Erik Hansen Photography

I was just finishing a family walk around Lake Springfield Park when I saw this bald eagle in the distance. It was diving down to the water repeatedly, fighting the high winds that day. I ran to the car to grab my camera and managed to snap a few photos before it flew off. In this shot, I think it had just spotted my family and me.

A Magenta-throated Woodstar licking its beak in anticipation of some sweet sweet nectar

A backlit bathing shorebird (I believe it's a sandpiper of some sort)

These three Groove-billed Anis look like they're singing on a stage

The Potoo was one of the few birds I really wanted to see on our trip to Costa Rica earlier this year. Thankfully we had a bird guide who knew of a specific fence post where a Northern Potoo could be found. It mostly faked being asleep, but would occasionally peek at us, as it was in this photo.

I'm posting a photo of these Green-Crowned Brilliants to celebrate my twin brother's and my birthday. While we got in some fights growing up, we mostly had a blast playing LEGOs, riding bikes, and doing all the things brothers do. (astute birders will have to ignore the fact that these are female hummingbirds, not males)

We saw many Yellow-headed Caracaras near our Airbnb in Costa Rica. This one loved to perch on this dead palm tree every morning.

A Common Black Hawk on the lookout for its next meal

Earlier this year, Elise and I spent a couple hours looking for Costa Rica's most iconic bird: the Resplendent Quetzal. They like perching high in wild avocado trees, like this male was doing. I love how their tale feathers blow in the wind.

The more I look at the beak of this White Ibis, the more odd it looks. At least it has a cool blue eye.

Crested Caracara are such distinct-looking raptors. This one was hanging out on the beach eating washed up fish with the vultures. But the same week, I saw one flying with a head of a White Egret it had recently decapitated.

Uvita, Costa Rica

This Capuchin Monkey feels the same way that I do about breakfast—it's a serious ordeal.