Friday, August 21, 2026

Smithsonian National Zoo: Aviary, part 3 of 3 - South American Coffee Plantation

 The heart of the new Bird House at the Smithsonian National Zoo is an open space full of tropical flora designed to mimic the environment on the South American end of New World Bird migration.  The former Bird House also featured a central aviary and some of the elements from the previous space remain.  But the variety and sheer joy you can experience in the midst of so many beautiful and lively creatures is hard to fully describe.  So like the previous post, I'll let the pictures tell the story, with this caveat.  I will do my best to identify the species; however, there was a whole lot of molting going on, so it was not always obvious.



Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus


Band-tailed Pigeon
Patagioenas fasciata

Blue Grosbeak (female)


Tennessee Warbler
Leiothlypis peregrina


Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Dendrocygna autumn


Turquoise Tanager
Tangara mexicana

Blue Grossbeak
Passerina caerulea


A parting view of a male Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum).

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