Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: Orange Billed Sparrow
Latin: Arremon aurantiirostris
Other: Pinzón piquinaranja, rascadorcito piquinaranja (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • New World Sparrows
Range: Mexico to Peru
Similar:

I snapped these shots of an Orange-billed Sparrow through the glass at the restaurant at the Mirador Rio Branco. You can see quite a few good birds at this well-priced hotel close to the Milpe Reserve.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Mirador Rio Branco, Ecuador, 2011

Bird name: Yellow Throated Bush Tanager
Latin: Chlorospingus flavigularis
Other: Montero gorgiamarillo, Clorospingo goliamarillo (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Bush Tanagers
Range: Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar:

I saw the Yellow-throated Bush-tanager several times around the Milpe Reserve region - including the cheap and excellent Mirador Rio Branco, which I would recommend to anyone visiting the area.

Yellow-throated Bush-tanagers have a yellow hood and upperparts, grey lores and light underparts, pale irises.

Below, the Yellow-throated Bush-tanager at Mirador Rio Branco, Ecuador
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Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: Scarlet and White Tanager
Latin: Chrysothlypis salmoni
Other: Tángara escarlatiblanca (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador
Similar: Hepatic Tanager, Summer Tanager

Another unconfirmed record shot - this time of a possible Scarlet-and-white Tanager at the Mirador Rio Blanco in northwest Ecuador. Scarlet-and-white Tanagers do look similar to this - red body with black edging to wings and white belly - but from this angle Summer Tanager or Hepatic Tanager are also both possible.

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.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Santa Lucia, Ecuador, March.

Bird name: Slate Throated Whitestart
Latin: Myioborus miniatus
Other: Slate-throated Redstart • Candelita goliplomiza (Es) • Mariquita-cinza (Br)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers, Whitestarts
Range: Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Guianas, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina.
Similar: Parulas, Euphonias

One of the most widespread and frequently-seen passerines in Ecuador in March at mid-altitude - fast-moving but will perch nearby. Seen on the slope up to Santa Lucia, Mirador Rio Blanco, Paz de las Aves and Milpe, but the best views were at San Isidro (above). Often found in mixed flocks.

In Panama, I only saw them in the eastern Chiriqui province, where they are known by the old name of Slate-throated Redstart. They did not live close to huts like the Collared Whitestart, so were seen less frequently.

The Slate-throated Whitestart is yellow below, slate above, extending over head and throat (unlike the Parulas in Panama). Longish tail with white outer feathers distinguishes it from Euphonias. Small rufous crest is sometimes difficult to see. One fanned its tail frequently (photo below).



Directly above and below, Slate-throated Whitestarts, Chiriqui, Panama, May. © monacoeye
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