Park Zoo

Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) Left Wing by Lee at Lowry Park Zoo

While reading in Exodus 25 this week, I noticed that the plan for the Ark is written out in quite specific details. The plans for the mercy seat was to be covered by the outstretched wings of the cherubims of gold.

And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. (Exodus 25:20 KJV)

I wondered if I had written much about “wings”, so I checked and found only three articles, so far:

I am curious about what can be found, so, let’s see what we can find. Of course my e-Sword is fired up and ready for the searching. Searching first with just “wing”, only 6 verses show up. I Kings 6:24, 6:27; 2 Chronicles 3:11-2 all refer to the wing of the cherub. Isaiah 10:14 actually mentions a bird having its eggs taken and not moving its wing, opening its mouth or peeping. It is used as an illustration.

And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. (Isaiah 10:14 KJV)

Ezekiel 17:23 is the verse used in Fowl (Birds) of Every Wing.

Searching again with “wings” this time shows 64 verses (KJV). Again the cherubims are mentioned in Exodus 25:20, 37:9; I Kings 6:26, 8:6, 8:7; 1 Chronicles 28:18; 2 Chronicles 3:11, 3:13, 5:7-8. Cherubim and serephim wings are again mentioned later in the prophecies of Isaiah (Isa 6:2, 8:8, 18:1, and 40:31), Ezekiel (Exe 1:6-11, 1:23-25, 3:13, 10:5-21, 11:22) and Daniel.  Ezekiel 17:3 & 7 mention “A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers” and “another great eagle with great wings and many feathers” Daniel 7:4 and 6 mention “eagle’s wings” and “wings of a fowl”

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) ©WikiC

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) ©WikiC

Eagles’ wings are mentioned several more times:

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles‘ wings, and brought you unto myself. (Exodus 19:4 KJV)

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: (Deuteronomy 32:11 KJV)

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23:5 KJV)

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab. (Jeremiah 48:40 KJV)

Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs. (Jeremiah 49:22 KJV)

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) by Nikhil Devasar

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) by Nikhil Devasar

Of course other birds are named such as:

Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? (Job 39:13 KJV)

Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? (Job 39:26 KJV)

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (Psalms 55:6 KJV)

Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. (Psalms 68:13 KJV)

Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. (Zechariah 5:9 KJV)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37 KJV)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (Luke 13:34 KJV)

Baby Chick Peeping Out From Under His Mom's Wing - ©©

Baby Chick Peeping Out From Under His Mom’s Wing – ©©

Other references to wings:

  • wings of the wind – 2 Samuel 22:11
  • under whose wings thou art come to trust. – Ruth 2:12
  • hide me under the shadow of thy wings – Psalm 17:8
  • fly upon the wings of the wind – Psalm 18:10
  • trust under the shadow of thy wings. – Psalm 36:7
  • in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge – Psalm 57:1
  • rust in the covert of thy wings – Psalm 61:4
  • in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice – Psalm 63:7
  • He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust – Psalm 91:4
  • the wings of the wind – Psalm 104:3
  • If I take the wings of the morning – Psalm 139:9
  • for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. – Ecclesiastes 10:20
  • stretching out of his wings – Isaiah 8:8
  • shadowing with wings – Isaiah 18:1
  • Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away – Jeremiah 48:9
  • The wind hath bound her up in her wings – Hosea 4:19
  • healing in his wings – Malachi 4:2

That is an interesting survey of the verses with wing or wings in them. Now I will have to get busy and use this information in some future articles. There are definitely some trends that can be seen. Do you see them? Shadow, wind, healing and trust, just to name a few.

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Birds of the Bible

Wordless Birds

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What A Wonderful Savior

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He is Risen from an e-mail

Tomorrow is Easter and many will attend church for many reasons. Some will go to show off a new outfit, some will go because it is the one time a year they always go, and many of us will go because it is our normal Sunday habit. Whatever the reason, it is a celebration of the resurrection of Our Savior. Yesterday, Good Friday, His death on the cross was commemorated.

Many of us have the knowledge of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Knowledge is one thing, belief is another. Many can quote John 3:16, even those who do not believe in Christ as their Savior:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 KJV)

I like Easter and like many, I used to attend church once a year, no matter where I went to church; Catholic, Luther, Methodist, Baptist. Then in 1959, my sister’s father-in-law, Dulin, accepted the Lord as his personal Savior. He accepted the Gift that is offered by Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. He then started telling my sister and her husband, Sharry and Joe, about the Lord and so in February 1960 they were saved, by accepting the Lord. You guessed it, they started telling me about how Christ died for me and that I could be saved by believing in the Lord and accepting His gift of salvation.

So on March 20, 1960, after being invited to church with them, I decided to break a record and go to church two times in one year. Not having been raised in a Christian home, I wasn’t perfect, neither was I bad, but as I listened to Pastor Charlie Kittrell preach, I realized that I WAS a SINNER and I need Christ as my Savior. It finally clicked. The knowledge finally got from my head down to my heart. Praise the Lord I was led to the Lord that morning. My life has forever been changed.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)

So this Easter is my 53rd as a new creature in Christ. Praise the Lord, what a Wonder Savior He has been to me these many years. Am I prefect? No way, but I am forgiven and when I do mess up, I John 1:9 is always there to remind me to ask forgiveness. That is not to be saved again, but to return to fellowship with the Lord.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 KJV)

I was 16 then and this year I’ll turn 70. What a wonderful life the Lord has given me. He provided a super Christian husband that has put up with me all these years. We will be celebrating our 50th in July this year. Blessings and challenges, but Christ has always been there as we have tried to live for Him. We both had the privilege of graduating from Bob Jones University, though it took me 16 years to get through. (Speak of a slow learner :) ) We also have a fantastic church with a great Pastor and staff. Plus, He has given me an enjoyment of His creation, especially His birds. On and on I could go, but it all is from the Lord.

What about you? I trust you know Him also. If not, please consider what this weekend is all about. It is a celebration of God’s Son coming to earth and paying for our sins by His death on the cross. (short version) Best of all, it doesn’t end there. He is Risen! Death could not keep Him because  He was God in the Flesh. He loves you enough that He died for your sins. Won’t you accept His gift of salvation?

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (Romans 5:18 KJV)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8 KJV)

Sharing The Gospel

Gospel Presentation is narrated by Pastor Nathan Osborne III and music is by Sean Fielder from Gospel Presentation

Antbirds ~ An Interesting Family

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Great Antshrike (Taraba major) by Ian

Great Antshrike (Taraba major) by Ian

Just finished working on the Typical Antbird Family. (Thamnophilidae – Antbirds) Of the 228 species, there were only 21 links when I started a few day ago, after finishing the Tyrannidae – Tyrant Flycatchers Is Complete Minus One Bird family and article. Other than 4 species that are evading me, it is almost finished. I was side-lined Sunday evening and all day yesterday with some food poisoning. Perked up enough this evening to finish it up.

The little birds that are staying out of the camera lens are the:

If anyone knows where to find a photo of them, I would be obliged. Leave a comment if you know where they are hiding.

White-flanked Antwren (Myrmotherula axillaris) by Michael Woodruff

White-flanked Antwren (Myrmotherula axillaris) by Michael Woodruff

When you search the internet for photos, you have to be careful, I am finding out. Some searches show a picture on a page with the correct name, but the photo does not match the named bird. Won’t mention any names, but I will mention one of the more trusted sites that I use. IBC which is actually The Internet Bird Collection headed up, I believe by Josep del Hoyo. He and that group are quite experts in ornithology. They have been producing the Handbook of the Birds of the World. There are over 16 Volumes and counting. Their goal “has been to cover in detail and illustrate every species of bird in the world.” Now there is an undertaking, to say the least.

Ferruginous Antbird (Drymophila ferruginea) by Dario Sanches

Ferruginous Antbird (Drymophila ferruginea) by Dario Sanches

Back to the Antbirds. Wikipedia has this to say about them. ”

The antbirds are a large family, Thamnophilidae, of passerine birds found across subtropical and tropical Central and South America, from Mexico to Argentina. There are more than 200 species, known variously as antshrikes, antwrens, antvireos, fire-eyes, bare-eyes and bushbirds. They are related to the antthrushes and antpittas (family Formicariidae), the tapaculos, the gnateaters and the ovenbirds. Despite some species’ common names, this family is not closely related to the wrens, vireos or shrikes.

Antbirds are generally small birds with rounded wings and strong legs. They have mostly sombre grey, white, brown and rufous plumage, which is sexually dimorphic in pattern and coloring.  Some species communicate warnings to rivals by exposing white feather patches on their backs or shoulders. Most have heavy bills, which in many species are hooked at the tip.

Ocellated Antbird (Phaenostictus mcleannani) ©WikiC

Ocellated Antbird (Phaenostictus mcleannani) ©WikiC

Members of this family have short rounded wings that provide good manoeuvrability when flying in dense undergrowth. The legs are large and strong, particularly in species that are obligate ant-followers. These species are well adapted to gripping vertical stems and saplings, which are more common than horizontal branches in the undergrowth, and thus the ability to grip them is an advantage for birds following swarms of army ants. The claws of these antbirds are longer than those of species that do not follow ants, and the soles of some species have projections that are tough and gripping when the foot is clenched. Tarsus length in antbirds is related to foraging strategy. Longer tarsi typically occur in genera such as the Thamnophilus antshrikes that forage by perch-gleaning (sitting and leaning forward to snatch insects from the branch), whereas shorter tarsi typically occur in those that catch prey on the wing, such as the Thamnomanes antshrikes.

Most antbirds have proportionately large, heavy bills. Several genera of antshrike have a strongly hooked tip to the bill, and all antbirds have a notch or ‘tooth’ at the tip of the bill which helps in holding and crushing insect prey. The two genera of bushbirds have upturned chisel-like bills.” (Wikipedia with editing)

Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis) ©WikiC

Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis) ©WikiC

It appears the Lord has created these birds with just what they need to survive in their environment. They may well be keeping the ant population in control, but some of the videos with the bird in the middle of an ant army swarm, makes you wonder who is winning.

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; (Job 12:7 NKJV)

I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. (Psalms 50:11 NKJV)

The Bible has several things to say about the Ants:

The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer; (Proverbs 30:25 NKJV)

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:6-11 NKJV)

Not being lazy and providing for yourself are two things one can learn. Also, He provides for the birds of this family by giving them an ample supply of ants and other insects, yet, they have to do the work of catching them. They are not fed directly by the Lord.

The Scripture tells us that “…my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). Are we suppose to sit back and just expect things to be provided for us? No, neither do the birds or animals. Yes, the Lord supplies our needs, for example, by having things grow, but they need to be picked and cooked or purchased and cooked. That is only one illustration from thousands.

White-plumed Antbird (Pithys albifrons) ©WikiC

White-plumed Antbird (Pithys albifrons) ©WikiC

Enjoy the ANTBIRD family. They are not the prettiest, but some are quite interesting.

Thamnophilidae – Antbirds

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You Don’t Have to Be a Christian to Call on Jesus – Re-blogged

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jesus-on-donkey-wikiped

Sandra Connor has written an excellent article called

You Don’t Have to Be a Christian to Call on Jesus.

“Here comes Jesus!”

“Jesus of Nazareth is coming!”

“Do you see Him yet?”

“Here He comes!”

“Here comes Jesus!”

Excitement was rampant, and cries of “Hosanna” filled the air. Shouts of joy and triumph could be heard for miles along the road, and people rushed to lay palm branches and their personal garments as a carpet of welcome. Jesus of Nazareth was coming to Jerusalem.

This carpenter-teacher who had journeyed among them for nearly three years, teaching them, healing them, feeding them, forgiving them, raising their dead. This miracle worker, this wise man, this man who was gentle enough to draw crowds of children to his side yet bold enough He would soon drive money-changers from the temple with a whip — this man whom many claimed was the prophesied Messiah of Jehovah — this man was coming again to Jerusalem! I’m sure, had we been there, we would have heard the message repeated over and over again for miles: “Here comes Jesus! Here comes Jesus!”

For the rest of the article – You Don’t Have to Be a Christian to Call on Jesus.

Sandra is a Christian writer who has some very interesting articles and books worth checking out.

Sandra Conner…By the Book

Tyrannidae – Tyrant Flycatchers Is Complete Minus One Bird

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Blue-billed Black Tyrant (Knipolegus cyanirostris) by Dario Sanches

Blue-billed Black Tyrant (Knipolegus cyanirostris) by Dario Sanches

The Tyrannidae – Tyrant Flycatchers is complete minus one bird, the Spectacled BristleTyrant (Pogonotriccus orbitalis). Big deal you say? I decided to dig into that family and try to get the photos for it. I have been at it for about 3 days to find the missing 300 species. This is the largest bird family. There are 421 members there and I had already collected or found links to 121 of them.

I have searched high and low for that Spectacled Bristle Tyrant and the best I could find is a stamp with it’s photo on it. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It also referred to as the Spectacled Bristle-tyrant (Phylloscartes orbitalis) and it is said to be common. That may be true, but no one has posted a photo of that Spectacled bird.

“The tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae) are a clade of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds on Earth, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and Canada. As could be expected from a family this large, the members vary greatly in shape, patterns, size and colors. Some Tyrant flycatchers superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers which they are named after but are not related to. They are members of suborder Tyranni (suboscines), which do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of most other songbirds.” (Wikipedia)

Spectacled Tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus) ©©Flickr Cláudio Timm

Spectacled Tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus) ©©Flickr Cláudio Timm

That family also has another Spectacled bird, the Spectacled Tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus).

Sometimes we are challenged to get the hardest projects finished first. This has been one of those times. Was it drudgery? No way! Even though these are not the prettiest birds, they have personality and expressions on their faces. The Lord created all these neat birds and I was enjoying seeing them. I had my internet radio playing, (Old Fashioned Christian Music Radio) and I just kept plugging away. (For hours!) Our attitudes can be enjoyable even when we are busy. I could have been “grumpy” and said, “there are too many birds to find, it will take forever” or, as I did, it was a joy to work on this page even though many bloggers will never see it.

I just kept making expressions as the various birds were viewed. I am always amazed at the variety that the Lord uses. What expression of surprise when I saw the Spectacled Tyrant above.  (He is not the one I need yet.)

And of course, Scripture comes to mind or you wonder how a word is used in His Word. These are called “tyrant” and sure enough, I found some verses with “tyrant” in them.

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) by Margaret Sloan Eating

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) by Margaret Sloan Eating

“an the prey be taken from the mighty man, Or the captives of a tyrant be rescued?” (Isaiah 49:24 NASB)

Surely, thus says the LORD, “Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, And the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; For I will contend with the one who contends with you, And I will save your sons. (Isaiah 49:25 NASB)

This prey in the mouth of the Tyrant family doesn’t look like he will escape.

It is always enjoyable when we finish a project. I still have about 50 Families yet to finish, but this was the largest and it feels good to accomplish something.

Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. (Psalms 111:1-4 ESV)

I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. (Psalms 77:11-12 KJV)

What better when all of life is over and we hear something like this verses

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25:21 ESV)

Enjoy looking through the Tyrannidae – Tyrant Flycatcher Family photos. There are some neat birds there to be viewed and enjoyed.

Wordless Birds

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