Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Common Bush Tanager
Latin: Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
Other: Tangarita oftálmica, Tangara de monte orejuda, Clorospingo comun (Es) • C. flavopectus
Family: Emberizidae • Bush Tanagers
Range: SW Mexico to N Argentina,
Similar:

I saw the Common Bush Tanager in several locations in Panama, above in El Valle, below at the Finca Dracula in Cerro Punta. In Panama, recognisable by the large white patch behind the eye.

But in Ecuador, Common Bush Tanagers do not have this white post-ocular mark.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Gamboa, May 2010

Bird name: Lemon Rumped Tanager
Latin: Ramphocelus icteronotus
Other: Flame-rumped Tanager • Tangara lomilimón (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Panama, Colombia, Ecuador
Similar:

Lemon-rumped Tanagers hybridize with Flame-rumped Tanagers, and so are often lumped together. But for the purposes of this entry, if the rump is yellow, not red, the bird is called Lemon-rumped, even though the birds in Panama were often referred to as Flame-rumped Tanagers by the guides.

Females, in particular, were not uncommon in Gamboa and El Valle. Lemon-rumped Tanagers were also seen frequently in Ecuador, especially around Mindo - only in the west.

The Lemon-rumped Tanager male is black with a very bright lemon rump. The female is yellow below and brown above - a slightly washed out look with light throat, and pale wingbar visible. Both have light bluish-white bills with dark tip.

Below, female Lemon-rumped Tanager, Panama


Below, male Lemon-rumped Tanager, Ecuador, 2011
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Red Legged Honeycreeper
Latin: Cyanerpes cyaneus
Other: Mielero dorsioscuro, Mielero patirrojo (Es) • Saíra-beija-flor, saí-azul-de-pernas-vermelhas (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Honeycreepers
Range: Mexico to Brazil
Similar:

The Red-legged Honeycreeper was a typical fruit feeder bird in Canopy Lodge, El Valle, Panama, and also seen in forest outskirts.

The male (above) has bright red legs, electric blue cap, sometimes crested, black eye mask, and the rest intense blue. The female, directly below, is greenish with reddish legs.

Below, female Red-legged Honeycreeper, Panama
More photos...

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

Bird name: Green Honeycreeper
Latin: Chlorophanes spiza
Other: Mielero verde (Es) • Saí-verde (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Honeycreepers
Range: Mexico to Brazil
Similar:

The Green Honeycreeper is a fairly common visitor to Jonas’ fruit feeders in Brazil. The male, above, has a distinctively shaped black hood on a turquoise body. The female, directly below, is leaf green. Both have yellow lower half of bill and red irises.

A juvenile male is pictured further below, showing a mixture of male and female plumage.

The lowest photo, taken in Panama on the observation deck of the Canopy Tower hotel, shows a female on a Cecropia with darker olive wing markings than the Brazilian birds I saw.

Below, a female Green Honeycreeper, Brazil.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Scarlet Thighed Dacnis
Latin: Dacnis venusta
Other: Mielero de muslos rojos, dacnis negriazul (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Dacnises
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador
Similar:

The male Scarlet-thighed Dacnis has black underparts, which join up to black eye mask. It is bright blue above and has red thighs but these can be difficult to see. The female Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, directly below, is pale creamy beige below. Both have red irises.

There are a couple of photos below of birds showing some light on the belly and some black on throat and chest, probably immature males.

Seen fairly regularly on outings in El Valle and again at Finca Hartmann, in fairly open sunny locations with fruiting trees.

Below, female Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Panama
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Bay Headed Tanager
Latin: Tangara gyrola
Other: Tángara cabeciroja (Es) • Saíra-de-cabeça-castanha (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil through N, W Amazonia
Similar:

More bright colours. The Bay-headed Tanager has a chestnut head, light blue underparts and green upperparts. The female is similar to the male but duller.

There are variations in race. In Para, Brazil, Bay headed-Tanagers had more yellow on neck and shoulders (pic below). In Mindo, Ecuador, they had much yellow on wing (pic below).

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Golden Hooded Tanager
Latin: Tangara larvata
Other: Tangara capuchidorada, tangara cabecipinta (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: S Mexico to Ecuador
Similar:

The Golden Hooded Tanager was one of the first birds I saw in Panama in Cerro Azul, then more frequently in El Valle.

The golden hood makes this bird pretty unmistakeable. Good-looking bird!

Also seen at the Silanche Reserve in northwest Ecuador - western slope.

Below: Golden-hooded Tanager, Panama
More photos...

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

Bird name: Dusky Faced Tanager
Latin: Mitrospingus cassinii
Other: Tangara carinegruzca (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador
Similar:

A blurry record shot of a Dusky-faced Tanager in El Valle, Panama.

And another blurry record from Silanche Reserve, Ecuador.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Para, Brazil • Sep 2011

Bird name: Grey Headed Kite
Latin: Leptodon cayanensis
Other: Gray-headed Kite (US) • Milano cabecigrís (Es) • Gavião-de-cabeça-cinza (Br)
Family: Accipitridae • Kites, Birds of Prey
Range: Mexico to northern Argentina, incl Panama, Brazil
Similar:

The Grey-Headed Kite has a pale grey head with white body contrasting with dark wings and barred flight feathers. Two narrow white bands on tail (a third sometimes visible). Bill bluish.

Also seen in the mountains of Valle de Anton in central Panama.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pantanal, Brazil, August.

Bird name: Grey Necked Wood Rail
Latin: Aramides cajanea
Other: Gray-necked Wood-rail • Saracura-três-potes (Br) • Chiricote (Es), Rascón cuello gris, Chilacoa colinegra
Family: Rallidae • Rails
Range: Mexico to Argentina, incl Brazil etc.
Similar:

Grey-necked Wood-Rails were one of the most frequently seen birds in the Pantanal in August - always in or near water. The riverbanks around Curicaca Lodge usually produced one or two, often near jacarés, and once beside a capuchin monkey which was drinking from the river.

Grey-necked Wood-rails are medium-sized colourful birds with red legs, rufous underparts, grey neck, yellow-green bill and red irises. The grey neck is diagnostic. They are found throughout Central America and South America east of the Andes.

Below, close-up of a Grey-necked Wood Rail, Pantanal, Brazil, August.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Lagoa do Peixe, Brazil • Nov 2009

Bird name: Roadside Hawk
Latin: Buteo magnirostris
Other: Gavião-carijó (Br) • Gavilán pollero (Es), Aguilucho de ala rojiza, Taguato común
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Latin America, Mexico to Argentina, incl Brazil
Similar:

The Roadside Hawk has a dark head with pale irises and usually pale barred chest and underwings. Topside of wings are dark, with a rufous wing patch on primaries. This rufous patch, usually just visible on perched birds, is diagnostic for Roadside Hawk.

The Roadside Hawk is typically the most frequently seen bird of prey when birding in Latin America, so it is a good bird to learn to identify.

Tail has thick brown and white horizontal stripes. Bill base is yellowish with dark tip and perhaps some light blue in the middle.

There are several subspecies and morphs, where dark brown is replaced by grey. Upper chest can be dark (Panama) or vertically striped (Brazil).

In the Pantanal in August I saw Roadside Hawks on most days - near roads, rivers and in forest. Near Mindo, Ecuador, in April, it was also the most common and visible bird of prey.

Below, Roadside Hawk mobbed in El Valle, Panama, May 2010. Dark throat and chest.


Below, a pair of Roadside Hawks in Mindo, Ecuador, April 2011. Yellow irises, orange ceres, grey throat and chest, rufous primaries just visible in perched birds. Thin white barring lines on underside.

More photos...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

Bird name: Clay Colored Thrush
Latin: Turdus grayi
Other: Clay-coloured Thrush (UK), Clay-colored Robin (US), Yigüirro (Es)
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: South Texas to Northern Colombia including Panama, Costa Rica etc

The Clay-colored Thrush is the national bird of Costa Rica. It is common in Panama, including around habitations, and one of the most frequently seen birds. A typical garden or park bird.

The Clay-colored Thrush is generally brown and differentiated from other similar thrushes by its red irises and light bill.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • El Valle, April 2010

Bird name: Yellow Green Vireo
Latin: Vireo flavoviridis
Other:
Family: Vireonidae • Vireos
Range: Widespread Middle America, also S Texas

The Yellow-Green Vireo in Panama, seen here in El Valle.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Itatiaia, Brazil, November 2009

Bird name: House Wren
Latin: Troglodytes aedon
Other: Corruíra-de-casa (Br) • Curucucha (Es) • Troglodytes aedon musculus
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens
Range: Widespread Americas
Similar:

The House Wren is found throughout the Americas. The musculus subspecies pictured above is called the Southern House Wren, and sometimes viewed as a separate species.

The House Wren is a great garden bird, with an attractive song. It is not shy and much easier to see than its European counterpart. I saw it in most habitats I visited in Brazil.

Still easily observed in central Panama (lowest two photos), around the hotels, but seemed to be a little less confiding than in Brazil.




Below, photo from Panama.
More photos...

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

Bird name: Rufous Breasted Wren
Latin: Pheugopedius rutilus
Other: Thryothorus rutilus
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela
Similar:

I saw the Rufous Breasted Wren several times in Panama, but as with most other wrens he was very difficult to photograph.

The bird pictured above was singly clearly and merrily at the Logo de Volcan in Chiriqui, and approached when I mimicked his calls, but moved quickly in dense foliage.

The Rufous-breasted Wren is identified by its orangey-cinnamon underparts and black and white speckled throat.More photos...

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

Bird name: Bay Wren
Latin: Cantorchilus nigricapillus
Other:
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens
Range: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador
Similar:


We got a brief glimpse of this Bay Wren in El Valle in Panama. The Bay Wren is fairly easy to differentiate from other wrens in Panama by its black facial markings, including thin black malar stripe. Chestnut underparts.

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

Bird name: Ochraceous Wren
Latin: Troglodytes ochraceus
Other:
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens
Range: Costa Rica, Panama
Similar:

Just a brief and blurry glimpse of this Ochraceous Wren in El Valle, Panama. Brownish.

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

Bird name: Lance Tailed Manakin
Latin: Chiroxiphia lanceolata
Other:
Family: Pipridae • Manakins
Range: SW Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, N Venezuela

The Lance-tailed Manakin adult male has a red cap, bright blue shoulders and orange legs - the rest black. The individual above is a subadult male seen in El Valle de Anton in Panama.

Below (in more photos) a glimpse of an adult male Lance-tailed Manakin. Females are greenish, with orange legs and also have the long central tail feathers.

Seen in El Valle, Panama.More photos...

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

Bird name: Golden Collared Manakin
Latin: Manacus vitellinus
Other:
Family: Pipridae • Manakins
Range: Western Panama to western Colombia

The female Golden-collared Manakin above was seen in El Valle de Anton in Panama. A very poor shot of the male below with his beautiful golden yellow collar. The male manakins dart around a lot in their leks, whereas the females tend to be far more stationary, and are thus much easier to photograph.

Both sexes have orange legs, the female Lance-tailed Manakin is differentiated by longer central tail feathers.

More photos...

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

Bird name: White Winged Becard
Latin: Pachyramphus polychopterus
Other:
Family: Tityridae • Becards
Range: Guatemala to Uruguay

The adult male White-winged Becard is light underneath with black and white on wings, black top of head, tail and back. The female is browner with yellow underneath.

These White-winged Becards were seen in central Panama.More photos...

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

Bird name: Bran Colored Flycatcher
Latin: Myiophobus fasciatus
Other: Bran-Coloured Flycatcher • Filipe (Br)
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Costa Rica to Argentina

The Bran-coloured Flycatcher has a brown head and cape, darker lower down the wings where two wingbars are visible. Underneath, the chest and upper belly is streaked.

Above, seen in El Valle, Panama. Lowest photo (in “more photos”) is from Ubatuba in Brazil, showing more streaking on the chest and stronger markings.More photos...

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

Bird name: Yellow Bellied Elaenia
Latin: Elaenia flavogaster
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Elaenias
Range: Southern Mexico to Argentina

The Yellow-bellied Elaenia is distinguished by a shock of unkempt hair, or crest, which always seems raised.

Yellow-bellied Elaenias were seen several times, near the Chagres River and Gamboa Rainforest Resort, in Summit Gardens, and El Valle in Cocle Province, Panama.More photos...

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

Bird name: Panamanian Flycatcher
Latin: Myiarchus panamensis
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela

The Panamanian Flycatcher was one of the more common flycatchers in many locations in Panama.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • El Valle, April 2010

Bird name: Dusky Capped Flycatcher
Latin: Myiarchus tuberculifer
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Flycatchers
Range: USA, Arizona, Texas, to Argentina

The Dusky Capped Flycatcher has a light grey throat area, dark cap and yellow underneath. This individual was seen in the highlands of El Valle de Anton in Panama.More photos...

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

Bird name: Lesser Elaenia
Latin: Elaenia chiriquensis
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Elaenias
Range: Costa Rica to Argentina

I saw the above Lesser Elaenia in central Panama, in Cerro Azul. Then another in El Valle.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chiriqui & El Valle May 2010

Bird name: Northern Tufted Flycatcher
Latin: Mitrephanes phaeocercus
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Mexico to Ecuador, highlands

I saw these Northern Tufted Flycatchers in Panama in the Chiriqui highlands and in Valle de Anton in Panama. One deep in the forest, the other in open country above the path.

The El Valle bird seemed yellower and the Chiriqui bird, below in “more photos”, more pinkish. The main identifying feature for this small flycatcher is its prominent raised tuft.More photos...

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

Bird name: White Throated Spadebill
Latin: Platyrinchus mystaceus
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama to Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil

This White-throated Spadebill had made its nest right beside the path, in the forked stem of young tree. The canopy was very dark and wet, even at midday.

The White-throated Spadebill is differentiated from other Spadebills in Panama by its white throat. A very small bird. Seen in the highlands of El Valle.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Olive Striped Flycatcher
Latin: Mionectes olivaceus
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Just a record shot of this Olive-striped Flycatcher seen in the El Valle highlands in Panama.

The Olive-striped Flycatcher has streaked underparts, with a quite long thin bill and conspicuous white spot behind the eye.

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

Bird name: Spot Crowned Antvireo
Latin: Dysithamnus puncticeps
Other:
Family: Thamnophilidae • Antbirds
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, NW Ecuador

A female Spot-crowned Antvireo, seen here in El Valle de Anton in Panama.

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

Bird name: Slaty Antwren
Latin: Myrmotherula schisticolor
Other:
Family: Thamnophilidae • Antbirds
Range: Panama, SE Mexico to N Venezuela & Peru

Just a record shot of this fast-moving Slaty Antwren in El Valle de Anton in Panama.

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

Bird name: Brown Billed Scythebill
Latin: Campylorhamphus pusillus
Other:
Family: Furnariidae • Scythebills
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, N Peru, Venezuela, Guyana

Scythebills are like woodcreepers with very long curved bills. This Brown Billed Scythebill was in a dark, leafy part of the forest near El Valle de Anton, so we had real difficulty seeing him and even more difficulty photographing him, but he is known for being rather rare and elusive so we were pleased to have made the sighting. Great looking bird.More photos...

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

Bird name: Cocoa Woodcreeper
Latin: Xiphorhynchus susurrans
Other: Formerly ssp of Buff-throated Woodcreeper, X. guttatus
Family: Furnariidae • Woodcreepers
Range: Panama, E Guatemala to N Venezuela

The Cocoa Woodcreeper was the woodcreeper most frequently encountered in Panama. Head and neck are streaked, but not belly. Bill long and dark.More photos...

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

Bird name: Spotted Woodcreeper
Latin: Xiphorhynchus erythropygius
Other:
Family: Furnariidae • Woodcreepers
Range: Panama, S Mexico to SW Ecuador

Spotted Woodcreeper has spots, not streaks, underneath and on head and neck, light throat, not much marking on back of head. Seen here in El Valle de Anton, in west central Panama.More photos...

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

Bird name: Blue Throated Toucanet
Latin: Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis
Other: Split from A. prasinus, Emerald Toucanet
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: Costa Rica to W Panama
Similar:

A beautiful bird to see first thing in the morning as you step out of the car in the highlands of El Valle de Anton in Panama. The only green toucan in Panama. Has blue throat.More photos...

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

Bird name: Red Crowned Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes rubricapillus
Other: Carpintero habado (Es)
Family: Picidae • Woodpecker
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia to NW Venezuela

The Red-Crowned Woodpecker was the most visible of the woodpecker family on my visit to Panama in April. They came to fruit feeders at Canopy Lodge, were seen at Ammo Ponds in the Canal Zone and also in the Chiriqui highlands.

The male (directly below) has a red cap, the female (above) only has some pale red at the back of the head. Otherwise barred back and wings, the rest buffish. Indentifiable in Panama by pale cheeks.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Lineated Woodpecker
Latin: Dryocopus lineatus
Other: Pica-pau-de-banda-branca (Br)
Family: Picidae • Woodpecker
Range: Widespread Latin America

The Lineated Woodpecker is found throughout most of South and Central America north of Argentina, including all of Brazil. Most of these were seen in Panama.

The Lineated Woodpecker has a red crest, and white face stripe which extends down neck, - red malar stripe on male, on female (above) dark - dark chest, horizontally barred belly in Brazilian race, darker belly in Panama.

The Lineated Woodpecker has two white vertical bands on its back - the Crimson Crested Woodpecker has narrow bands which meet in “v”.More photos...

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

Bird name: Whooping Motmot
Latin: Momotus subrufescens
Other: Blue-Crowned Motmot • Momotus momota
Family: Momotidae • Motmots
Range: E Panama, N Colombia, N Venezuela, SE Ecuador, NW Peru
Similar:

The Whooping Motmot is the new name for the Blue-Crowned Motmot seen in Central Panama and southeast to Peru.

It has an electric blue crown, is cinnamon underneath and has green-blue upper parts.

As with other Motmots, it wags its tail back and forth like a metronome, perhaps when it sees a predator.

The penultimate parts of its two long tail feathers fall off over time, creating the two signature racquets.
More photos...

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

Bird name: Tody Motmot
Latin: Hylomanes momotula
Other:
Family: Momotidae • Motmots
Range: S Mexico to Panama to NW Colombia
Similar:

The Tody Motmot is the smallest of the Motmots and the least similar to the others. These were difficult to photograph hidden deep in the dark forest canopy.More photos...

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

Bird name: Collared Trogon
Latin: Trogon collaris
Other: T. aurantiiventris
Family: Trogonidae • Trogons
Range: E Mexico through Amazonia, SE Brazil

Pictured here is the Orange Bellied Trogon, which is an orange-bellied colour morph of the Collared Trogon. The Orange-bellied Trogon was previously considered a separate species T. aurantiiventris, found in Costa Rica and Western Panama.

The more typical Collared Trogon has a red belly. Males have green head, white chest line and striped tail. Females have brown head white chest line and mostly white tail.More photos...

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

Bird name: Orange Bellied Trogon
Latin: Trogon aurantiiventris
Other: Collared Trogon • T. aurantiirostris in Ridgely fieldguide
Family: Trogonidae • Trogons
Range: Costa Rica to Central Panama

Orange-Bellied Trogon is now recognised as a colour morph of Collared Trogon - see Collared Trogon for more details.More photos...

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 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 • 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 • 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...

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…

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.
More photos...

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.

More photos...

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.


More photos...

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.

More photos...

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.
More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Cerro Azul, Panama, 23 April 2010

Bird name: Swallow Tailed Kite
Latin: Elanoides forficatus
Other: Gavião-tesoura (Br) • Elanio tijereta (Es)
Family: Accipitridae • Kites, Birds of Prey
Range:
Similar:

The Swallow Tailed Kite is unmistakable by its long deeply-forked tail and contrasting black and white plumage.

Its range includes much of South America, excluding the southern cone, and extends up through Central America into southern USA.

I was greeted by a close group of about twenty or thirty Swallow-tailed Kites, circling on thermals on Cerro Azul, where these photos were taken on my first morning in Panama. Possibly migrating, though there is a resident population.

More photos...

Photos copyright: TC/monacoeye • Do not copy • Valle de Anton • 3 May 2010

Bird name: Common Potoo
Latin: Nyctibius griseus
Other: Grey Potoo, Lesser Potoo • Urutaú menor (Es) • Urutau-comum (Br)
Family: Nyctibiidae
Range: Costa Rica to Argentina

A chip off the old block - a Common Potoo and chick doing a very convincing impression of a piece of wood. The adult will have a laid a single egg, which has now hatched, in a depression in the top of this stump.

When Common Potoos hear a potential predator approach they adopt this freeze position, very slowly, which serves as even better camouflage than their usual pose.

Potoos are in the Caprimulgiformes order with the Nightjars and Frogmouths, but have their own family the Nyctibiidae with a single genus with seven species, which all live in tropical Central and South America. They hunt insects from a perch at night.


More photos...

Photos copyright: TC/monacoeye • Do not copy • Valle de Anton • 1 May 2010

Bird name: Crested Owl
Latin: Lophostrix cristata
Other: Coruja-de-crista (Br)
Family: Strigidae
Range: Mexico to Brazil

The Crested Owl is a large owl with long whitish ear tufts, and fine mottled barring on chest.

It is the only member of the Lophostrix genus and found in tropical Central and South America from southern Mexico to northwestern Brazil. This individual was seen in El Valle de Anton in central Panama.More photos...

Photo copyright: TC/monacoeye • Do not copy • Valle de Anton • 27 April 2010

Bird name: Mottled Owl
Latin: Ciccaba virgata
Other: Coruja-do-mato (Br)
Family: Strigidae
Range: Mexico to Argentina

Thanks again to Tom for sending me his shot of the Mottled Owl which we didn’t manage to see in El Valle, Panama.

The Mottled Owl has no ear-tufts and is strictly nocturnal.
More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia & Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Bananaquit
Latin: Coereba flaveola
Other: Tangará (Br) • Reinita (Es)
Family: Coerebidae • Bananaquit

The Bananaquit is a small garden bird found in Brazil and most of tropical South and Central America. It feeds on nectar or even from hummingbird feeders. Also seen in Valle de Anton in Panama (not pictured).

It is recognisable by its long curved bill, yellow underside, white eyebrow strip and black eye stripe.

The nest below was in the fork of a small tree - perhaps a citrus? As you can see the entrance was in the side. The Bananaquit was bringing straw.

The taxonomy of the Bananaquit is uncertain but placed here in its own family.

More photos...