Jan 2011
Eurasian Siskin
31 January 2011 11:58 Filed in: Fringillidae Finches Siskins Monaco France Cote d'Azur Alpes Maritimes
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Monaco, January
Bird name: Eurasian Siskin
Latin: Carduelis spinus
Other: Tarin des aulnes (Fr) • Erlenzeisig (De) • Lúgano (Es) • Lucherino eurasiatico (It) • Lugre (Pt)
Family: Fringillidae • Finches
Range: Widespread Eurasia, also N Africa
Similar:
Just a record shot of a Eurasian Siskin in winter plumage.
Comments
Lesser Goldfinch
Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, El Valle, May 2010
Bird name: Lesser Goldfinch
Latin: Carduelis psaltria
Other: Dark-backed Goldfinch
Family: Fringillidae • Finches
Range: W USA to Peru
Similar:
The male Lesser Goldfinch in Panama has a dark cap and upperparts, with white mark on wing, and bright yellow underparts and throat. The female is a different shade of yellow below, white marks on darker wings and olive nape. Pinkish yellow bill. Bird pictured directly below may be juvenile because of the black marks on face - not sure. I found these tricky to ID. Thanks to Tom for the photo above.
More photos...Yellow Bellied Siskin
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Finca Hartmann, May 2010
Bird name: Yellow Bellied Siskin
Latin: Carduelis xanthogastra
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Siskins
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil. Bolivia
Similar:
The male Yellow-bellied Siskin is quite easy to identify - a dark hood reaching down to chest, bright yellow underparts, dark upperparts with a yellow patch on wing. This one was seen at the Finca Hartmann coffee farm in Chiriqui.
More photos...Variable Seedeater
Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Variable Seedeater
Latin: Sporophila corvina
Other: Split from S. americana • Semillerito aurito (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters
Range: E Mexico to Peru
Similar: Female Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Lesser Seed-Finch
The Variable Seedeaters was seen in many locations in Panama. The male, above, is black with white underparts and white collar. The female, below, is buffy with dark bill, but ID should probably be treated with caution.
Below, probable female Variable Seedeater.
More photos...Blue Black Grosbeak
29 January 2011 15:52 Filed in: Cardinalidae Grosbeaks Saltators Panama Soberania National Park Pipeline Road
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Blue Black Grosbeak
Latin: Cyanocompsa cyanoides
Other: Picogrueso negro (Es)
Family: Cardinalidae • Grosbeaks
Range: SE Mexico to Ecuador & W Amazonia
Similar:
An adult Blue-black Grosbeak feeding a brown juvenile below.
More photos...Black Striped Sparrow
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Black Striped Sparrow
Latin: Arremonops conirostris
Other:
Family: Emberizidae • New World Sparrows
Range: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, N Brazil
Similar:
The Black-striped Sparrow has a grey head with black stripes, light grey underparts and yellowish green upperparts. Great song which speeds up.More photos...
Buff Throated Saltator
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Buff Throated Saltator
Latin: Saltator maximus
Other: Trinca-ferro, Tempera-viola (Br) • Saltator gorjileonado (Br)
Family: Cardinalidae • Saltators
Range: Widespread Latin America
Similar:
The Buff-throated Saltator has a characteristic buff throat patch bordered by a thick band of black.
Crimson Backed Tanager
29 January 2011 14:44 Filed in: Thraupidae Tanagers Panama Cerro Azul Soberania National Park Ammo Ponds Gamboa El Valle Valle de Anton Canopy Lodge Nests
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Crimson Backed Tanager
Latin: Ramphocelus dimidiatus
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela
Similar: Ant tanagers
The Crimson-backed Tanager was one of the most common tanagers in central Panama - seen at feeders, around houses and fairly open forested areas.
Crimson-backed Tanagers are basically red birds with dark wings, but as there are quite a few red tanagers, with similar names, they can be surprisingly difficult to ID to the uninitiated.
Males have a characteristic partly white lower bill, whereas females’ bills are fairly uniform dark. Females are on the whole duller and browner.
More photos...Hepatic Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, El Valle, May 2010
Bird name: Hepatic Tanager
Latin: Piranga hepatica
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers - now Cardinalidae
Range: W USA to Central America, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
Similar: Female White-lined Tanager, Olive Tanager
The female Hepatic Tanager is yellow and male, below, is red - greyish around eye. I relied on the guide for identification of these.
More photos...Cherrie's Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Cherrie's Tanager
Latin: Ramphocelus costaricensis
Other: Scarlet-rumped Tanager • Tangara grupirroja (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: W Costa Rica, W Panama?
Similar: Passerini’s Tanager
These Cherrie’s Tanagers were seen in Chiriqui, western Panama. The male is black with a bright red rump and female is yellowish underneath with orange chest and rump and olive brown wings and tail.
They were often referred to as Scarlet-rumped Tanagers (the old name) which also includes Passerini’s Tanager.
More photos...
Blue Grey Tanager
29 January 2011 14:14 Filed in: Thraupidae Tanagers Panama Cerro Azul Soberania National Park Pipeline Road Gamboa Los Quetzales Chiriqui Canopy Lodge Canopy Tower
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, April, May 2010
Bird name: Blue Grey Tanager
Latin: Thraupis episcopus
Other: Blue-Gray Tanager (US) • Tangara azulada, azulejo de jardín (Es), sanhaço-da-amazônia (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: S Mexico to Bolivia, Amazonia
Similar: Palm Tanager
The Blue-grey Tanager is one of the most common and omnipresent garden tanagers in Panama. It is pale grey with blue on wings tail and back. The shade of blue varies from cobalt to turquoise. Seen from below the Blue-gray Tanager can look very white, like other Thraupis tanagers.More photos...
Flame Colored Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Flame Colored Tanager
Latin: Piranga bidentata
Other: Flame-coloured Tanager (UK) • Quitrique de espalda rayada (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers - now Cardinalidae
Range: W Mexico to Panama
Similar: White-winged Tanager
My taxi driver in Cerro Punta, who quickly got the bird-watching bug, spotted the above Flame-colored Tanager on the windowsill of a house we were passing. I was a little nervous walking into a stranger’s front garden and my prevarication probably missed me a really good shot.
The male Flame-colored Tanager is a fantastically bright orange-red bird. The female is yellow not red, but still has the white wingbars. Both male and female have a dark shadow behind the eye - this area is darker in the similar White-winged Tanager.More photos...
White Shouldered Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Metropolitan Park, April 2010
Bird name: White Shouldered Tanager
Latin: Tachyphonus luctuosus
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Amazonia
Similar: Grey Headed Tanager
Pictured here are male White-shouldered Tanagers, which are black with white shoulders. Females have grey heads, yellow underparts and olive upperparts. We saw these at the top of the Metropolitan Park in Panama City.More photos...
Grey Headed Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Pipeline Rd, April 2010
Bird name: Grey Headed Tanager
Latin: Eucometis penicillata
Other: Gray-headed Tanager (US) • Tangara cabecigrís (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: SE Mexico to SC Brazil & N Paraguay
Similar: Female White-shouldered Tanager
The Grey-headed Tanager has a grey head and bright yellow underparts. Olive green above. This one was seen on Pipeline Road.
White Lined Tanager
29 January 2011 14:13 Filed in: Thraupidae Tanagers Panama Soberania National Park Pipeline Road El Valle Valle de Anton
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: White Lined Tanager
Latin: Tachyphonus rufus
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama to NE Argentina
Similar: Cinnamon Becard, White-shouldered Tanager
We saw the White-lined Tanager on the Pipeline Road and in El Valle.
The male White-lined Tanager, above, is predominantly black with white usually only visible under wings in flight - just a hint visible on the edge of the closed wing. The female, below, is ruddy brown above, cinnamon below.
More photos...Red Throated Ant Tanager
29 January 2011 14:13 Filed in: Thraupidae Tanagers Panama Gamboa Metropolitan Park Panama City Pipeline Road Soberania National Park
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, April 2010
Bird name: Red Throated Ant Tanager
Latin: Habia fuscicauda
Other: Tangara rojisucia fuscicauda, Tangara hormiguera gorjirroja (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Mexico to Colombia
Similar: Red Crowned Ant Tanager
The male Red-throated Ant Tanager is red-brown with brighter red throat and red crown. The female, below, is olive-brown with brighter yellow throat and yellow crown. I relied on the guide’s ID for these.
More photos...Red Crowned Ant Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, El Valle, May 2010
Bird name: Red Crowned Ant Tanager
Latin: Habia rubica
Other: Tangara rojisucia rúbica, Tangara hormiguera coronirroja (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Widespread Latin America
Similar: Red-throated Ant Tanager
This pair of Red-crowned Ant Tanager visited the fruit feeder at Canopy Lodge, Panama, in April.
The male Red-crowned Ant Tanager is chestnut coloured with a red crown barely visible in the above photo. The female, below, is olive green. There are several olive-green tanagers, so it helped that they arrived together. Both male and females should have a dark line around their crests, which will distinguish them from the similar Red-throated Ant Tanager, but I relied on the guide’s identification for these.
More photos...Black and Yellow Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, El Valle, May 2010
Bird name: Black and Yellow Tanager
Latin: Chrysothlypis chrysomelas
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica and Panama
Similar: Red-throated Ant Tanager
A possible Black-and-yellow Tanager seen in Chiriqui…
White Throated Thrush
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, El Valle, May 2010
Bird name: White Throated Thrush
Latin: Turdus assimilis
Other:
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Widespread Middle America
Similar:
Just a blurry record shot of the White-throated Thrush in Panama.More photos...
Eastern Meadowlark
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Eastern Meadowlark
Latin: Sturnella magna
Other:
Family: Icteridae • Meadowlark
Range: SE Canada to NE Brazil
Similar:
I saw these Eastern Meadowlarks a couple of times in Panama, once in a meadow in El Valle, then again crossing the road near a house in Chiriqui.
More photos...Rosy Thrush Tanager
27 January 2011 11:04 Filed in: Thraupidae Tanagers Panama Metropolitan Park El Valle Valle de Anton
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, El Valle, May 2010
Bird name: Rosy Thrush Tanager
Latin: Rhodinocichla rosea
Other: Tangara pechirrosada, Tangara cuitlacoche (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: W Mexico to Venezuela
Similar:
These Rosy-thrush Tanagers were difficult to photograph - distant and in dark forest.
The male Rosy-thrush Tanager, above, is a superb shade of crimson underneath and black above, the female is more orange below. Both have a white stripe above the eye.
More photos...Tawny Crested Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, El Valle, May 2010
Bird name: Tawny Crested Tanager
Latin: Tachyphonus delatrii
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador
Similar: Male White-shouldered Tanager
Record shots of the Tawny-crested Tanager, female above, male below. The female is dark brown and the male is black with orange crest.
Silver Throated Tanager
26 January 2011 23:32 Filed in: Thraupidae Tanagers Panama Chiriqui Los Quetzales El Valle Valle de Anton Ecuador Pichincha Mindo El Monte Lodge
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Silver Throated Tanager
Latin: Tangara icterocephala
Other: Tangara garganta de plata (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador
Similar:
The Silver-throated Tanager is another beautiful tanager. Quite a small bird, and I didn’t see that many of them until I arrived at Los Quetzales in the Chiriqui western highlands of Panama, where they were attracted by the red berries of this fruiting tree.
The Silver-throated Tanager is mostly yellow with green and black markings on back, and distinctive whitish throat, which can look pale turquoise with flash. Throat bordered above with black line.
Also seen at El Monte Lodge, Mindo, northwest Ecuador.
Below, Silver-throated Tanager feeding on berries, Chiriqui, Panama, May.
More photos...Speckled Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Speckled Tanager
Latin: Tangara guttata
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica to N, NW Brazil
Similar:
The Speckled Tanager is a great looking tanager, but stayed in the shade when we saw it at Finca Hartmann in western Panama, so the colours are a little muted in the photo.
Scarlet Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Canopy Tower, Apr 2010
Bird name: Scarlet Tanager
Latin: Piranga olivacea
Other: Tángara rojinegra migratoria (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers - now Cardinalidae
Range: Breeds in North America, migrates to western Amazonia
Similar:
We saw this Scarlet Tanager from the observation tower of the Canopy Tower in central Panama. Presumably migrating, in late April. The female is yellow olive.More photos...
Plain Colored Tanager
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Canopy Tower, April 2010
Bird name: Plain Colored Tanager
Latin: Tangara inornata
Other: Plain-coloured Tanager (UK) •
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, northern Colombia
Similar: Palm Tanager
The Plain-colored Tanager is aptly named. It is a small tanager with not much in the way of colour except for a small patch of bright blue on each shoulder - which helps differentiate it from the Palm Tanager, which is also larger. They regularly visited the fruiting Cecropia tree beside the Canopy Tower.
More photos...Thick Billed Euphonia
26 January 2011 08:54 Filed in: Fringillidae Finches Euphonias Panama El Valle Valle de Anton Canopy Lodge
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, El Valle, May 2010
Bird name: Thick Billed Euphonia
Latin: Euphonia laniirostris
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Euphonias
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Bolivia, Amazonia
Similar: Yellow-throated Euphonia
The Thick-billed Euphonia is the feeder bird at the Canopy Lodge in El Valle, Panama. Literally dozens fly in, of all ages.
The male Thick-billed Euphonia is all yellow underneath and dark blue-black above, with yellow forecrown.
The female, directly below, is dull yellow green. A juvenile male, lowest photo, shows half way stage between female/juvenile plumage and adult male. White marks in the wings of adults can only be seen in flight (photo below).
A pair pictured below were collecting moss and spiderwebs to build a nest.
More photos...Golden Browed Chlorophonia
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Golden Browed Chlorophonia
Latin: Chlorophonia callophrys
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Chlorophonias
Range: Costa Rica and western Panama highlands
Similar:
A superbly coloured Golden-browed Chlorophonia seen in the Chiriqui highlands of western Panama.
An adult male is pictured above with yellow chest and stripe above eye, pale blue crest and neck, black mark near neck. The rest bright green.
Directly below, perhaps a juvenile feeding on a fruit, predominantly green with only a hint of the adult markings.
More photos...Spot Crowned Euphonia
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Spot Crowned Euphonia
Latin: Euphonia imitans
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Euphonias
Range: SW Costa Rica and Pacific W Panama (W Chiriqui)
Similar: Yellow Crowned Euphonia
Pictured is a female Spot-crowned Euphonia seen in Finca Hartmann in Chiriqui, Panama. She is identified by tawny cap and belly. The male is more difficult to ID - similar to the Yellow-crowned Euphonia but with spotting on crown.
More photos...Tawny Capped Euphonia
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, El Valle, May 2010
Bird name: Tawny Capped Euphonia
Latin: Euphonia anneae
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Euphonias
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, northwestern Colombia
Similar:
The Tawny-capped Euphonia is the only euphonia in its range with large tawny cap. We saw them a couple of time in El Valle, one with lemon yellow underparts and the other with a more orange colour below.More photos...
Yellow Crowned Euphonia
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Yellow Crowned Euphonia
Latin: Euphonia luteicapilla
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Euphonias
Range: Nicaragua, Costa Rica to eastern Panama
Similar: Spot Crowned Euphonia
A record shot of the Yellow-crowned Euphonia in central Panama. Looks like the Thick-billed Euphonia but with black throat and neck. Female, below, is yellow and olive.
More photos...Elegant Euphonia
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Elegant Euphonia
Latin: Euphonia elegantissima
Other: Blue-hooded Euphonia • Eufonia gorriazul (Es)
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Euphonias
Range: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, W Panama.
Similar:
I couldn’t coax this Elegant Euphonia further out from its tangle of branches near Lago Volcan in western Panama.
The Elegant Euphonia is the only euphonia in its range with pale blue hood, black face, yellow-orange below, dark upperparts. In Panama, only found in western highlands.
Collared Whitestart
26 January 2011 00:11 Filed in: Parulidae New World Warblers Whitestarts Panama Chiriqui Los Quetzales Chicks, Ducklings, Fledglings etc
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chirqui, May 2010
Bird name: Collared Whitestart
Latin: Myioborus torquatus
Other: Collared Redstart
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Costa Rica and Western Panama highlands
Similar:
In Panama found mostly in the western highlands above 1800m. The Collared Whitestart (more commonly known as Collared Redstart) is very colourful in the dark forest, and can be found near habitations.
The adult is unmistakable with yellow face and underside, dark above with dark neck, and raised rufous crest. Fast moving, so difficult to photograph in that respect, but not particularly shy either.
The above adult was one of two returning to feed an adorable chick, below, which lacks most of the yellow colouring. An endearing bird!
More photos...Black Cheeked Warbler
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Black Cheeked Warbler
Latin: Basileuterus melanogenys
Other:
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Costa Rica and Western Panama
Similar:
The Black-cheeked Warbler seems to have a feisty expression. We only saw one a couple of times in the high forest above Los Quetzales.
Black-cheeked Warblers are pale off-white below, light throat, with black face and white stripe above eye, a small rufous crown and white mark on wing. The rest dull olive brown.More photos...
Rufous Capped Warbler
26 January 2011 00:10 Filed in: Parulidae New World Warblers Panama El Valle Valle de Anton Chiriqui
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Rufous Capped Warbler
Latin: Basileuterus rufifrons
Other:
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Mexico to Panama
Similar:
The Rufous Capped Warbler has a rufous cap, white stripe above eye, black around eye, then more rufous and white below eye. Yellow underparts, olive green above.
Seen on most outings to the mountains of El Valle and once in Chiriqui.
More photos...
Tropical Parula
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Tropical Parula
Latin: Parula pitiayumi
Other: Chipe azul olivo tropical (Es)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Widespread Latin America, also S Texas
Similar: Flame Throated Warbler, Thick-billed Euphonia
The Tropical Parula is yellow below and dark above. Similar colour scheme to the Thick-billed Euphonia but lacks the yellow head patch, and completely different bill.
Only seen once in Panama, at Lago Volcan in Chiriqui.More photos...
Flame Throated Warbler
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Flame Throated Warbler
Latin: Parula gutturalis
Other:
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Costa Rica and Western Panama highlands
Similar:
The Flame-throated Warbler is similar to its relative the Tropical Parula but white extends further up the belly, leaving only chest and neck orange-yellow.
I only saw the Flame-throated Warbler in the high mountain forest areas above Los Quetzales.More photos...
American Yellow Warbler
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, April 2010
Bird name: American Yellow Warbler
Latin: Dendroica aestiva
Other: Dendroica petechia • Yellow Warbler • Canario del manglar (Es)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Widespread N America to Mexico - migrates to Amazonia
Similar:
I guess this was a migrant American Yellow Warbler seen at the Ammo Ponds in Central Panama. American Yellow Warbler is the new IOC species name for the northern type of the Mangrove Warbler complex.
More photos...
Buff Rumped Warbler
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010
Bird name: Buff Rumped Warbler
Latin: Phaeothlypis fulvicauda
Other:
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia
Similar:
We saw this Buff-rumped Warbler on the Finca Hartmann in Chiriqui, western Panama. It was not far from a stream and scurried along the ground ahead of us as we approached, pausing on mounds. The guide said that they were not very common.More photos...
Pallid Swift
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Monaco, July 2010
Bird name: Pallid Swift
Latin: Apus pallidus
Other: Martinet pâle (Fr) • Vencejo pálido (Es) • Andorinhão-pálido (Pt) • Rondone pallido (It)
Family: Apodidae • Swifts
Range: Breeds around Med, Canaries etc - migrates to Africa, Asia
Similar: Common Swift
There are a good number of Pallid Swift in Nice and Monaco, but they look very similar to Common Swifts so are hard to differentiate easily. This individual was one of many swifts in a mixed flock that flies near the port throughout the summer in Monaco.
Markers distinguishing Pallid Swifts from Common Swifts include prominent dark “eye-liner”, ribbed chest, whiter neck patch, wide “hips”, shallow-forked tail, P1 primaries (the frontmost flight feather) shorter than P2, giving wing-tips a blunted appearance.
More photos...Java Sparrow
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Nice
Bird name: Java Sparrow
Latin: Lonchura oryzivora
Other:
Family: Estrildidae • Estrildid Finches
Range: Java, cage bird worldwide
Similar:
This Java Sparrow had escaped and found a home in the Parc Phoenix in Nice, picking up tiny crumbs of food given to the ducks. In native Java it is endangered as it is considered a pest to rice cultivation. But the Java Sparrow has been bred extensively as a cage bird in China and Japan, the USA (now banned in some places) and Europe.
The Java Sparrow has stunning colours and can’t really be mistaken for another bird.More photos...
Northern Harrier
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Camargue, Jan 2012
Bird name: Northern Harrier
Latin: Circus cyaneus
Other: Hen Harrier (UK) • Busard Saint-Martin (Fr) • Kornweihe (De) • Aguilucho pálido, Gavilán rastrero (Es) • Albanella reale (It) • Blauwe kiekendief (Nl) • Blå kärrhök (Sv) • Tartaranhão-azulado (Pt)
Family: Accipitridae • Harriers, Birds of Prey
Range: Europe, Asia
Similar:
Record shots of a Hen Harrier, the Circus cyaneus cyaneus subspecies of Northern Harrier, seen in January in the Camargue, flying low over salt marshes.
The IOC lump both US and Eurasian subspecies as Northern Harrier - the latter also describes just the US subspecies, C. c. hudsonius, split by some taxonomies.
Note white band on rump.
Short Tailed Swift
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ammo Dump, Panama, April 2010
Bird name: Short Tailed Swift
Latin: Chaetura brachyura
Other: Vencejo rabón (Es)
Family: Apodidae • Swifts
Range: Panama through Amazonia
Short-tailed Swifts seemed to be the most common sort in Panama. Identifiable by their apparent lack of tail.
There were one or two other types of swift pointed out at times - Costa Rican Swift, Band-rumped Swift, and the more easily identified White-collared Swift, which I had already seen in Brazil - but the photos are so distant and ambiguous that I’ll wait for a better opportunity before adding those entries to the site.
More photos...Common Sandpiper
02 January 2011 22:02 Filed in: Scolopacidae Waders Shorebirds Sandpipers France Camargue Cote d'Azur
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Camargue, France, Dec 2008
Bird name: Common Sandpiper
Latin: Actitis hypoleucos
Other: Andarríos chico (Es) • Chevalier guignette (Fr) • Piro piro piccolo (it) • Flussuferläufer (De) • Maçarico-das-rochas (Pt)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders, Sandpipers
Range: Breeding widespread Eurasia - migrates to Africa, Asia, Australasia, also Middle East
I really need some better photos of the Common Sandpiper!
Dusky Moorhen
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Perth, February 2010
Bird name: Dusky Moorhen
Latin: Gallinula tenebrosa
Other:
Family: Rallidae • Rails
Range: Widespread Australasia
Thanks to Tania for sending in this photo of a Dusky Moorhen seen in Perth, Australia.More photos...
Common Gallinule
02 January 2011 19:27 Filed in: Rallidae Rails Gallinules Panama Gamboa Brazil Lagoa do Peixe Chicks, Ducklings, Fledglings etc
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, April 2010
Bird name: Common Gallinule
Latin: Gallinula galeata
Other: Common Gallinule (US) • Polla Gris (Es), Polla de Agua • Galinha-d'água (Pt)
Family: Rallidae • Rails
Range: North America, South America, Hawaii
The IOC has adopted the split of Common Gallinule of Western Hemisphere from the Common Moorhen on the basis of morphological, genetic, and vocal differences (Groenenberg et al 2008, SACC).
So following the IOC naming system, these birds from Panama and Brazil pictured are therefore Common Gallinules, Gallinula galeata, and not Common Moorhens, which are restricted to Europe, Asia and Africa. If I had known at the time I might have got some better photos…
Common Moorhen
02 January 2011 19:20 Filed in: Rallidae Rails Gallinules Cote d'Azur France Danube Delta Romania Italy Camargue
Photo: monacoeye • Nice, Ventimiglia • Summer 2009
Bird name: Common Moorhen
Latin: Gallinula chloropus
Other: Gallinule Poule d'Eau (Fr) • Teichralle (De) • Polla Gris (Es), Polla de Agua • Galinha-d'água (Pt)
Family: Rallidae • Rails
Range: Eurasia, Africa, Indian Ocean islands, S, SE Asia to Philippines, N Mariana Is.
The Common Moorhen, has a distinctive red beak with yellow tip. Rails are aquatic birds but Moorhens' toes are not lobed, unlike Coots. One of the most commonly seen waterbirds - seen in Cote d’Azur, France, Danube Delta etc.
See Common Gallinule for the similar bird found in the Americas, recently split.
More photos...Ringed Teal
Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • September
Bird name: Ringed Teal
Latin: Callonetta leucophrys
Other: Cerceta de collar (Es) • Marreca-de-coleira (Br)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
Range: Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay.
Ringed Teal are found in South America but seen here out of context in Nice.More photos...
Pacific Reef Heron
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Perth, May 2008
Bird name: Pacific Reef Heron
Latin: Egretta sacra
Other: Eastern Reef Egret
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Southeast Asia to Australia and New Zealand
Possibly a Pacific Reef Heron? Yellow legs …
Domestic Chicken
Copyright: AS/AW/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Domestic Chicken
Latin: Gallus gallus domesticus
Other: Rooster, Cockerel (En) • Gallo doméstico, Pollo (Es) • Poule, Coq, Poulet domestique (Fr) • Polllo (It) • Haushuhn (De)
Family: Phasianidae • Pheasants
Range: Thailand or SE Asia originally, but introduced and bred worldwide.
A few photos of chickens from around the world. The chicken was probably domesticated from the Red Junglefowl, a type of pheasant, well over 10,000 years ago in the region of Thailand, and is now bred worldwide. The Red Junglefowl still carries the same species name Gallus gallus.
Below a Brahma Cockerel.
More photos...Nankeen Night Heron
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Perth, May 2008
Bird name: Nankeen Night Heron
Latin: Nycticorax caledonicus
Other: Rufous Night Heron
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Widespread Australasia
A Nankeen Night Heron spotted in a park in Perth by Tania.
European Serin
02 January 2011 18:07 Filed in: Fringillidae Finches France Alpes Maritimes Cote d'Azur Camargue Monaco
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Alpes Maritimes, France • Dec 2010
Bird name: European Serin
Latin: Serinus serinus
Other: Serin • Serin cini (Fr) • Verzellino (It) • verdecillo (Es) • Girlitz (De)
Family: Fringilliadae • Serins
Range: Central Europe, north Africa
The Serin is a small yellow bird, with very small bill and streaked flanks. It is the smallest of the Finches and closely related to the Canary.
At this time of year, many birds suddenly become more visible. More have migrated to the south coast for the winter, there is less foliage cover while at the same time food is scarce and needed to survive the cold weather.
With the Serin above, I saw Black Redstarts, Wrens, Alpine Accentors, a Kestrel and Common Buzzard in a very short space of time.More photos...
Cinnamon Teal
Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • September
Bird name: Cinnamon Teal
Latin: Anas cyanoptera
Other: Pato colorado (Es) • Marreca-carijó (Br)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
Range: W North America to S South America
Cinnamon Teal are found in the Americas but a male zoo bird is pictured here, for the record.
Western Cattle Egret
Copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France, January 2009 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Western Cattle Egret
Latin: Bubulcus ibis
Other: Héron Garde-Boeuf (Fr) • Garcilla bueyera (Es) • Garça-vaqueira (Pt) • Airone guardabuoi (It)
Family: Ardeidae • Egrets
Range: North America, South America, Africa, Southern Europe to Central Asia
The IOC has split the Cattle Egret into Western and Eastern forms, the latter being found in Australasia. These were seen in the Camargue in southern France, so are Western Cattle Egrets.
The Western Cattle Egret has a short yellowy orange bill, hairy under bill, yellow iris, dark feet (generally), orange patches in breeding plumage. Smallest of the white egrets.
Below: Camargue, July 2009
More photos...Bar Headed Goose
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Nice, 2010
Bird name: Bar Headed Goose
Latin: Anser indicus
Other: Oie à tête barrée (Fr) • Oca indiana (It)
Family: Anatidae • Geese
Range: Central Asian plateau, but feral birds in Europe
This Bar-headed Goose were seen at the Parc Phoenix in Nice. Although they keep a “collection” of ducks and geese, this may have been feral, as I have also seen one on the river in nearby Ventimiglia.More photos...
Eastern Cattle Egret
Copyright: TH/monacoeye • Australia, May 2008 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Eastern Cattle Egret
Latin: Bubulcus coromandus
Other:
Family: Ardeidae • Egrets
Range: South and East Asia, Australasia
The IOC has split the Cattle Egret into Western and Eastern forms. These were seen in Perth, Australia, so should be Eastern Cattle Egrets.More photos...
Grey Headed Chachalaca
01 January 2011 13:58 Filed in: Cracidae Chachalacas Guans Curassows Panama Gamboa El Valle Valle de Anton Canopy Lodge
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, April 2010
Bird name: Grey Headed Chachalaca
Latin: Ortalis cinereiceps
Other: Guacharaca de cabeza gris (Es)
Family: Cracidae • Chachalacas
Range: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, N Colombia
Similar: Plain Chachalaca
I always seemed to be battling the light when I saw Grey-headed Chachalacas in Panama. They were not that uncommon - I saw a pair walking ten feet in front of my cabin door at the Canopy Lodge at dusk, and on further investigation noticed them several other days lurking in the dense branches surrounding the hotel. We also saw a large group of them crashing through the trees at Gamboa Rainforest Centre.
They look similar to Plain Chachalacas, which I understand in Panama replace Grey-headed on the north Caribbean slope. Grey-headed Chachalacas have more chestnut colouring on the wing.More photos...
Red Legged Partridge
01 January 2011 13:58 Filed in: Phasianidae Pheasants Partridges Game birds France Alpes Maritimes Cote d'Azur
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission : Alpes Maritimes, September
Bird name: Red Legged Partridge
Latin: Alectoris rufa
Other: Perdiz roja (Es) • Perdiz-vermelha (Pt) • Perdrix rouge (Fr) • Pernice rossa (It)
Family: Phasianidae • Partridges
Range: Spain, Portugal, France, N Italy, UK (introduced)
Similar: Rock Partridge
A group of Red-legged Partridges spotted crossing the road at some distance. In the Alpes Maritimes, the Rock Partridge is also a possibility, and at this distance I couldn’t be sure of the ID. One differentiator is the collar of the two birds. The countryside is overrun with hunters at this time of the year, so it’s possible these were released.More photos...
Common Pheasant
01 January 2011 13:57 Filed in: Phasianidae Pheasants France Alpes Maritimes Cote d'Azur Chicks, Ducklings, Fledglings etc Game birds Introduced & Escaped
Copyright: TH/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Alpes Maritimes, June 2010
Bird name: Common Pheasant
Latin: Phasianus colchicus
Other: Faisán común (Es) • Faisan de Colchide (Fr) • Fagiano comune (It) • Fasan (De)
Family: Phasianidae • Pheasants
Range: Russia, China originally, naturalised France, UK, Germany, Balkans etc
Originally introduced as a game bird but now naturalised in central Europe and bred worldwide - there is a big mix of Common Pheasant breeds. Bottom photo shows two males squabbling.
The Common Pheasant is indeed not that uncommon around here, especially on some small islands off the Cote d’Azur, but often quite shy and will hop away from a path as one appears. Usually seen making its way through fairly dense undergrowth, sometimes vineyards. Male, unmistakeable gorgeous plumage and long tail, and red facial skin and wattles. The females lack the red face and are less colourful but also have long tails.
Many thanks to Tania for the photos.
More photos...Indian Peafowl
Copyright: TH/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Indian Peafowl
Latin: Phasianus colchicus
Other: Peacock (En) • Pavo real (Es) • Paon bleu (Fr) • Pavone comune (It) • Blaue Pfau (De)
Family: Phasianidae • Pheasants
Range: India originally, but introduced and bred worldwide.
What most of us know as a Peacock (stricly speaking the male) is an Indian Peafowl, originally from India and Sri Lanka but kept worldwide in parks and zoos. Peahens lack the spectacular colours and display. These were seen in Perth. The White Peacock is the same species and not an albino but leucistic and created through selective breeding.
More photos...