Helsinki, Finland

Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is an introduced species from Asia to most of Europe, including Finland. However, in the Caucasus and easternmost Turkey there lives the most western populations of the native Common Pheasant, in fact, its nominate race, whose name refers to the ancient land of Colchis (present Georgia).

suom: fasaani

Korkeasaari Zoo, Finland

A group of Dwarf Mongooses (Helogale parvula) sticking together. It’s an African savanna animal, but these ones were photographed in the Korkeasaari zoo of Helsinki.

suom: kääpiömangusti

Yaxchilán, Mexico

A Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra) in Yaxchilán, where they seemed to be common.

suom: vaippamölyapina (Alouatta pigra)

Yaxchilán, Mexico

A large and colourful Iguana (Iguana iguana) resting on top of a bush on the island of Yaxchilán in the Usumacinta River.

suom: iguaani

Yaxchilán, Mexico

Although the illustrations in my fieldguides once again proved unhelpful, I’ve identified this as a female Variable Seedeater (Sporophila americana). Let me know if you think I’m wrong.

suom: sepelsirkkunen (Sporophila americana)

Usumacinta, Mexico

The Clay-coloured Thrush (Turdus grayi) was common in gardens and deciduous forests in Mexico, found almost anywhere where we visited. This one was photographed at the jetty by the Usumacinta River.

suom: tarharastas (Turdus grayi)

Chiapas, Mexico

I saw this kind of dark wrens in many locations in Mexico but didn’t find a corresponding species from the literature. Finally from internet pictures and videos I concluded that they were Southern House Wrens (Troglodytes musculus), which is often considered a subspecies of the much lighter House Wren (Troglodytes aedon).

suom: etelänpeukaloinen (Troglodytes musculus)

Chiapas, Mexico

This is a Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa), in eastern Chiapas, on our way to the Usumacinta River. This was the large parrot we encountered the most regularly along the trip.

suom: jauhoamatsoni (Amazona farinosa)

Palenque, Mexico

A pair of Bat Falcons (Falco rufigularis) perched atop one of the highest temples in Palenque. In Flores, Guatemala, we came across an incident in which another pair of Bat Falcons was actually hunting bats at dusk.

suom: pikkujalohaukka (Falco rufigularis)

Palenque, Mexico

Wood Thrush (Catharus mustelinus), another migrant thrush from North America, was widespread in the tropical forests of Mexico. [Also sometimes separated to a genus of its own as Hylocichla mustelina, but it's quite similar to other Catharus thrushes.]

suom: täplärastas (Catharus mustelinus)