Feb 2011
Versicolored Emerald
Copyright: monacoeye • Folha Seca, Brazil • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Versicolored Emerald
Latin: Amazilia versicolor
Other: Versicoloured Emerald (UK) • Beija-flor-de-banda-branca (Br)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Southeast and northeast Brazil, Amazonia
Similar:
The Versicolored Emerald was one of the more common types of hummingbird at Jonas’ feeders in Folha Seca, but I found them difficult to identify, so these photos are from the very-likely-but-not-certain bin.
Identification signs for the Versicolored Emerald include reddish lower bill, white mark behind eye, whitish belly, dusky blue subterminal band on tail. There are also regional variations.
More photos...Comments
Black Faced Grosbeak
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • El Valle, Panama, May
Bird name: Black Faced Grosbeak
Latin: Caryothraustes poliogaster
Other: Picogrueso carinegro (Es)
Family: Cardinalidae • Grosbeaks
Range: South Mexico to Panama
Similar:
The Black-faced Grosbeak is yellowish below, with greenish upperparts and black face. Seen here in El Valle.More photos...
Blue and White Swallow
12 February 2011 10:09 Filed in: Hirundinidae Swallows & Martins Swallows Brazil Rio Grande do Sul Lagoa do Peixe Mostardas Sao Paulo Ubatuba Rio de Janeiro Itatiaia Panama Chiriqui Los Quetzales
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Mostardas, Brazil, November.
Bird name: Blue and White Swallow
Latin: Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
Other: Golondrina barranquera (Es) • Andorinha-pequena-de-casa (Br)
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows
Range: Widespread South America, also Panama
Similar:
The Blue-and-White Swallow is a small swallow, with dark, blue-black and brown upperparts and white below except for under tail. NB dark rump.
The Blue-and-White Swallow seems one of the most widespread swallows in Latin America, seen frequently in Brazil, in Mostardas and Itatiaia, and then again in the highlands of Panama.
Below, a Blue-and-white Swallow in the Chiriqui highlands, Panama, May.
More photos...Mangrove Swallow
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chagres River, April 2010
Bird name: Mangrove Swallow
Latin: Tachycineta albilinea
Other:
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows
Range: Widespread Middle America, incl Panama
Similar:
The Mangrove Swallow is a small swallow, identified in Panama by its white underparts and white facial marks in front of the eyes. It also has a white rump. The rest is dark brown or glossy blue black.
These Mangrove Swallows were beside the Chagres River in Gamboa.
More photos...
Palm Tanager
12 February 2011 09:27 Filed in: Thraupidae Tanagers Brazil Rio de Janeiro Itatiaia Sao Paulo Ubatuba Panama Soberania National Park Canopy Tower Panama City Metropolitan Park
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, April 2010
Bird name: Palm Tanager
Latin: Thraupis palmarum
Other: Sanhaçu-do-coqueiro (Br) • Tangara (Es), Azulejo de palmeras
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Guatemala to Paraguay & S Brazil
Similar: Olive-green, Sayaca Tanager (Brazil), Plain Tanager (Panama)
The Palm Tanager is one of the duller looking tanagers, in Brazil mostly uniform olive-green, with lighter patches on wing and darker tips, head lighter and greener, with only a black iris and bill which stand out.
In Panama, at least one pair roosted in the eves of the Canopy Tower. The Panama Palm Tanager (above) has brown wing tips and tail and is far less uniform and green than its Brazilian counterpart (lowest photo, next page). On close examination there was an almost purplish sheen to some of the back and chest of the birds in Panama.
In Brazil, the Olive-green tanager is yellower below, with distinct upper and lower halves, and fluffier. The Sayaca Tanager is obviously blue, not green, but from below in some lights, when both are pale can look similar - the same goes for Golden-chevroned Tanager, which can also look similar from below.
The Palm Tanager is fairly common throughout most of the northern half of South America and extending into Central America and the Caribbean. Found near houses as well as other areas.
Directly below, a Palm Tanager in Panama.
Below, a Palm Tanager in Ubatuba, Brazil, Nov 2009. Brazilian Palm Tanagers were a uniform greenish colour and lacked the brown wing of the Panama variety.
More photos...Alpine Accentor
Copyright: monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes, France • Dec Jan Feb 2009 2010 2011
Bird name: Alpine Accentor
Latin: Prunella collaris
Other: Accenteur Alpin (Fr) • Alpenbraunelle (De) • Acentor alpino (Es) • Sordone (It) • Ferreirinha-alpina (Pt)
Family: Prunellidae • Accentors
Range: Eurasia, N Africa above 2000m - Alps, Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada, Carpathians, Atlas etc. Winters at lower elevations, including near Monaco.
Similar: House Sparrow
There seem to be many Alpine Accentors about this year in the Alpes Maritimes, not far from the coast in the mountains.
The Alpine Accentor has yellow on the lower bill, black and white stippled throat, rufous streaking to sides of belly, line of white triangles on black on closed wings and greyish streaked upperparts. Overall a beautiful combination of subtle colouring and shades.
Alpine Accentors come to feeders in the mountains and seem extremely tame when they appear, perhaps used to receiving crumbs. They tend to hop around on the rocks or make short flights around a small area. Near Monaco this year there is a group of about six of them in one spot.
More photos...
European Robin
09 February 2011 20:05 Filed in: Muscicapidae Flycatchers Old World Flycatchers Chats France Alpes Maritimes Cote d'Azur Monaco
Copyright: monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes, France • Feb 2011
Bird name: European Robin
Latin: Erithacus rubecula
Other: Robin (UK) • Rouge-gorge familier (Fr) • Rotkehlchen (De) • Petirrojo (Es) • Pettirosso (It) • Pisco-de-peito-ruivo (Pt)
Family: Muscicapidae • Chats, Old World Flycatchers
Range: Widespread Eurasia, also N AFrica
Similar:
The European Robin is particularly visible in Monaco and the Alpes Maritimes in the winter. Also a typical garden bird in the UK, much loved and traditionally pictured on Christmas cards.
The adult Robin has a very characteristic red breast and face and is unlikely to be confused with any other bird in Europe.
More photos...Black Chested Buzzard Eagle
07 February 2011 17:43 Filed in: Accipitridae Eagles Buzzards Birds of Prey Argentina Patagonia Tierra del Fuego
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Lago Roca, Jan 2010
Bird name: Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Latin: Geranoaetus melanoleucus
Other: Aguila mora, águila chilena • Águia-chilena (Br)
Family: Accipitridae • Eagles, Birds of Prey
Range: Venezuela to S Chile, SE South America
Similar:
Many thanks to Becky for sending in this great set of pictures from Tierra del Fuego. This lovely picture of a juvenile Black-chested Buzzard Eagle was taken beside the road at Lago Roca in January.More photos...
Magellanic Penguin
07 February 2011 17:43 Filed in: Spheniscidae Penguins Argentina Patagonia Tierra del Fuego Chicks, Ducklings, Fledglings etc
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Isla Martillo, Jan 2010
Bird name: Magellanic Penguin
Latin: Spheniscus magellanicus
Other: Pingüino de Magallanes (Es) • Pinguim-de-magalhães (Br)
Family: Spheniscidae • Penguins
Range: S South America
Similar:
A superb set of photos of Magellanic Penguins with chicks or juveniles. Photographed by Becky on Isla Martillo, aka Isla de Los Pingüinos, in January.
Magellanic Penguins are one of four types of banded penguin which all have some type of black line across the neck or chest.
More photos...Gentoo Penguin
07 February 2011 17:43 Filed in: Spheniscidae Penguins Argentina Patagonia Tierra del Fuego Chicks, Ducklings, Fledglings etc
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Isla Martillo, Jan 2010
Bird name: Gentoo Penguin
Latin: Pygoscelis papua
Other: Pingüino papúa, pingüino de vincha, pingüino juanito (Es) • pinguim-gentoo (Br)
Family: Spheniscidae • Penguins
Range: Widespread Southern Ocean
Similar:
This group of Gentoo Penguins was seen among a larger colony of Magellanic Penguins on Isla Martillo.
Adult Gentoo Penguins have orange bills and a white patch above the eye. Gentoo is pronounced with a soft ‘g’ like gentle.More photos...
Imperial Shag
07 February 2011 17:43 Filed in: Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants Shags Argentina Patagonia Tierra del Fuego
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Los Lobos, Jan 2010
Bird name: Imperial Shag
Latin: Leucocarbo atriceps
Other: Cormorán imperial (Es) • Blue-eyed Shag or Cormorant
Family: Phalacrocoracidae • Cormorants, Shags
Range: Antarctica, South America, Falklands, Heard, South Shetland Is
Similar:
A large colony of Imperial Shags seen on Isla de Los Lobos by Becky.
Imperial shags are part of the Blue-eyed Shag complex whose species boundaries are being continually redefined.
More photos...Rock Shag
07 February 2011 17:43 Filed in: Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants Shags Argentina Patagonia Tierra del Fuego
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Los Lobos, Jan 2010
Bird name: Rock Shag
Latin: Phalacrocorax magellanicus
Other: Cormorán de cuello negro (Es)
Family: Phalacrocoracidae • Cormorants, Shags
Range: Chile, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, Uruguay, Falklands
Similar:
Rock Shags can quickly be identified by their red facial skin. Seen here on Isla de Los Lobos in the Beagle Channel by Becky.
Upland Goose
07 February 2011 17:43 Filed in: Anatidae Geese Shelducks Argentina Patagonia Tierra del Fuego Chicks, Ducklings, Fledglings etc
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ushuaia, Jan 2010
Bird name: Upland Goose
Latin: Chloephaga picta
Other: Magellan Goose • Cauquén común (Es)
Family: Anatidae • Geese
Range: Argentina, Patagonia, Falklands, also Uruguay
Similar:
Nice pics of Upland Geese with goslings, near Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina.
The male Upland Goose has white head and neck whereas the female is brown with black-striped wings.
More photos...Ashy Headed Goose
07 February 2011 17:42 Filed in: Anatidae Geese Argentina Tierra del Fuego Patagonia Chicks, Ducklings, Fledglings etc
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ushuaia, Jan 2010
Bird name: Ashy-headed Goose
Latin: Chloephaga poliocephala
Other: Cauquén cabeza gris (Es)
Family: Anatidae • Geese
Range: Southern Cone - Chile, Argentina, Patagonia, Falklands
Similar:
A great portrait of an Ashy-headed Goose above on the beach in Ushuaia. Pictured below in family group with goslings.
More photos...Plush Crested Jay
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Iguazu, July 2010
Bird name: Plush Crested Jay
Latin: Cyanocorax chrysops
Other: Urraca de cresta alborotada (Es) • Gralha-de-crista-negra (Br)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Jays
Range: Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, NE Argentina, Pantanal.
Similar:
A beautiful Plush-crested Jay on the Argentinian side of Iguazu falls. Bluish black upperside and yellow belly.
More photos...
Common Starling
07 February 2011 00:09 Filed in: Sturnidae Starlings France Alpes Maritimes Cote d'Azur Monaco Camargue Nice Iceland Reykjavik Romania Danube Delta
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Monaco • February
Bird name: Common Starling
Latin: Sturnus vulgaris
Other: European Starling, Starling (UK) • L'Étourneau sansonnet (Fr) • Star (De) • Estornino pinto (Es) • Storno (It) • Estorninho-comum (Pt)
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings
Range: Temperate Europe, W Asia, migrates south in the winter.
Similar: Blackbird, Spotless Starling (Spain, Portugal, Corsica)
Migrating Starlings are a common sight in cities in the winter, gathering in very large flocks and filling the trees of city squares. Large numbers arrive in Monaco in the winter, but authorities set up an anti-starling campaign over the last few years, with vans blasting hawk sounds, which seems to have had an effect.
Starlings are not just city birds, but also found in very large groups in the countryside and are a common garden bird. Like many other winter residents, near Monaco they favour olive trees and clear trees of all remaining olives in the winter months.
In the winter, birds are spotted: glossy dark with light tips to feathers. In the summer they lose this spotting. They have yellow bills, which darken in the winter, and so can be confused with blackbirds if only seen quickly.
A Common Starling in Reykjavik, May.
More photos...Dark Faced Ground Tyrant
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ushuaia, Jan 2010
Bird name: Dark-faced Ground Tyrant
Latin: Muscisaxicola maclovianus
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers, Ground-tyrants
Range: Chile, Argentina, Falklands to Uruguay, Peru
Similar:
This seems most likely to be a Dark-faced Ground Tyrant, but is not typical, so ID should not be relied upon.
Chilean Skua
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Isla Martillo, Jan 2010
Bird name: Chilean Skua
Latin: Stercorarius chilensis
Other: Págalo chileno, escúa común, escúa chileno (Es)
Family: Stercorariidae • Skuas
Range: Argentina, Chile to Brazil, Peru
Similar: Brown Skua
These are most probably Chilean Skuas, (above with Magellanic Penguins behind) spotted by Becky down in Tierra del Fuego. Dark cap, cinnamon throat.
More photos...
Dolphin Gull
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Isla de Los Lobos, Jan 2010
Bird name: Dolphin Gull
Latin: Leucophaeus scoresbii
Other: Gaviota austral, gaviota gris (Es)
Family: Laridae • Gulls
Range: Chile, Argentina, Falklands coasts
Similar:
You can recognise the Dolphin Gull at the bottom of this picture by its bright red bill.
Black Faced Ibis
Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • El Calafate, Jan 2010
Bird name: Black-faced Ibis
Latin: Theristicus melanopis
Other: Ibis de cara negra (Es) • Íbis-de-cara-negra (Br)
Family: Threskiornithidae • Ibises
Range: Southern and western South America, incl. Argentina, Chile
Similar:
Black-faced Ibis seen on the coast of Patagonia in El Calafate, in January.
Violaceous Euphonia
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ubatuba, 2009
Bird name: Violaceous Euphonia
Latin: Euphonia violacea
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Euphonias
Range: N, SC South America, including Brazil Atlantic Forest
Similar: Thick-billed Euphonia, Purple-throated Euphonia
We saw these Violaceous Euphonias at Jonas’ fruit feeders in Ubatuba. Pretty much identical to the Thick-billed Euphonia, which fortunately is not in range on the coast of Brazil.
The male Violaceous Euphonia has blue-black upperparts and yellow-orange underparts and forehead. The female is greenish above and yellowish below.
More photos...Common Merganser
06 February 2011 11:27 Filed in: Anatidae Ducks Sea Ducks Diving Ducks Sawbills Mergansers Switzerland Geneva Chicks, Ducklings, Fledglings etc
Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Geneva, Switzerland • June • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Common Merganser
Latin: Mergus merganser
Other: Goosander (UK) • Harle Bièvre, Grand Harle (Fr) • Gänsesäger (De) • Smergo comune (It)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks, Mergansers
Range: Widespread North America, Eurasia
SImilar: Red-breasted Merganser
The Goosander, or Common Merganser, is found in northern parts of the world - its reach does not extend down to the Côte d'Azur, however. These Goosanders were photographed by Lake Geneva.
The male, above, has dark upperparts, and light underparts. Females and juveniles have reddish heads and greyish bodies. Juveniles have a white line below the eye.
More photos...Great Tit
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Monaco, February
Bird name: Great Tit
Latin: Parus major
Other: Mésange Charbonnière (Fr) • Kohlmeise (De) • Carbonero común (Es) • Cinciallegra (It) • Chapim-real (Pt)
Family: Paridae • Tits
Range: Europe, Asia, North Africa
SImilar: Coal Tit
The Great Tit is one of the most visible small birds in Monaco and the Cote d’Azur all year round, and the most common tit in Europe. This one was taken through the window glass on my balcony.
The male Great Tit has a larger black stripe down the chest and belly than the female. The Coal Tit is similar but has a white patch on back of head and no chest and belly stripe.
Giant Cowbird
05 February 2011 22:29 Filed in: Icteridae Icterids Cowbirds Brazil Iguaçu Brood Parasites Panama Summit Gardens Los Quetzales
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Iguaçu, Brazil 2006
Bird name: Giant Cowbird
Latin: Molothrus oryzivorus
Other: Iraúna-grande (Br)
Family: Icteridae • Cowbirds
Range: S Mexico through N South America
Similar: Great Tailed Grackle
The Giant Cowbird is a brood parasitic icterid, laying its eggs in the nests of oropendolas and caciques. It is found from Central America to the northwestern half of South America and to a lesser extent the southern part of Brazil.
The Giant Cowbird is a large bird (40 cm) - it looks a bit similar to the Great-tailed Grackle in Panama, but the latter has a much thinner bill. The adult male is larger and shiny blue-black, the female browner and smaller. Irises can be red or yellow, depending on regional differences, also in some regions males tend to have red irises and females yellow irises.
Great-tailed Grackles have thinner bills.
Below, a Giant Cowbird in the Canal zone of Central Panama, 2010
More photos...Bronzed Cowbird
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Bronzed Cowbird
Latin: Molothrus aeneus
Other:
Family: Icteridae • Cowbirds
Range: SW USA to Panama
Similar: Shiny Cowbird
The male Bronzed Cowbird is dark with a big ruff, the female is lighter.
Bronzed Cowbirds should have bright red irises - none of these photo show this feature which makes me think they may not be Bronzed Cowbirds!
More photos...Great Tailed Grackle
04 February 2011 15:38 Filed in: Icteridae Icterids Grackles Panama Costa del Este Ammo Ponds Los Quetzales
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Great Tailed Grackle
Latin: Quiscalus mexicanus
Other:
Family: Icteridae • Grackles
Range: S USA through W, N South America
Similar: Giant Cowbird
The Great-tailed Grackle is seen fairly in Panama frequently, around habitations, roadsides, fields etc.
The male Great-tailed Grackle is black with yellow irises and a long tail. The female is smaller and brown with dark line around eye.
More photos...Chestnut Headed Oropendola
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Chestnut Headed Oropendola
Latin: Psarocolius wagleri
Other:
Family: Icteridae • Oropendolas
Range: Mexico to Ecuador
Similar:
I saw a tree full of pendulous Chestnut-headed Oropendola nest on my first day in Cerro Azul. A wonderful sight. And individual birds were not infrequent on forest walks. Pictured above attending a fruit feeder in Canopy Lodge. They make noises like water glooping in a cave! Fantastic blue iris.
More photos...Yellow Rumped Cacique
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Yellow Rumped Cacique
Latin: Cacicus cela
Other:
Family: Icteridae • Caciques
Range: Panama to SE South America
Similar:
Yellow rumped Caciques! With nest-building below.
More photos...Scarlet Rumped Cacique
04 February 2011 15:38 Filed in: Icteridae Icterids Caciques Panama Soberania National Park Canopy Tower
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, April 2010
Bird name: Scarlet Rumped Cacique
Latin: Cacicus microrhynchus
Other: Split from C. uropygialis
Family: Icteridae • Caciques
Range: Honduras to Panama
Similar:
Scarlet Rumped Cacique spotted from the observation deck of the Canopy Tower.
More photos...Yellow Tailed Oriole
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Yellow Tailed Oriole
Latin: Icterus mesomelas
Other:
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles
Range: Mexico to Peru
Similar: Yellow-backed Oriole
The Yellow-tailed Oriole. NB yellow on underside of tail diagnostic.More photos...
Yellow Backed Oriole
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Yellow Backed Oriole
Latin: Icterus chrysater
Other:
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles
Range: S Mexico to Venezuela
Similar: Yellow-billed Oriole
A blurry Yellow-backed Oriole in Gamboa.More photos...
Yellow Billed Cacique
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Yellow Billed Cacique
Latin: Amblycercus holosericeus
Other:
Family: Icteridae • Caciques
Range: Mexico to N Bolivia
Similar:
Somewhere in there was a Yellow-billed Cacique - a black bird with yellow bill. But just a record shot…
Crested Oropendola
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Crested Oropendola
Latin: Psarocolius decumanus
Other: japu-preto (Br)
Family: Icteridae • Oropendolas
Range: N, SC, South America, also Panama
Similar: Chestnut-headed Oropendola
This was very likely a Crested Oropendola - a predominantly black bird with yellow bill. But just a record shot.
Peregrine Falcon
03 February 2011 19:12 Filed in: Falconidae Falcons Birds of Prey France Cote d'Azur Alpes Maritimes Monaco
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Alpes Maritimes, January
Bird name: Peregrine Falcon
Latin: Falco peregrinus
Other: Faucon pèlerin (Fr) • Wanderfalke (De) • Halcón peregrino (Es) • Falco pellegrino (It) • Falcão-peregrino (Pt)
Family: Falconidae • Falcons
Range: Widespread worldwide
Similar:
The Peregrine Falcon is a powerful and fast bird which preys on other smaller birds. There is currently a pair nesting in the mountains above Monaco so one can often get a good view.
This was one of a pair I saw at the weekend. They often whizz past too fast for a crisp shot, but here he was circling up on a thermal, before shooting off down the mountainside. Females are larger than males, I think the bird pictured is a male.
Peregrines are reportedly able to reach speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph) and are thus the world’s fastest animal.
There are many different subspecies of Peregrine Falcon worldwide. The local subspecies, pictured above, and found around the Mediterranean, is Falco peregrinus brookei, also known as the Maltese Falcon.
More photos...Coal Tit
Copyright: TH/ monacoeye • Do not copy • Alpes Maritimes, France, winter.
Bird name: Coal Tit
Latin: Periparus ater
Other: includes Spot-winged Tit - P. melanolophus • Parus ater • Mésange Noire (Fr) • Tannenmeise (De) • Carbonero garrapinos (Es) • Cincia mora (It)
Family: Paridae • Tits
Range: Widespread Eurasia
Similar: Great Tit
Thanks to Tania for sending the photos of the Coal Tits at her winter feeders.
The Coal Tit is distinguishable by white wing bars and white mark on back of head.More photos...
Fine Spotted Woodpecker
Copyright: DJ/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Senegal,
Bird name: Fine Spotted Woodpecker
Latin: Campethera punctuligera
Other:
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Central and West Africa
Similar:
Many thanks to Danielle for sending in these photos from her recent trips to Senegal! Above a pair of Fine-spotted Woodpeckers - the male, on the right, has a red moustachial stripe.More photos...
Western Red Billed Hornbill
Copyright: DJ/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Senegal,
Bird name: Western Red Billed Hornbill
Latin: Tockus kempi
Other:
Family: Bucerotidae • Hornbills
Range: Senegambia to S Mauritania and W Mali. Africa
Similar:
Western Red Billed Hornbill is a new taxon split from Red-billed Hornbill.
African Grey Woodpecker
Copyright: DJ/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Senegal,
Bird name: African Grey Woodpecker
Latin: Dendropicos goertae
Other:
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Mauritania & Senegal to W Ethiopia to NW Tanzania, S Gabon, NW Angola & SC Zaire
Similar:
An African Grey Woodpecker spotted in Senegal by Danielle.
Rose Ringed Parakeet
Copyright: DJ/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Senegal,
Bird name: Rose Ringed Parakeet
Latin: Psittacula krameri
Other:
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots, Parakeets
Range: W, C, E Africa, Pakistan to Burma
Similar:
A pair of Rose-ringed Parakeets in Senegal - male to the right.
Yellow Crowned Gonolek
Copyright: DJ/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Senegal,
Bird name: Yellow Crowned Gonolek
Latin: Laniarius barbarus
Other:
Family: Malaconotidae • Bushshrikes
Range: West Africa
Similar:
The Yellow-crowned Gonolek in Senegal.
Yellow Thighed Finch
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Yellow Thighed Finch
Latin: Pselliophorus tibialis
Other:
Family: Emberizidae • New World Sparrows
Range: Costa Rica, western Panama
Similar: Yellow-Green Finch, Slaty Finch
The adult Yellow-thighed Finch is generally instantly recognisable with its yellow thigh pompom, black head and grey body, although the juvenile may have no yellow thigh. Also can be difficult to see in the rain.
These Yellow-thighed Finches came to eat seed in the mountains above Los Quezales.More photos...
Slaty Flowerpiercer
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Slaty Flowerpiercer
Latin: Diglossa plumbea
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Flowerpiercers
Range: Costa Rica and western Panama
Similar:
The Slaty Flowerpiercer has a uniquely shaped bill adapted to its special method of feeding. The lower half of the bill is upturned and the upper bill has a small downturned hook at the tip. Slaty Flowerpiercers use this to puncture the base of flowers and access the nectar.
The male is a small dark grey bird and the female brownish. If you can see the bill there can be no doubt as to the identification in Panama. Slaty Flowerpiercers were common among the garden flowers of Los Quetzales lodge.
More photos...Streaked Saltator
02 February 2011 12:19 Filed in: Cardinalidae Grosbeaks Saltators Panama Gamboa El Valle Valle de Anton Chiriqui Finca Hartmann
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Streaked Saltator
Latin: Saltator striatipectus
Other:
Family: Cardinalidae • Saltators
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Streaked Flycatcher
The Streaked Saltator has similar colouring to the Streaked Flycatcher, but, of course, a completely different shaped bill.
More photos...
Slaty Finch
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Slaty Finch
Latin: Haplospiza rustica
Other: Gorrión pizarra (Es), Pizarra, Pinzón pizarroso (Mex)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters
Range: S Mexico to Venezuela, Bolivia
Similar:
The Slaty Finch is a little shy but I saw it coming to eat seed a couple of times near Cerro Punta, once at the Finca Dracula orchid farm seed feeder below and once when we put out some seed at Los Quetzales cabin number 8. The guide said that Slaty Finches were usually difficult to see.
The Slaty Finch is an all-grey bird found in the highlands.More photos...
Yellow Faced Grassquit
02 February 2011 12:19 Filed in: Thraupidae Tanagers Seedeaters Grassquits Panama Cerro Azul El Valle Valle de Anton Chiriqui Finca Hartmann
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Yellow Faced Grassquit
Latin: Tiaris olivaceus
Other: Semillerito cariamarillo, Tomeguín de la tierra, viudito (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters, Grassquits
Range: Greater Antilles, E Mexico to Venezuela
Similar:
The male Yellow-faced Grassquit is quickly recognised by its distinctive face pattern, which almost resembles a nuclear hazard sign when viewed face on, with three yellow marks - two above the eyes and one below the chin. The female, directly below, is greyer with only a hint of the same pattern.
We saw Yellow-faced Grassquits frequently in Panama, in diverse habitats.
More photos...Tropical Mockingbird
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chiriqui, Panama 2010
Bird name: Tropical Mockingbird
Latin: Mimus gilvus
Other: Sinsonte, cenzontle tropical (Es) • Sabiá-da-praia (Br)
Family: Mimidae • Mockingbirds
Range: S Mexico to El Salvador, N, E South America
The Tropical Mockingbird which is endemic west of El Salvador and east of Colombia, was apparently introduced to Panama - I saw them at the Ammo Dump and in Chiriqui.
Light grey underneath with dark eye stripe and light iris.More photos...
Hawfinch
Copyright: TH/monacoeye • Do not copy with permission • Alpes Maritimes, November
Bird name: Hawfinch
Latin: Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Other: Gros-bec casse-noyaux (Fr) • Kernbeißer (De) • Picogordo (Es) • Frosone (It) • Bico-grossudo (Pt)
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Grosbeaks
Range: Widespread Eurasia, also N Africa
The Hawfinch is a wary bird, easy to identify by its massive bill. Thanks to Tania for sending this picture of a visitor to her mountain feeder in November.More photos...