Birdorable Elegant Trogon

Today we are concluding our 2022 Birdorable Bonanza by adding a colorful bird of the New World: the Elegant Trogon!

Elegant Trogons are native to a wide range across Mexico and Central America, where they reside in a variety of woodland habitat types. There is a summer breeding population in southeast Arizona.

The Elegant Trogon is a beautifully colored bird. Adult males have a black face and throat, iridescent green upperparts, a red belly separated by a white band, grey wings, and a finely speckled undertail.

Shop for gifts featuring our cute bird on Zazzle, including this Birdorable Elegant Trogon Tote Bag.

Photo of an Elegant Trogon

This concludes our 2022 Birdorable Bonanza. Thank you for following along! We wish our fans and followers all the best for the holiday season and good wishes for the coming year!

Birdorable Red-eyed Vireo

Today's new Birdorable is a New World songbird. Look-up, over here, see me, up here, it's the Red-eyed Vireo!

That funny introduction above refers to a common mnemonic, or memory aid, to help birders remember the repetitive song of the Red-eyed Vireo. This songster is often heard before it is seen.

Besides the iconic song, Red-eyed Vireos can be recognized by the pretty red eyes they develop as adults, and their distinctive eye stripe.

Red-eyed Vireo

Tomorrow we'll finish off our 2022 Birdorable Bonanza with one of our most requested species. It's a colorful bird with a fancy name and is found across Mexico, Central America, and southeast Arizona. Can you guess tomorrow's new bird?

Birdorable Black-faced Spoonbill

Today the Black-faced Spoonbill joins Birdorable!

This special bird is native to a small range across eastern Asia. Of all of the six species of spoonbill, the Black-faced Spoonbill has the most limited range, and is the only species to be considered Endangered (the others all have a conservation status of Least Concern). The biggest threat they face is loss of habitat.

Black-faced Spoonbills can be recognized by their long spatula-shaped bills, large white bodies, and namesake black faces. Breeding birds (like our cartoon cutie) develop a yellow band at the base of the neck. Young birds, and adults outside of breeding, lack the yellow band (like the photo example below).

Black-faced Spoonbill by TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋) (CC BY 2.0)

Shop for gifts featuring the new bird on Amazon, including our Birdorable Black-faced Spoonbill Tank Top.

Tomorrow our Birdorable Bonanza will continue when we add a North American species named for the color of its eyes. This passerine has a repetitive song and is often heard before it is seen. Do you know the bird?

Birdorable African Firefinch

Today's new bird is a species of finch with a widespread range across a variety of habitats in sub-Saharan Africa. Meet the Birdorable African Firefinch!

There are four or five recognized subspecies of African Firefinch. All birds have reddish underparts and olive-brown upperparts, but the intensity of the color and the ratio of red to olive-brown varies among the subspecies. Males sport distinctive white spots on their flanks.

African Firefinch, Sakania, DR Congo by Nigel Voaden (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Find African Firefiinch gifts on Amazon, including this Birdorable African Firefinch Raglan Tee.

Tomorrow we'll add an endangered species of spoonbill to Birdorable. Can you guess which of the 6 species of spoonbill will join the flock?

Birdorable Blue-headed Parrot

Today's new Birdorable bird is our 102nd new species of parrot! Welcome the Blue-headed Parrot to our flock!

The Blue-headed Parrot is a medium-sized parrot with a range in and around the Amazon basin in South America. They feed on fruits, berries, and seeds. These darlings are cavity nesters, using either living trees or dead tree stumps.

Blue-headed Parrots have a mostly bright green plumage along with their namesake blue head. Males and females look alike.

Blue-headed Parrot by geoff_heal (CC BY 2.0)

Shop for Birdorable Blue-headed Parrot gifts on Amazon, including this Birdorable Blue-headed Parrot Throw Pillow.

Tomorrow we'll add a small species of finch found in sub-Saharan Africa. They have a fiery red plumage and males sport white spots on their flanks. Do you know the species?

Birdorable Northern Emerald Toucanet

Today's new Birdorable is a small species of toucan. Check out the Northern Emerald Toucanet!

These little toucans live in mountain forest habitat across parts of Mexico and Central America. Males and females look alike with a bright green body plumage and relatively large yellow and black bills.

Northern Emerald Toucanets by Ryan Mandelbaum (CC BY 2.0)

Find our Northern Emerald Toucanet on a variety of apparel and gift options on Amazon, including this Birdorable Northern Emerald Toucanet Pullover Hoodie.

Tomorrow's new Birdorable is a species in the Psittacidae family. It is named for the color of its head, and lives in the Amazon basin. Do you know the species?

Birdorable Guam Kingfisher

Today a bird that cannot be seen in the wild joins Birdorable. While there is hard work and much hope that the Guam Kingfisher can be reintroduced into the wild, the last free flying individuals were seen in the mid-1980s.

Their population was decimated by a non-native snake, the Brown Tree Snake. The introduction of this Asian snake to Guam was devastating to many native species on the island.

With just 29 individual Guam Kingfishers remaining in 1986, in order to save the species, all of the birds were captured for captive breeding. Today the captive population is close to 140 individuals. Conservationists are hoping to reintroduce the Guam Kingfisher into the wild on a snake-free island near Guam.

Guam Kingfishers have a pretty plumage with a rufous head with black eyestripe, and blue-green wings, back, and rump. Males have rufous underparts. Our Birdorable bird has a white belly; she is a female.

Guam Kingfisher by Fred Faulkner (CC BY 2.0)

Tomorrow's new Birdorable is the world's northernmost species of toucan. Do you know the name of this little bird?

Birdorable Grey Fantail

Today a cute little songbird from Australia and nearby island nations joins Birdorable! Welcome the Grey Fantail to the family!

Grey Fantails are insectivores. They include flashing their tails as part of their hunting strategy.

Several subspecies of Grey Fantail are recognized, each distinguished by slight differences in plumage, as well as in their native range. With its dark tail and buffy underparts, our Birdorable cartoon illustration is based on nominate Rhipidura albiscapa albiscapa, which breeds on Tasmania and the Bass Strait Islands.

Grey Fantail by Paul Balfe (CC BY 2.0)
Grey Fantail by patrickkavanagh (CC BY 2.0)

Tomorrow we'll add a special species of kingfisher that is currently extinct in the wild. Conservationists are working to bring this island bird back to the wild. Can you guess the species?

Birdorable Ruddy Shelduck

Today a pretty species of waterfowl joins Birdorable! The Ruddy Shelduck is our 50th species in the duck, goose, and swan family.

Ruddy Shelducks are large ducks with a wide range and growing population across much of Asia. Ruddy Shelducks are also found in isolated populations in Europe and Africa; unfortunately these groups are in decline. Ruddy Shelducks are aptly named, having an overall orange-brown (ruddy) body plumage, with a somewhat lighter shade over the head. Black flight feathers and white coverts can be seen in flight and in part while the bird is resting or swimming.

Shop for Ruddy Shelduck gift here: Birdorable Ruddy Shelduck

Tomorrow's new Birdorable is a native of Australia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. This little songbird is named for its fabulous tail. Do you know the species?

Birdorable White-tailed Eagle

Today we're kicking off our 14th annual Birdorable Bonanza! We're revealing 10 new birds in quick succession, from today through December 14th. The White-tailed Eagle joins Birdorable today as our 766th species, and 51st bird of prey.

White-tailed Eagles have brown body plumage, ranging from light brown on the upperparts to darker brown on the underparts. As the common name indicates, this bird can also be recognized by its white tail. Non-covered body parts, like the large beak and powerful feet, are yellow.

Birdorable White-tailed Eagle merchandise like this unisex sweatshirt is available on Amazon.

Tomorrow we'll add an Old World species of waterfowl named for its color. They are found across much of Asia and have isolated populations in Europe and Africa. Can you guess what our new Birdorable bird will be?