Image: The Ultimate Bird Drawing Throwdown Showdown Graphic featuring images of David Sibley and H. Jon Benjamin

Join BirdNote tomorrow, November 30th!

Illustrator David Sibley and actor H. Jon Benjamin will face off in the bird illustration battle of the century during BirdNote's Year-end Celebration and Auction!

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Shows With Contributions by Lucina Melesio

An Ornate Hawk Eagle looks to its left, showing a sharp curved beak, golden eyes, and mottled black and brown feathers with some raised in a crest on its head.

Ornate Hawk-Eagle: the Elegant Eagle

Ornate Hawk-Eagles stand out from other raptors with their impressive crest that looks like an elegant crown in adults, and a punk hairdo over the white-headed and black-bodied juveniles. These birds are excellent hunters, but they’re also devoted parents. Listen to this episode in Spanish…
Two Little Blue Macaws perched on a horizontal wooden bar, showing their blue bodies and wings with lighter heads and black beaks.

The Return of the Extinct Little Blue Macaw

Even if the name Spix's Macaw doesn’t ring a bell, you might recognize this bird. It’s Blu, from Rio, the animated film! Also known as the Little Blue Macaw, the species went extinct in the wild due to hunting for the pet trade, loss of habitat, and invasive species. However, scientists…
A tiny Bumblebee Hummingbird sits on a branch showing its iridescent green wings and head, bright pink feathers on its throat, and its long narrow beak is open.

Bumblebee Hummingbird: The Mexican Buzzer

Mexico's Bumblebee Hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in the world. Less than 3 inches in size and weighing less than a bottlecap, they’re easily confused with a bumblebee as they buzz by. But as tiny as they are, they defend their breeding territories fiercely. Perhaps that’s why…
A Bumblebee Hummingbird perched on a branch with its beak open. "BirdNote en Español" appears in the top left corner.

El zumbador mexicano: un colibrí que parece abejorro

El Zumbador Mexicano es una de las aves más pequeñas del mundo. Con menos de ocho centímetros de tamaño y pesando menos que la tapa de una botella, se pueden confundir fácilmente con un abejorro cuando pasan zumbando por ahí. A pesar de su pequeño tamaño, defienden ferozmente sus…
A pair of small green parrots peer out from an opening in a large nest made of sticks and branches.

Monk Parakeets: Little Green-Blue Invaders

Monk Parakeets, also known as Argentine Parrots, are native to South America but have become popular as pets – thanks in part to their intelligence and ability to mimic human speech. But in some areas, such as Mexico, these birds have become invasive. After being released or escaping, some…
A vivid iridescent green-feathered bird with red breast and long, long blue tail feathers.

Resplendent Quetzal: Mexico’s Sacred Bird

Found in Southern Mexico and Central America, Resplendent Quetzals have a striking blue tail up to three times the length of their bodies. That's probably why the Aztecs considered this bird a representation of Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, one of the most worshiped gods across…