The Violin Player

As you know, I'm on 'thesis mode', so, no birding time for me, not even on weekends (for a few weeks at least).

Tommy, however, has some time after classes and can walk around watching beauties and taking some pictures. Here is his photo of a Blue-gray Tanager.

Here, this Blue-gray Tanager was introduced some time ago in the capital (Lima) from the Amazon. Some people brought birds as souvenirs from jungle trips or to sell in the black market and somehow a few escaped and started a colony in the city. It is very common to see them now in parks and gardens in the city, mostly in pairs.

Something that interests me a lot is the different names of birds around the world. Sometimes there are discussions about the 'correct' scientific name, the common name, the English name, etc. But, it gets even harder if you are - like in my case - living in a Spanish speaking country, and there is no agreement on how to call a bird.

Locals from all over Latin America give them different names, which can be quite annoying if you are in another country trying to ask a non-birder about a particular bird and have no image refference to show.

Let's take this Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) as an example. The most literal translation to Spanish should be 'Tángara Azuleja'. In Colombia it is called 'Azulejo' (azul means blue), in Costa Rica it is 'Viuda' (name given to a female widow), and in Peru it becomes a 'Violinista' (violin player), this last one explained due to the song of the bird. I bet there are many more names for it all over the world, given by local non-birder residents or ancient cultures.

Do you have problems like these with the English names?? I know that there are some discrepancies, but most of the times it is a unique name, isn't it? Please, tell me about it!

Oh, did you know that in Trinidad and Tobago this bird is called Blue Jean?? Cool!

More urban nature

Last week I found this 10cm... moth(?) leaning on the outside of the backyard's door.

Can anyone help id, please??


I had a pretty hard week. Work, health, family, friends. Lot's of not great news, but I'm fighting them all, each problem at a time ;)

I decided to 'cure' my sadness and frustration by going back to the pics either Tommy or I took last year. I found some pics that I never published before, and, as I haven't been able to go out this week, I decided to post them today. They are not great, but are a reminder of great moments, so, to me they are precious.


A female Vermilion Flycatcher a few metres from the house...


... And another one getting closer to a male Vermilion Flycatcher on the neighbour's fence. Fun Fact: Local name is "Turtupilín", trying to copy the sound of the song of this beauty.


A Blue-grey Tanager very high on a tree. Fun fact: In Peru, the local name is "Violinista", which means "violin player", because of the bird's song too.


It is curious how we try to name what we don't know. Both the "Turtupilín" and the "Violinista" after their songs or the sound of them. And other creatures, especially birds, after how they look, the colours they have, the masks, the hoods, the size of legs or tails...

The next bird I couldn't id. First I thought it could be a juvenile Safron Finch, but this one was bigger, and both maxilla and mandible are the same color, plus the whole bill looks bigger, a bit more like a Grassland Yellow-Finch, but I'm not sure. PLEASE, I know that some of you have the awesome "Birds of Peru" guide, so, HELP!!


That's all for now, I'll try to go out tomorrow morning and hopefully find some pretty bugs, flowers or birds to share with you during the next week.