Anyone know what species this is?

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:17 am

Hi all!
It's been a long time since I've posted here. I was hoping you all could help me ID a finch I've seen in the wild here. I recently got accepted to the Ross School of Vet Med on the island of St. Kitts. Wow is it pretty here! I've seen bananaquits (flirting, doing a little dance and singing SO cute!) what I think are king birds, some sort of black hummingbird (which I can't get a pic of to save my life!) doves which sound like mourning doves but are different coloured, cattle egrets galore (including a nesting colony) and a little black finch. It's the little finch I was wondering about, he's all black with a patch of red on his throat, the female is unremarkable plain brownish. If anyone might know what he is that'd be great! Also if anyone knows of a good bird id book for the Caribbean that'd be great too! Here's a pic of the little guy:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o265 ... kfinch.jpg
Thanks all!
Thalia

Post by **Sally** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:05 pm

Can't help you with the bird id or a good book, but wanted to congratulate you on your acceptance to the vet med school! How wonderful to be in St. Kitts in the middle of winter.

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:25 pm

thanks Sally! I admit, that even though it's rainy and cold (for here) today I'd still rather be here than back home where it's -40

Post by **Hilary** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:01 am

Show off! Vet school in St Kitts - CONGRATS! I was there about 2 years ago - nice little town. Nice to have you back posting, too!

I fell in love with the bananaquits in the Caribbean. My friends thought I was crazy as I ran around trying to identify who/what was singing. They're bold little things considering how tiny they are! I'd say the black bird is a Lesser Antillean Bullfinch:

Lesser Antillean Bullfinch

I just checked my birding books and don't seem to have any good ones on the Caribbean - I'll check around online and see if there's anything since I would also love to get a good one (unless somebody here knows of one!!).

Post by **Hilary** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:29 am

"Birds of the West Indies" seemed to get great reviews on Amazon, and is a really reasonable price:

Birds of the West Indies

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:00 am

gee thanks Hilary! I believe you're right, they are lesser antilean bullfinches! They're really cute and appartently quite territorial.
I'm going to have to put that book on my b-day wishlist too.
Yeah I really like the island, I love not having to bundle up and lace winter boots, I just throw on a pair of capris, a t-shirt or tank top and slip into my sandals and I'm dressed and ready for classes! I've even got a bit of a tan, which is exciting for me, I usually burn then peel back to white.
Aren't the bananaquits too cute? Nice little song too.
We've got a bunch of lizards too mostly anoles on the island, SO cute!
Here's a link to my online photoalbum, lost of shots of the island and campus and so forth. http://s122.photobucket.com/albums/o265 ... 82/School/
I'm really enjoying school too! it's nice to finally be achieving my dream of becoming a vet, after 3 rejections from the school in Canada where I was able to apply.

onthespot · Post by **onthespot** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 1:05 am

the doves are zenaida doves, also known as mourning doves, so you were right the first time. LOL

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:41 pm

OOH do you know what the itty bitty doves are called? they're like half the size of the zenaida, and SO cute!