The Firefly Forest

Listed below are the birds that I have seen at my bird feeders here in Tucson, Arizona, followed by the food that they prefer.

1. Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) - seed
2. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) - other birds
3. Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) - other birds
4. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) - seed
5. White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) - seed
6. *Ringed Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia risoria) - seed
7. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) - seed
8. Inca Dove (Columbina inca) - seed
9. *Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) - seed
10. *Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) - seed
11. Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) - meat, small cat kibble, dog kibble, other birds
12. Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) - nectar
13. Blue-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis clemenciae) - nectar
14. Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) - nectar
15. Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) - nectar
16. Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) - nectar
17. Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - nectar
18. Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) - nectar
19. Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) - nectar
20. Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) - seed, nectar, fruit, meat, small cat kibble, dog kibble, suet
21. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) - small cat kibble, suet
22. Gilded Flicker (Colaptes chrysoides) - small cat kibble, suet
23. Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) - seed, small cat kibble
24. Common Raven (Corvus corax) - dog kibble
25. Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) - nectar
26. Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) - seed, meat, small cat kibble, suet
27. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) - fruit (apples)
28. Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre) - seed (white millet), fruit, meat, small cat kibble, suet
29. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - seed
30. Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) - seed
31. Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus) - seed
32. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) - seed
33. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) - seed (safflower, sunflower), suet, meat
34. Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) - seed (safflower, sunflower), suet, meat
35. Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) - seed (safflower, sunflower)
36. Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) - seed
37. Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) - seed
38. Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) - small cat kibble, dog kibble (they soak it in water)
39. Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) - seed
40. Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) - seed
41. Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) - nectar
42. Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii) - nectar
43. House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) - seed, suet
44. Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) - seed (thistle)
45. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - seed, suet

* Aviary escapee or escaped pet

Although they are native to southern Asia and India, Bridled House Geckos or Common House Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) are now common in many tropical areas around the World. These sneaky little lizards were accidentally introduced to many other areas after they hid in cargo containers and stowed away on boats and ships. Bridled House Geckos are human commensals (they benefit from their association with humans and human structures), and these nocturnal, insect-eating lizards are often found in populated areas with bug-attracting outdoor lighting.

I have observed non-native Bridled House Geckos in both the Hawaiian Islands and in the Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica. I spotted this Bridled House Gecko below on the walls and ceiling outside of my hotel room one night in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

Bridled House Geckos are brown to pinkish brown in color with uniform to marbled patterning, and they have large toe pads and the bulging, lidless eyes that are typical of nocturnal Geckos (Family Gekkonidae). Their enlarged, adhesive toe pads allow them to easily climb smooth vertical surfaces and run around on ceilings, which makes them a real challenge to capture if they sneak into your house or hotel room.

Although these characteristics can be difficult to see without a close-up view, Bridled House Geckos also have vertically elliptical pupils and non-retractable claws. Unlike some other Geckos such as the Mediterranean House Gecko (H. turcicus), Bridled House Geckos do not have large, conspicuous tubercles on their back, but they do have distinctive widely spaced rings of pointed tubercles encircling their tail.

Although they are also found in Costa Rica, the similar Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) and the Fox, Indo-Pacific, or Boat Gecko (H. garnotii) lack these rings of tubercles on their tail and instead have only a single row of saw-toothed scales along either side of their tail.

Although some do hiss when angry, lizards are generally silent. However, Geckos are a notable exception, and they are amazingly vocal for such small lizards. The loud, chirping calls of Bridled House Geckos are a common sound on warm, humid evenings in the tropics, and since they will sneak into houses, you may even wake to find one chirping in your bedroom at night.