Copyright: monacoeye • Chiriqui, Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Scintillant Hummingbird
Latin: Selasphorus scintilla
Other: Colibrí scintilla (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica and western Chiriqui highlands in Panama.

Great little hummer this one, quite easy to see around Los Quetzales in the Chiriqui highlands of western Panama. The Scintillant Hummingbird above is either female or juvenile. Adult males, which flash a bright orange gorget, were less common - below in “more photos” is a record picture. The tail of the Scintillant Hummingbird has a rufous edge.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Chiriqui, Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Magnificent Hummingbird
Latin: Eugenes fulgens
Other: Colibrí Magnífico (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Texas to western Panama

The male Magnificent Hummingbird has a wonderful bright iridescent purple cap and emerald throat combination, when seen in the right light, with white post ocular spot and the rest green mostly.

This female (lowest photo in “more photos”) is dull underneath with some purple on throat, and similar postocular spot. Seen here in the western Chiriqui highlands of Panama.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Chiriqui, Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Throated Mountain Gem
Latin: Lampornis castaneoventris
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Western Panama (Grey-tailed Mountain-gem in Costa Rica)

The female White-throated Mountain Gem, below, is the looker in this pair. She has a lovely buff-orange colour underneath, with a similar black eye stripe to the male, and white postocular stripe, the is rest mostly greenish. The male, above, has a white throat , green chest, greyish belly and prominent black eye stripe with bluish tail.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Chiriqui, Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Fiery Throated Hummingbird
Latin: Panterpe insignis
Other: Colibrí Insigne (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica and high western mountains of Panama.

The fantastic fiery throat isn’t showing on this bird, but the characteristic dark blue back and white postocular spot can be seen. High mountains.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Chiriqui, Panama, 4 May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Volcano Hummingbird
Latin: Selasphorus flammula
Other: Colibrí volcán (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica and Chiriqui, Panama

This seems likely to be a Volcano Hummingbird although not much colour showing. The gorget is typically purple-grey-green. Seen near the Boquete trail.

Copyright: monacoeye • El Valle, Panama, 4 May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Stripe Throated Hermit
Latin: Phaethornis striigularis
Other: Ex. Little Hermit P. longuemareus
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Mexico to Ecuador and Venezuela

The Stripe-throated Hermit is the smallest of the Panamanian Hermits. It has a relatively short tail, which is often dipped when hovering to feed. It is brownish with zorro mask and more rufous above tail.

This one was seen in the El Valle de Anton region of Panama.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Canopy Tower, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy.

Bird name: Long Billed Hermit
Latin: Phaethornis longirostris
Other: Ex Long-tailed Hermit P. superciliosus
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Mexico to Ecuador and Venezuela

The Long-billed Hermit is brownish with light stripes above and below the eye. Two long white tail feathers, the rest of the tail is brown with a dark band and light fringing.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Chiriqui, Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Green Fronted Lancebill
Latin: Doryfera ludovicae
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador Bolivia and Venezuela

The Green-fronted Lancebill is not that easy to find. This one was perched above a deep-cut river in a dark, damp forest in the western highlands of Panama.

The Green-fronted Lancebill has a very long straight bill, is dull greenish mostly and greyish underneath. It has a small white spot behind the eye.

Below, in “more photos”, a Lancebill nest in the eves of a house.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Folha Seca, Brazil, 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Throated Mango
Latin: Anthracothorax nigricollis
Other: Mango de Garganta Negra (Es) • Beija-flor-de-veste-preta (Br)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Panama to Brazil

The Black-throated Mango female, below, is easily recognised by its black-on-white stripe which runs down from neck to tail. The male has a blue throat, with emerald border. Both have a purplish tail feathers.

The immature has rufous colouring around the face and throat, “see more photos” for one at the Canopy Tower in Panama.


More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Canopy Tower, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Tipped Sicklebill
Latin: Eutoxeres aquila
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

This White-tipped Sicklebill was seen near the Canopy Lodge in Panama. Not that easy to get a good view of this small bird feeding, though it is a regular visitor to heliconia. But it was easy to recognise here resting, by its extremely curved bill.

Copyright: monacoeye • Canopy Tower, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Rufous Tailed Hummingbird
Latin: Amazilia tzacatl
Other: Amazilia de Cola Rufa (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Mexico to Ecuador and Venezuela

The Rufous Tailed Hummingbird was perhaps the most widespread hummingbird seen on my trip to Panama. Similar to the Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, but only the tail is rufous, not the back. And only the lower part of the underside is white or grey. Underside of bill is mostly pinkish red.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Canopy Tower, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Vented Plumeleteer
Latin: Chalybura buffonii
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru

The White-vented Plumeleteer is a good-looking large hummingbird. The male is mostly green with a deep blue tail feathers and fluffy white vent feathers.

The female is a bit more difficult to identify - I think the bottom photo in “more photos” is one.

These were seen in the Canopy Tower and Valle de Anton in central Panama.


More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Canopy Tower, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Purple Crowned Fairy
Latin: Heliothryx barroti
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Mexico to Ecuador

Record shots of a very nice looking hummingbird, the Purple Crowned Fairy. Both male and female have pure white underneath, making them relatively easy to identify. The male has a bright violet forecrown, black eye stripe and bright green neck. The female has a green forecrown. The immature (see “more photos”) Purple-crowned Fairy has grey spotting to throat.

Seen here near the Canopy Tower in central Panama.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Canopy Tower, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Violet Bellied Hummingbird
Latin: Damophila julie
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

The male Violet-bellied Hummingbird, seen near the feeders at the Canopy Tower, is a real beauty with a bright indigo or violet belly and green head.

The female Violet-bellied Hummingbird is white underneath. The one below needs confirming.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Canopy Tower, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Blue Chested Hummingbird
Latin: Amazilia amabilis
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador

The Blue-chested Hummingbird is weakly coloured - the male has a bluish chest area and the female (directly below) is greyer underneath.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Canopy Lodge, Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Garden Emerald
Latin: Chlorostilbon assimilis
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica, Panama

Probably a male Garden Emerald.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Canopy Tower, Panama, April 2010

Bird name: White Necked Jacobin
Latin: Florisuga mellivora
Other: Beija-flor-azul-de-rabo-branco (Br)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Mexico to Brazil

The White-necked Jacobin is an attractive hummingbird, a frequent visitor to the feeders at the Canopy Tower, in central Panama, when I visited in April.

The male is easily identifiable by its white back-of-neck, deep-blue head and neck, well-defined white belly and tail feathers, which are tipped dark. Back is green.

Females (below) are more tricky with a scaled neck and chest - the feathers are bordered white - white vent and diagnostic blue-and-white crissum (under tail).

Some individuals had some white on the back, maybe moulting?


More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Panama, 1 May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Violet Headed Hummingbird
Latin: Klais guimeti
Other: Colibrí cabeza violeta (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Honduras to Bolivia

The male Violet-headed Hummingbird, seen above at the Canopy Lodge in El Valle, Panama, is identifiable by its violet head and bright white spot behind eye. The female, below, also has the white spot, but has greyish underparts and is otherwise mostly greenish with bluish forehead.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Brasilia, Brazil • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Swallow Tailed Hummingbird
Latin: Eupetomena macroura
Other: Beija-flor-tesoura (Br)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Mainly Brazil, also Bolivia and Paraguay

Record shots of the Swallow-tailed Hummingbird - a fairly common hummingbird in Brazil, identifiable by its very long deeply-forked tail.

These photos were taken in Ubatuba and Brazilia.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe, Brasil • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Neotropic Cormorant
Latin: Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Other: Olivaceous Cormorant • Biguá (Br) • Cormorán Neotropical (Es)
Family: Phalacrocoracidae • Cormorants
Range: Southern USA to southern South America

The Neotropic Cormorant is widespread in the American tropics and sub-tropics. The photo above was taken in Lagoa do Peixe in southern Brazil, Phalacrocorax brasilianus brasilianus, the photo below was taken in Panama City, where there are large colonies of Neotropic Cormorants along the Pacific coastline.

Directly below, birds on the Pacific coast of Panama, near Panama City, where there are large colonies.

Copyright: monacoeye • Panama City, Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • El Valle, Panama, 3 May 2010

Bird name: Striped Cuckoo
Latin: Tapera naevia
Other: Saci (Br) • Crespín (Es), cuco rayado, trespiés
Family: Cuculidae • Cuckoos
Range: Mexico to Argentina

The Striped Cuckoo is a brownish bird, light underneath, with white stripe running above eye, rufous crest sometimes raised and long tail.

This individual was attracted by a call, and perched nearby in the open, in El Valle, central Panama.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Metropolitan Park, Panama, 8 May 2010

Bird name: Squirrel Cuckoo
Latin: Piaya cayana
Other: Alma-de-gato (Br)
Family: Cuculidae • Cuckoos
Range: Mexico to Brazil

The Squirrel Cuckoo in Panama, Piaya cayana thermophila, has a pinkish-brown head and neck, grey chest and belly. Otherwise it is mostly rufous, with conspicuous white ends to very long tail feathers, which are dark underneath. It has red irises, and eye rings and bill are dirty yellow. Seen in central Panama and Chiriqui.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pipeline Road, Panama, 24 April 2010

Bird name: Pheasant Cuckoo
Latin: Dromococcyx phasianellus
Other: Saci-faisão (Br)
Family: Cuculidae • Cuckoos
Range: Mexico to Argentina

Little more than record shots of this hard-to-see bird, the Pheasant Cuckoo, which was calling in very dark forest undergrowth, near the Pipeline Road, in central Panama.

Like the Striped Cuckoo, the Pheasant Cuckoo has a white line above the eye, but more of a pronounced rufous crest, and a voluminous fanned tail - tail feathers are white-tipped.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Smooth Billed Ani
Latin: Crotophaga ani
Other: Ani de pico liso (Es) • Anu-preto (Br)
Family: Cuculidae • Anis
Range: Florida to Argentina

No mistaking the Smooth-billed Ani with its prehistoric profile. Found in most of South and Central America excluding Chile and the southern tip. A gregarious bird in the cuckoo family, often found near humans and farms.

The Smooth-billed Ani has dark eyes, unlike the Greater Ani. It can also use communal nests with many females laying eggs in one large nest.

Below: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ammo Ponds, Panama, April 2010

Above: Ubatuba November 2009 More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Gamboa, Panama, April 2010

Bird name: Greater Ani
Latin: Crotophaga major
Other: garrapatero (Es)
Family: Cuculidae • Cuckoos
Range: Panama to Argentina

The Greater Ani lays eggs in a communal nest. It is quite a bit larger than the Smooth-billed Ani and has distinctive pale irises. We saw them several times on visits to Gamboa in the canal area of central Panama.More photos...

Pipeline Road Panama, 24 April 2010

Bird name: Rufous Vented Ground Cuckoo
Latin: Neomorphus geoffroyi
Other: Jacu-estalo (Br)
Family: Cuculidae • Cuckoos
Range: Nicaragua to Brazil

Since the Rufous-Vented Ground-Cuckoo is such a rarely seen bird, I’ll break my rule and add an entry even though I don’t have a photo (if anyone out there has one I’d love to post one here - send to monacoeye@gmail.com).

We were lucky enough to encounter a pair calling across the Pipeline Road in central Panama. With complete beginner’s luck, I called out the female inadvertently by clapping my hands, thinking I had heard a manakin! I got a very brief glimpse of the bird before it retreated into the undergrowth, but didn’t take a photo…

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chiriqui, Panama, 8 May 2010

Bird name: Sulphur Winged Parakeet
Latin: Pyrrhura hoffmanni
Other: Hoffmann's Conure • Perico de Hoffman (Es)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots
Range: Costa Rica highlands and western Panama

We observed a sizeable group of Sulphur-winged Parakeets feeding on this fruiting tree on Finca Hartmann in western Panama. The guide noted we were lucky to get such good views of a relatively timid bird.

The Sulphur-winged Parakeet is mostly green with a red cheek, white eye ring and some yellow around head and wings. It has a light coloured bill, and reddish under long tail.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Semaphore Hill, Panama, 26-30 April 2010

Bird name: Mealy Amazon
Latin: Amazona farinosa
Other: Mealy Parrot • Loro Harinoso Amazonico (Es) • Papagaio-moleiro (Br)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots
Range: Tropical Central and South America

We saw Mealy Amazons near Canopy Tower, on Semaphore Hill, in central Panama.

Mealy Amazons (or Mealy Parrots) are large forest-dwelling parrots which are mostly green, with white eye ring, some red on wings. Darker, greyer, bluish? cap and yellower tail feathers. Sometimes with a light or yellow patch on darker bill.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Gamboa, 27 April 2010

Bird name: Orange Chinned Parakeet
Latin: Brotogeris jugularis
Other: Tovi Parakeet • Periquito de Tovi (Es), catalnica
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots
Range: Mexico to Colombia

We saw Orange-chinned Parakeets quite regularly around Gamboa and in the canal zone in central Panama. This pair were very affectionate, nuzzling and interlocking beaks (passing food?).

Orange-chinned Parakeets have a diagnostic orange spot under their bill and a short tail. Otherwise they are mostly light green, with yellow underwing coverts (seen in flight), orange-brown shoulder, and some bluish feathers at back of wing.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, 24-30 April 2010

Bird name: Red Lored Amazon
Latin: Amazona autumnalis
Other: Red Lored Parrot • Loro cariamarillo (Es) • Papagaio-diadema (Br)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots
Range: Mexico to Ecuador, then Brazil

This pair of Red-lored Amazons were seen at some distance from the Canopy Tower, others also flying overhead in the canal zone, in central Panama. Probably the most common large parrot in the area.

The Red-lored Amazon (or Red-lored Parrot) has red lores a pale blue cap and white eye-ring. Otherwise green with yellowish outer tail feathers, a patch of red at the back of each wing, and dark fringing to wings.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, 8 May 2010

Bird name: Finsch's Parakeet
Latin: Aratinga finschi
Other: Crimson-fronted Parakeet • Finsch's Conure • Perico frentirrojo (Es)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots
Range: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, western Panama

These Finsch’s Parakeets, or Crimson-faced Parakeets, as they are known locally, flew overhead at Finca Hartmann, in the western highlands of Panama.

Finsch’s Parakeets have red forehead and red markings around the “elbow” region, differentiating them from Red-lored Amazons. Otherwise mostly green, with underside of flight feathers olive-green.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Semaphore Hill, 30 April 2010

Bird name: Grey Chested Dove
Latin: Leptotila cassinii
Other: Gray-chested Dove
Family: Columbidae • Doves
Range: Southern Mexico to northern Colombia

The Grey-chested Dove is a forest bird, usually seen on the ground walking away, or on a low bough. Not very common. This subspecies, seen in central Panama, is Columbina talpacoti rufipennis - in the west there is a more rufous race.

The Grey-chested Dove has pinkish lores and orbital skin. Tail feathers have narrow white tips. It is pale grey to light underneath, with darker chest. Pale irises (supposed to be yellow).

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chiriqui, Panama, 7 May 2010

Bird name: Mourning Dove
Latin: Zenaida macroura
Other: Huilota (Es)
Family: Columbidae • Doves
Range: North America to central Panama

The Panamanian subspecies, pictured here, is Zenaida macroura marginella. A pale dove with pinkish head and blue orbital skin and a few dark spots on wings. Pointed tail. The Mourning Dove is very widespread in the US.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • 23-28 April 2010, Ammo Ponds, Panama

Bird name: Pale Vented Pigeon
Latin: Patagioenas cayennensis
Other: Columba cayennensis
Family: Columbidae • Pigeons
Range: Southern Mexico to northern Argentina

These Pale-vented Pigeons were seen on telephone wires most times we visited the Ammo Ponds in the Canal Zone of central Panama.

The Panamanian subspecies is Patagioenas cayennensis palidicrissa. It has a whitish vent and underside of tail, greyish-blue band below eye around neck neck, otherwise pinkish-rufous.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Ruddy Ground Dove
Latin: Columbina talpacoti
Other: Rolinha-roxa (Brazil)
Family: Columbidae • Doves
Range: Mexico to southern Brazil

The Ruddy Ground Dove is a small approachable dove found throughout much of Central and South America. They were seen in many locations in Panama, and in Brazil can also be seen in towns and cities like Sao Paulo. Usually on or near the ground.

Males have greyer heads and females have rufous heads. The Panamanian subspecies seen here is columbina talpacoti rufipennis. More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: White Tipped Dove
Latin: Leptotila verreauxi
Other: Juriti-pupu (Br)
Family: Columbidae • Pigeons
Range: Southern Texas to Argentina

This Brazilian White-tipped Dove, above, has a black bill, grey crown and upper mantle and a little purple shading behind the eye. White tipped tail feathers seen in flight.

White-tipped Doves are present throughout most of Brazil and South and Central America. Often seen on lawns. Not uncommon in central Panama. About the same size as a city pigeon.

The Panamanian White-tipped Dove, Leptotila v. verreauxi, below, has distinctive blue orbital skin around the eyes with pale red irises.

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Panama • 27 April 2010
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • 8 May Chiriqui, Panama

Bird name: Band Tailed Pigeon
Latin: Patagioenas fasciata
Other:
Family: Columbidae • Pigeons
Range: Americas

A large group of Band-tailed Pigeons were seen eating the yellow fruit of this tree in Chiriqui, western Panama, in May. In Panama, this species is only found in the western highlands. This race is sometimes known as the White-naped Pigeon, Patagioenas albilinea.

Band-tailed Pigeons are large pigeons, with a distinctive white band at the back of the neck, bright yellow bill and feet, a black band on tail, with well-defined lighter grey end of tail. There is a patch of irridescent green on the back of the neck.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • 26 April 2010, Canopy Tower, Panama

Bird name: Scaled Pigeon
Latin: Patagioenas speciosa
Other: Columba speciosa • Pomba-trocal (Br)
Family: Columbidae • Pigeons
Range: Southern Mexico to southern Brazil

This photo hardly even counts as a record shot! These Scaled Pigeons were visible in a scope from the Canopy Tower but too far for my camera… Colourful bird, could be seen flying above the canopy.

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Chagres River, Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Spotted Sandpiper
Latin: Actitis macularius
Other: Maçarico-maculado (Pt) • Maçarico-pintado (Br) • Playero manchado (Es), andarríos maculado
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range: North, Central and South America

The Spotted Sandpiper in breeding plumage seen here has attractive black spots on a white belly and brown upperside. Yellowish legs , orange bill with black tip. Seen by rivers in central and western Panama in May.
More photos...

Photo copyright: RP/monacoeye • Everglades

Bird name: Purple Gallinule
Latin: Porphyrio martinica
Other: American Purple Gallinule • Frango d’água-azul (Br)
Family: Rallidae • Rails
Range: Americas

Thanks to Bob for sending the above photo of an American Purple Gallinule seen in the Everglades in Florida.

Below, (“more photos”), a couple of juveniles seen on the banks of the Chagres River in Central PanamaMore photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Costa del Este, Panama, 9 May 2010

Bird name: Willet
Latin: Tringa semipalmata
Other: Maçarico-de-asa-branca (Br)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders
Range: North, Central, South America

Willets seen on the Costa del Este beach in Panama City near the airport.

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Panama City, Panama, 9 May 2010

Bird name: Whimbrel
Latin: Numenius phaeopus
Other: Maçarico-galego (Br) • Zarapito trinador (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Curlews
Range: Worldwide

A single Whimbrel seen on the Pacific coast of Panama City. The Whimbrel is a large wader, with long curved bill. They breed in the sub-Arctic and migrate to southern coastlines, worldwide.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Costa del Este, Panama, 9 May 2010

Bird name: Grey Plover
Latin: Pluvialis squatarola
Other: Black Bellied Plover (US) • Pluvier argenté (Fr)
Family: Charadriidae • Plovers
Range: Worldwide

The above Grey Plover, or Black-Bellied Plover, were seen on the beach by the airport in Panama City in good numbers, mixed with other seabirds, in May.

In full breeding plumage they have a well-defined black band running from face to belly. The others are in non-breeding plumage, like those below (“more photos”) seen in France in March.

Grey Plover breed in the Arctic and migrate to southern coastlines worldwide in the northern winter.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Costa del Este, Panama, 9 May 2010

Bird name: Laughing Gull
Latin: Leucophaeus atricilla
Other: Larus atricilla • Gaviota reidora americana (Es) • Gaivota-alegre (Br), guincho-americano
Family: Laridae • Gulls
Range: North, Central, South America

Laughing Gull is the most common gull in Panama, seen here in large numbers by the airport shoreline in Panama City, mixed with Black Bellied Plover and other shorebirds and sea birds.

Laughing Gull adults in breeding plumage have a black cap and red bill, the majority of those above are immatures.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Lago Volcan, Chiriqui, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Pied Billed Grebe
Latin: Podilymbus podiceps
Other: Zampullín de pico grueso (Es) • Mergulhão-caçador (Br)
Family: Podicipedidae • Grebes
Range: North and Central America, migrating to southern South America.

A distant shot of a Pied-billed Grebe, recognisable by a dark vertical stripe on the bill of the breeding adult. Seen here in western Panama.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Ammo Dump, Panama, 23 April 2010

Bird name: Sora
Latin: Porzana carolina
Other:
Family: Rallidae • Rails
Range: North, Central, South America

A couple of record shots of Soras, seen at the Ammo Dump in central Panama.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba Florianopolis Brazil

Bird name: Magnificent Frigatebird
Latin: Fregata magnificens
Other: Tesourão (Br) • Fragata magnífica (Es)
Family: Fregatidae • Frigatebirds

The Magnificent Frigatebirds I saw often seemed to accompany other birds - stealing fish from Brown Boobies in Santa Catarina, or soaring on thermals with Black Vultures in Ubatuba.

Many seen on the coast in Panama CityMore photos...

Photos copyright: RP/monacoeye • St Barths • 2008 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Brown Pelican
Latin: Pelecanus occidentalis
Other:
Family: Pelecanidae • Pelicans

Pictured above is the Caribbean Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis occidentalis, sent in by Robert Paylor in St Barths.

The Brown Pelican, the smallest of the pelicans, is found in North, Central and South America. In ”more photos”, a colony in Panama.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Soberania Park 2006

Bird name: Sunbittern
Latin: Eurypyga helias
Other: Tepozcalcarau (Es), pavito de agua, ave sol, garza del sol • Pavãozinho-do-pará (Br), pavão-papa-moscas
Family: Eurypygidae • Sunbittern
Range: Guatemala to Brazil

The nesting female Sunbittern was seen in central Panama, above a river. Another was seen later in a river in El Valle. Taxonomy unclear.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Brazil 2006

Bird name: Slaty Breasted Wood Rail
Latin: Aramides saracura
Other: Saracura-do-brejo (Br), Saracura-do-mato
Family: Rallidae • Rails
Range: Southeast Brazil

The Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail has no rufous colouring below and is dull greenish brown above, with grey neck and underparts. Found in the southeast of Brazil.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Ammo Ponds, Panama • 28 April 2010

Bird name: White Throated Crake
Latin: Laterallus albigularis
Other:
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador.

The White-throated Crake is not the easiest of birds to see as it tends to stay hidden in swamps, moving around within dense grasses.

After a while we managed to catch sight of this family, however, in the Ammo Ponds, in the canal zone of central Panama. The White-throated Crake adults are rufous with black and white barred belly and green bill, whereas juveniles have darker plumage and pinkish bill. One of the adults had a light throat.


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Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Danube Delta • May 2009

Bird name: Purple Heron
Latin: Ardea purpurea
Other: Héron pourpré (Fr) • Garza imperial (Es) • Airone rosso (It) • Garça-vermelha (Pt)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Europe, tropical Africa, Asia

These Purple Heron photos were taken in the Danube Delta in Romania - Purple Herons are found throughout southern Europe during the spring and summer. I have also seen them in river estuaries in Nice, the Camargue and Ventimiglia.

They are large birds, very similar to Grey Herons, but with deeper brown and rufous tones and stronger markings.

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Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Gamboa, Panama • April 2010

Bird name: Green Heron
Latin: Butorides virescens
Other: Green-backed Heron • Garcita verde (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: North and Central America

The Green Heron, (once called Green-backed Heron), is a small dark heron with black cap and rufous neck with white line down throat. Some greenish sheen on dark feathers. Yellow or orange legs.

These Panama birds had mostly yellow ceres and yellow or orange irises. Seen in the Chagres River, a few feet away from a Caiman - apparently not a threat - and in the Chiriqui highlands.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Valle de Anton, Panama • 30 April 2010

Bird name: Snowy Bellied Hummingbird
Latin: Amazilia edward
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica, Panama

The Snowy-bellied Hummingbird seemed fairly widespread in Panama - seen in most regions. A regular feeder bird.

It is recognisable by its white belly with green head and neck. It has green shoulders and a copperish back and tail, unlike the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl where the green extends further down the back and only the tail is rufous.
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Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Valle de Anton, Panama • 30 April 2010

Bird name: Violet Crowned Woodnymph
Latin: Thalurania colombica
Other: Purple-crowned Woodnymph
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela

This male Violet-crowned Woodnymph has a forked deep-blue tail, green throat and purple forehead. Green lower back, blue-violet shoulders, chest and belly. The female has light underparts and tail is rounded and shorter. Seen in Valle de Anton. Beautiful deep colours on this bird.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Valle de Anton, Panama • 3 May 2010

Bird name: Grey Hawk
Latin: Buteo nitidus
Other: Grey-lined Hawk, (White-rumped Hawk, Br) • Buteo plagiatus, Asturina nitida • Gavião-pedrês(Br) • Gavilán saraviado (Es)
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Texas to Argentina.

The Grey Hawk in Panama is a pale, finely barred small hawk, with yellow at base of bill and two white bands on tail, one thick, one thin (a third sometimes visible near base) and narrow white band at tip. Pale grey also from above.

We had good views of this individual in the town of El Valle, in central Panama, and another was seen earlier in Summit Gardens perched at the top of a tall tree.

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Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Valle de Anton, Panama • 1 May 2010

Bird name: Short Tailed Hawk
Latin: Buteo brachyurus
Other: Gavilán rabicorto (Es), busardo de cola corta • Gavião-de-cauda-curta (Br)
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Texas to Argentina.

This Short Tailed Hawk light morph is white underneath with strongly barred tail and flight feathers. It has a well defined dark hood with white throat and light patch in front of eyes. Upperside of wings and back is brown. There is also a dark morph.

The Short-tailed Hawk can be found from Florida to southern Brazil. The one pictured was seen in the El Valle mountains, in central Panama, another was seen near Canopy Tower.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • El Valle, Panama • 1 May 2010

Bird name: Barred Hawk
Latin: Leucopternis princeps
Other:
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

The Barred Hawk is white below, finely barred with black (looks light grey at a distance), has a well-defined black-slate neck, head, upperside and tail, with one narrow white band on tail. Wing tips and rear wing edge slightly darker. Wide wings, short tail. Yellow on upper part of bill and ceres and feet. One bird below also has a thin white trailing edge to wings.

These Barred Hawks (two, I think) were seen close to the Caribbean-Pacific watershed near El Valle de Anton in central Panama in May. First perched on distant tree, then gliding on thermals with vultures and soaring.


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Photos copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • El Valle, Panama • 1 May 2010

Bird name: Osprey
Latin: Pandion haliaetus
Other: Aguila pescadora (Es), halieto • Aguia-pesqueira (Pt) • Balbuzard pêcheur (Fr) • Falco pescatore (It) • Fischadler (De)
Family: Pandionidae • Osprey
Range: Worldwide, especially tropics, coastlines and Canada, Russia, China.

I saw a couple of Ospreys in the Valle de Anton area. One in the town itself and one higher in the mountains, both near water.

Ospreys have long thin wings and a distinctive “zorro” eye mask. They are white underneath with brown marks on wings, upperside is brown. Ospreys eat fish almost exclusively.

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Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Pipeline Road, Panama • 24 April 2010

Bird name: Mississippi Kite
Latin: Ictinia mississippiensis
Other: Milano boreal (Es) • Sauveiro do norte (Br)
Family: Accipitridae • Kites, Birds of Prey
Range: Texas to South America via Central America.
Similar:

We saw well over a hundred Mississippi Kites migrating towards North America, above the Pipeline Road in central Panama, in the Canal zone, in late April 2010. A fabulous site.

As you can see, there are 80 birds in the photo above, among which I think there is one odd-man-out, a Swainson’s Hawk. Can you see where? Give up? Top middle with vertical wings!


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Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Cerro Azul, Panama • 24 April 2010

Bird name: Bat Falcon
Latin: Falco rufigularis
Other: Halcón murcielaguero (Es) • Cauré (Br)
Family: Falconidae • Falcons
Range: Mexico, Central America, tropical South America

The above Bat Falcon flew fast overhead on the Cerro Azul, in central Panama, and another was seen later in El Valle (see “ more photos”) chasing the much larger Grey Headed Kite - typical feisty Bat Falcon behaviour.
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Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Los Quezales, Panama • 5 May 2010

Bird name: Ornate Hawk Eagle
Latin: Spizaetus ornatus
Other: Aguila crestuda real (Es), águila copetona real • Gavião-de-penacho (Br)
Family: Accipitridae • Hawk Eagles
Range: Humid tropical forests from Mexico to northern Argentina

Distant shots of an Ornate Hawk Eagle, from cabin number 8 at Los Quetzales in the Chiriqui highlands in western Panama.

A spectacular looking raptor when seen up close …More photos...