Morning Encounter with the "Wichiji"/ Encuentro matutino con el "Wichiji"

This photographic sequence was captured very early in the morning, around 6:30 a.m., from the terrace of the hotel where I was staying in Ciudad Bolívar. At that hour, the atmosphere was fresh and tranquil, and the terrace became an attractive spot to take in the landscape and listen to the morning birds, as it received numerous visits from curious and lively birds.

Esta secuencia fotográfica fue capturada muy temprano en la mañana, alrededor de las 6:30 a.m., desde la terraza del hotel donde me hospedaba en Ciudad Bolívar. A esa hora, el ambiente estaba fresco y tranquilo, y la terraza se convertía en un atractivo lugar para ver el paisaje y escuchar las aves matutins, ya que recibía numerosas visitas de pájaros curiosos y bulliciosos.

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The star of these images is the Pitangus sulphuratus, commonly known in our country as “cristofué.” However, I prefer the more southern, onomatopoeic name, free of religious connotations: “wichiji.” This name evokes its characteristic call, which seems to repeat its own name.

El ave protagonista de estas imágenes es (pitangus sulphuratus), conocida popularmente en nuestro país como “cristofué”. Sin embargo, prefiero el nombre mas sureño, onomatopéyico y desprovisto de carga religiosa, llamado: “wichiji”. Este nombre evoca su canto característico, que parece repetir su propio nombre.

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After doing a bit of research, I discovered that this species is quite common and has a wide distribution across the American continent. Additionally, it has a variety of distinctive calls, including the one that gives it its popular name. Interestingly, the call I heard that morning was not the typical “wichiji,” but rather a less melodic one, which seemed to greet the new day with enthusiasm.

Después de investigar un poco, descubrí que esta especie es bastante común y tiene una distribución amplia a lo largo del continente americano. Además, cuenta con una variedad de cantos distintivos, incluyendo aquel que le da su nombre popular. Curiosamente, el canto que escuché aquella mañana no era precisamente el típico “wichiji”, sino otro menos melódico, que parecía saludar al nuevo día con entusiasmo.

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In popular belief, the visit of this bird is often associated with positive omens. It is said to announce the arrival of a pregnancy, an unexpected family visit, or even good news. Personally, I prefer to think that this little bird brought with it a hopeful message. So, with a touch of optimism, I decided to interpret its appearance as a sign of something very good for me 🙏🏾😊🪶.

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The photographs are my own, taken with my Canon 60D camera and an 18-135 mm STM lens.

Las fotografías son de mi autoría y fueron tomadas con mi cámara Canon 60D. Óptica 18-135 mm STM.

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