Mindo
Little Cuckoo
26 March 2013 13:45
© monacoeye • All rights reserved • Septimo Paraiso, Mindo, Ecuador
Bird name: Little Cuckoo
Latin: Coccycua minuta
Other: chincoã-pequeno (Br), Petit Piaye (fr), cuco ardilla menor, tingazú chico, piscuita enana (Es)
Family: Cuculidae - Cuckoos
Range: E Panama to NE Brazil & N Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad
Similar: Squirrel Cuckoo
Just a record shot of Little Cuckoo in Mindo, Ecuador, at Septimo Paraiso Lodge. It looks rather like a small Squirrel Cuckoo.
Comments
Crimson Mantled Woodpecker
09 October 2012 12:27
© monacoeye • Pichincha, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved
Bird name: Crimson Mantled Woodpecker
Latin: Colaptes rivolii
Other: Es: carpintero candela, carpintero dorsicarmesí
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela
Similar: Scarlet-backed Woodpecker
Crimson-mantled Woodpeckers are stunning and not very shy - I managed to observe them on several occasions in different locations in Pichincha, Ecuador, above 1800m. In Ecuador they are found in the inter-Andean montane region.
The female Crimson-mantled Woodpecker above allowed me to follow very closely - she has a black moustachial stripe. She was by the side of the road, rooting through fallen trees in a landslide that had been cleared from the road. The male, below, which has a red moustachial stripe, was near Angel Paz’s house on his bird reserve.
Below, male Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Pichincha, Ecuador
More photos...Shiny Cowbird
09 September 2012 10:45
Copyright monacoeye • Itatiaia November 2009
Bird name: Shiny Cowbird
Latin: Molothrus bonariensis
Other: Vira-bosta (Br) • Tordo (Es), Tordo común, Tordo renegrido
Family: Icteridae • Cowbirds
Range: SE USA though C South America, Brazil etc
Similar: Bronzed Cowbird, Screaming Cowbird, Chopi Blackbird
The Shiny Cowbird is one of a few entirely black birds to be found in Brazil. The photo above is a presumed female - the adult male (below) is deep blue-black and shiny.
The Shiny Cowbird’s range covers much of Latin America and has recently extended into Chile and Florida.
It’s usually seen in groups but not always. It tends to walk around on the ground and looks more relaxed than the male Ruby-crowned Tanager. The Chopi Blackbird has a more peaked head and has a grooved bill.
The Shiny Cowbird, not beloved by many birders, is a brood parasite, like the European Cuckoo, laying its eggs in the nests of other birds, and in some cases endangering host species survival.
Below, the bird on the right looks like a male Shiny Cowbird, Pantanal, Aug 2011
More photos...Giant Cowbird
01 September 2012 20:40
Copyright monacoeye • Iguaçu, Brazil 2006
Bird name: Giant Cowbird
Latin: Molothrus oryzivorus
Other: Iraúna-grande (Br) • Tordo Gigante (Es)
Family: Icteridae • Cowbirds
Range: S Mexico through N South America
Similar: Great Tailed Grackle
The Giant Cowbird is a brood parasitic icterid, laying its eggs in the nests of oropendolas, caciques and some other birds such as jays. It is found from Central America to the northwestern half of South America and to a lesser extent the southern part of Brazil.
The Giant Cowbird is a large bird (40 cm) - it looks a bit similar to the Great-tailed Grackle in Panama, but the latter has a thinner bill. The adult male is larger and shiny blue-black, the female browner and smaller. Irises can be red or yellow, depending on regional differences, also in some regions males tend to have red irises and females yellow irises.
Below, a Giant Cowbird with red eye in the Canal zone of Central Panama, 2010
More photos...Ecuadorian Thrush
30 August 2012 21:07
Copyright: monacoeye • Mindo, Ecuador, February 2011
Bird name: Ecuadorian Thrush
Latin: Turdus maculirostris
Other: Mirlo ecuatoriano (Es)
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Western Ecuador and Peru
Similar: Spectacled Thrush
Above, a juvenile Ecuadorian Thrush, showing flecks above and spotting below. The adult Ecuadorian Thrush (below) is coloured uniformly. This was the typical bird at a hostel fruit feeder in Mindo. A fairly plain bird with yellow bill and eyering. Not shy.
Below, adult Ecuadorian Thrush, Mindo, Ecuador, February.
More photos...Swainson's Thrush
30 August 2012 15:05
Copyright: monacoeye • Mindo, Ecuador, February 2011
Bird name: Swainson’s Thrush
Latin: Catharus ustulatus
Other: Zorzalito de Swainson (Es)
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Widespread Americas - migratory
Similar:
Swainson’s Thrush is a migrant in Ecuador - not that common. I saw this one in Mindo lurking behind some feeders. A small thrush with speckled chest and eyering.More photos...
Lemon Rumped Tanager
29 January 2012 09:26
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...Golden Naped Tanager
28 January 2012 13:06
Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, February 2011
Bird name: Golden Naped Tanager
Latin: Tangara ruficervix
Other: Tángara nuquidorada (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Metallic-green Tanager
The Golden-naped Tanager was seen at the Santa Lucia Reserve and in the highlands of Mindo, Ecuador.
The Golden-naped Tanager is a generally blue bird, with black mask, cream belly and crissum, and small light patch on back of head.More photos...
Bay Headed Tanager
28 January 2012 12:26
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...
Yellow Bellied Seedeater
27 January 2012 16:03
Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
Bird name: Yellow Bellied Seedeater
Latin: Sporophila nigricollis
Other: Espiguero capuchino, espiguero vientriamarillo, espiguero corbatita amarillo (Es) • Papa-capim-capuchinho, Baiano (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters
Range: Costa Rica, Panama to Bolivia, Brazil
Similar: Female Variable Seedeater
The male Yellow-bellied Seedeater above, seen at Finca Hartmann, is pale, but there is considerable individual variation in the amount of yellow on the belly. Pictured below, a Yellow-bellied Seedeater from Mindo, Ecuador, which is more yellow. Male Yellow-bellied Seedeaters are easy enough to identify by their dark hood.
The presumed female Yellow-bellied Seedeater, directly below, looks much like the female Variable Seedeater, so ID should be treated with caution.
Below, presumed female Yellow-bellied Seedeater, W. Panama.
More photos...Guira Tanager
20 January 2012 00:05
Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Milpe, Ecuador, March 2011
Bird name: Guira Tanager
Latin: Hemithraupis guira
Other: Pintasilgo de buche negro, güira (Es) • Saíra-de-papo-preto (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil to Venezuela and neighbours
Similar: Female with Yellow-backed Tanager
The Guira Tanager is apparently widespread throughout South America in lowland and degraded forest. I’ve only seen them a couple of times - in Ecuador in Mindo and at Milpe.
The adult male Guira Tanager has a yellow pointed bill, brown or black mask, orange throat, whitish underparts, olive upperparts, orange rump. The female lacks the orange and black markings.More photos...
Blue Necked Tanager
18 January 2012 16:33
Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador • 2011
Bird name: Blue Necked Tanager
Latin: Tangara cyanicollis
Other: Tangara capuchiazul (Es) • Saíra-de-cabeça-azul (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil, Ecuador, …
Similar:
Blue-necked Tanagers have bright blue heads, with black mask, dark bodies, and orange on shoulder. Underfeathers are actually blue and green but in normal lighting the body looks blackish.More photos...
Beryl Spangled Tanager
18 January 2012 14:14
Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador • 2011
Bird name: Beryl Spangled Tanager
Latin: Tangara nigroviridis
Other: Tangara mariposa (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar:
Probably the most frequently seen of all tanagers on my recent trip to Ecuador - often in mixed flocks, but very difficult to photograph - it’s small and fast moving and keeps its distance.More photos...
Golden Tanager
17 January 2012 09:31
Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, March.
Bird name: Golden Tanager
Latin: Tangara arthus
Other: Tángara dorada (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Blackburnian Warbler (if glimpsed)
The Golden Tanager is not uncommon in Ecuador in mid-altitude montane habitats. Seen in most locations, usually at least one in a mixed flock. Very easy to see - a bright light in cloud forest canopy. But Golden Tanagers are small and fast moving, and often stick to tree tops, so getting a good photo was not easy. Unmistakeable markings - usually the only other possibility for an orange flash is Blackburnian Warbler (which has a black head)
Below, Golden Tanager in Mindo, Ecuador.
More photos...Fawn Breasted Tanager
15 January 2012 14:05
Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Serra dos Tucanos Lodge, September
Bird name: Fawn Breasted Tanager
Latin: Pipraeidea melanonota
Other: Saíra viúva (Br) • Tangara pechianteada (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay; and SE S America
Similar:
The Fawn-breasted Tanager is buff or orange below with blue upper half and red irises. Found in the Andes and in montane habitats in southern Brazil and bordering countries.
I saw Fawn-breasted Tanagers in Mindo and San Isidro Lodge in Ecuador and at Serra dos Tucanos Lodge in Brazil.
The male Fawn-breasted Tanager has deeper colours than the female and the Brazilian Fawn-breasted Tanager (above, male) apparently had richer colours than the Ecuadorian birds (below).
Below, Fawn Breasted Tanager, Ecuador, March.
More photos...Velvet Purple Coronet
04 January 2012 13:58
Copyright: monacoeye • Mindo Lindo, Ecuador, February • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Velvet Purple Coronet
Latin: Boissonneaua jardini
Other: Coronita Aterciopelada, Colibrí sietecolores (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Andes; Colombia, Ecuador
Similar:
The Velvet Purple Coronet is a very striking bird with superb deep purple plumage. The head and chest can often look black. In Ecuador found northwest of Quito, in mid-altitude forest - seen here at Mindo Lindo Lodge, for example.
More photos...Andean Emerald
04 January 2012 09:00
Copyright: monacoeye • Mindo, Ecuador, February • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Andean Emerald
Latin: Amazilia franciae
Other: Esmeralda andina, Diamante de pico largo (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Andes; Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar:
The Andean Emerald, pictured here in Mindo, Ecuador. White below with green crown. It lives in the cloud forest from 1000 to 2000 metres.
More photos...Turkey Vulture
27 November 2011 15:48
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Canopy Tower, Panama April 2010
Bird name: Turkey Vulture
Latin: Cathartes aura
Other: Urubu-de-cabeça-vermelha (Br) • Turkey Buzzard (US) • John Crow (Caribbean) • Aura común (Es)
Family: Cathartidae • New World Vultures
Range: Americas: Canada to Argentina, incl Panama, Ecuador, Brazil etc.
Similar: Black Vulture, Lesser Yellow Headed Vulture, Comparison
In Panama, there is only one other similar vulture with a thick white trailing band on the wing, the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, which has a yellowish, not pink, head.
Turkey Vultures can quickly be distinguished from other birds of prey at a distance by their V-shaped wings when gliding. The key fieldmark for differentiating them from other vultures is the well defined light underside of wings. Also they have pink heads.
Cathartes aura ruficollis, the indigenous Panamanian vultures pictured above and further below have light marks on the back of the neck. Large numbers of migrating Turkey Vultures can also be seen in Panama at the right time of the year.
Turkey Vultures were less common than Black-headed Vultures by the coast and in Itatiaia NP. There I saw them on three occasions, singly or in pairs, very high up or low in the forest.
In the Pantanal they were seen regularly in August 2011, but not as frequently as the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture.
In Panama, in April, the Turkey Vulture was more common than the American Black Vulture, and frequently seen in most non-urban locations. The observation deck of the Canopy Tower is a good place to get views of them soaring across the top of the forest.
Below: Turkey Vulture showing light underside of wing feathers, Pantanal, Brazil, August.
More photos...Roadside Hawk
04 November 2011 16:24
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...
Booted Racket Tail
17 July 2011 11:20
Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador • Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Booted Racket Tail
Latin: Ocreatus underwoodii
Other: Colaespátula zamarrito (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: N Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia
Similar: Purple-bibbed White-tip female
The Booted Racket-Tail was one of the first hummingbirds I saw in Ecuador, at 1800 m altitude at the Santa Lucia Reserve feeders. Then at other feeders, for example, the excellent hummingbird set-up at Mindo Lindo, and at nearby Septimo Paraiso, but not lower down in the town of Mindo.
The male Booted Racket-Tail (above) is instantly recognisable by its long tail feathers, terminating in purple “rackets” (more difficult to identify when regrowing these feathers) and fluffy white thigh “boots”. Otherwise mostly green, with white post-ocular mark and brown wings.
The female (directly below) is more difficult to identify. She has a normal-sized tail, white chest and underparts, greenish upperside (coppery with flash) which stretches down round the sides leaving a few spots on the belly. She has smaller thigh puffs, pale feet, dark bill, white post-ocular spot, white tail-tip, and faint short white malar stripe.
There are two subspecies in Ecuador: peruanus female has buff thighs and crissum and more spotting on chest, melanantherus - the one seen NW of Quito - has white puffs and crissum and white chest.
Directly below, a female Booted Racket-Tail in northwest Ecuador. Copyright monacoeye.
More photos...Masked Trogon
26 May 2011 17:43
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ecuador, 2011.
Bird name: Masked Trogon
Latin: Trogon personatus
Other:
Family: Trogonidae • Trogons
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, SC Venezuela
Similar:
Masked Trogons were seen in many locations in Ecuador - Mindo, Milpe, Mindo Lindo, Bellavista, Guango, San Isidro.
Males are green, black and red with white marks. Females are brown and red. Many more examples in “more photos”.
More photos...
Red Billed Parrot
25 May 2011 21:08
Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Mindo, February 2011.
Bird name: Red billed Parrot
Latin: Pionus sordidus
Other: Loro sórdido (Es)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots
Range: Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador
Similar:
I saw these Red-billed Parrots at various locations in and around Mindo, Ecuador. They are the only parrots with reddish bills in Ecuador, they also have blue around the throat and red in the tail, which is short. The rest is green.More photos...
Pale Mandibled Aracari
09 April 2011 23:42
Copyright: monacoeye • Silanche, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Pale Mandibled Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus erythropygius
Other: Arasari Piquipálido (Es) - split from P. torquatus, Collared Aracari
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: Western Ecuador
Similar: Stripe Billed Aracari
I had good views of several Pale Mandibled Aracaris, first at the Rio Silanche Reserve, from the observation tower and in the forest, and then again at El Monte Lodge in Mindo.
The Pale Mandibled Aracari, which is split from the Collared Aracari complex, is best identified by its light lower bill, and one black band on the yellow belly with a smudge or dot on the chest.
More photos...Crimson Rumped Toucanet
09 April 2011 23:41
Copyright: monacoeye • Paz de las Aves, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Crimson Rumped Toucanet
Latin: Aulacorhynchus haematopygus
Other: Tucánete Lomirrojo (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: W Venezuela, Colombia, E Ecuador
Similar: Chestnut-tipped Toucanet
Crimson Rumped Toucanets seemed to be one of the most easily seen of the toucan family in Pichincha, northwest Ecuador. First seen at Santa Lucia, then visiting feeders at Paz de las Aves.
Crimson Rumped Toucanets are mostly green, with red bill, rump and tail tip. Base of bill is white.More photos...
Choco Toucan
09 April 2011 12:25
Copyright: monacoeye • Mindo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Choco Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos brevis
Other: Tucán del Chocó (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: Northwest Colombia to southwest Ecuador
Similar: Chestnut-mandibled Toucan
I was pleased to see these Choco Toucans in Mindo. They look similar to the Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, although the latter has a brown, not black, lower mandible.More photos...
Giant Antpitta
08 April 2011 18:01
Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Paz de las Aves, Ecuador, Oct 2010 • Do not copy
Bird name: Giant Antpitta
Latin: Grallaria gigantica
Other: Gralaria gigante
Family: Grallariidae • Antpittas
Range: Southwest Colombia, north Ecuador
Similar:
Angel Paz started the whole Antpitta craze several years ago by feeding worms to Maria the Giant Antpitta and then bringing birders along to see her.
Unfortunately when I visited his ranch in March 2011, Maria had not been seen for three months, and the assumption was that she must have been eaten.
Angel seemed understandably a little preoccupied by this state affairs - especially as Maria had been bringing in busloads of tourists - but he was working hard on finding replacements: we managed to see a Yellow-breasted and a Moustached Antpitta as well as some other nice birds.
Mid-morning we sat down to a breakfast of coffee and delicious cheese empanadas - one of the culinary highlights of my trip to Ecuador - cooked by his wife.
Many thanks to Tom for these photos of Maria taken in October 2010, just two months before her mysterious disappearance.More photos...
Yellow Breasted Antpitta
08 April 2011 16:36
Copyright: monacoeye • Paz de las Aves, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy
Bird name: Yellow Breasted Antpitta
Latin: Grallaria flavotincta
Other: Gralaria pechiamarillenta (Es)
Family: Grallariidae • Antpittas
Range: Colombia to northwest Ecuador
Similar:
A very nice Yellow-breasted Antpitta, which came to feed on worms at the Paz de las Aves ranch near Mindo.
More photos...Moustached Antpitta
08 April 2011 16:36
Copyright: monacoeye • Paz de las Aves, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy
Bird name: Moustached Antpitta
Latin: Grallaria alleni
Other: Gralaria bigotuda (Es)
Family: Grallariidae • Antpittas
Range: Southwest Colombia, north Ecuador
Similar:
The only problem with photographing Antpittas at Paz de las Aves was that my camera wasn’t quite up to the job of taking photos in the dark forest without flash.
Still it was great to see a Moustached Antpitta, birds which I’m told rarely respond to playback.
More photos...Violet Tailed Sylph
05 April 2011 14:15
Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador • Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Violet Tailed Sylph
Latin: Aglaiocercus coelestis
Other: Silfo colivioleta (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Colombia, Ecuador
Similar: Long-tailed Sylph
The male (above) Violet-tailed Sylph has this fabulous long violet tail. Guides love to point them out. Look a Violet-tailed Sylph! Thanks, even I managed to recognise that one… Fortunately where I saw them - Santa Lucia, Milpe, Mindo - there appeared to be no Long-tailed Sylphs to confuse the issue (they have green-blue tails). Male Violet-tailed Sylphs (only in NW ?) have purple bibs.
Females (below) look quite different: no long tail, white chest, peach-coloured belly, speckled throat, but same short bill. Some males have shorter tails - there’s an example in more photos.
Violet-tailed Sylphs were quite abundant at feeders in mountainous, forested areas of northwest Ecuador, and also often seen in the forest.
Directly below, a female Violet-tailed Sylph in northwest Ecuador.
Below, a male Violet-tailed Sylph showing purple bib.
More photos...
White Throated Quail Dove
04 April 2011 16:28
Copyright: monacoeye • Paz de las Aves, Ecuador • Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: White Throated Quail Dove
Latin: Geotrygon frenata
Other: Paloma Perdiz Goliblanca (Es)
Family: Columbidae • Pigeons, Doves
Range: W Colombia, Ecuador to NW Argentina
Similar:
White-throated Quail Doves are not that uncommon, but difficult to see. The first I saw was perched near the ground in dark forest in Santa Lucia, beside a trail. The second was one of a pair walking along the ground in the forest at Paz de las Aves near Mindo.
The White Throated Quail Dove has bright yellow irises, with a dark line on face separating top and bottom halves. Its neck feathers seem to produce a kind of spiral effect.More photos...
Grey Breasted Wood Wren
04 April 2011 16:28
Copyright: monacoeye • Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Grey Breasted Wood Wren
Latin: Henicorhina leucophrys
Other: Gray Breasted Wood Wren (US) • Sotterey Montes Pechigris (Es)
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens
Range: Mexico to northern Bolivia
Similar: White-breasted Wood-wren
There were several Grey-breasted Wood Wrens in this location in Chiriqui, Panama, and with some patience, we eventually coaxed them out of the gloom of the canopy, for long enough to be visible enough for a photo. As with other wrens, they have an attractive clear song.
The Grey-breasted Wood Wren is similar to the White-breasted Wood Wren, with dark cap and prominent white stripe above eye. The main difference is a grey chest instead of a white chest.
Also seen and heard in NW Ecuador.
More photos...Dark Backed Wood Quail
04 April 2011 16:21
Copyright: monacoeye • Paz de las Aves, Ecuador • Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Dark Backed Wood Quail
Latin: Odontophorus melanonotus
Other: Corcovado dorsioscuro (Es)
Family: Odontophoridae • New World Quail
Range: SW Colombia, NW Ecuador
Similar:
These beautiful Dark-backed Wood-quail came to feed on worms at the Paz de las Aves ranch in Mindo. It has the simplest pattern of the Andean wood-quails, brown with a rufous orange chest.
More photos...Silver Throated Tanager
26 January 2011 23:32
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...Broad Billed Motmot
15 October 2010 18:43
Copyright: monacoeye • Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Broad Billed Motmot
Latin: Electron platyrhynchum
Other: Momoto piquiancho (Es)
Family: Momotidae • Motmots
Range: E Honduras to Panama to SW Ecuador, W Amazonia
Similar: Rufous Motmot
The green on the lower belly of the Broad-billed Motmot rises up higher than on the Rufous Motmot. A greenish chin is sometimes visible. Otherwise similar, cinnamon head and chest, darker green-blue wings, black mask, and spot on chest.
Also seen in Mindo and Silanche in NW Ecuador.More photos...
Rufous Motmot
15 October 2010 18:43
Copyright: monacoeye • Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission
Bird name: Rufous Motmot
Latin: Baryphthengus martii
Other: Momoto rufo (Es)
Family: Momotidae • Motmots
Range: E Honduras to Panama to SW Ecuador, W Amazonia
Similar: Broad-billed Motmot
The Rufous Motmot is larger than the similar Broad Billed Motmot and less green below. Black mask, cinnamon head, chest and belly. The rest is emerald green-blue. Black spot on chest.
Also seen in Mindo and Silanche in NW Ecuador.More photos...