© monacoeye • All rights reserved • Pipeline Road, Panama, 24 April 2010

Bird name: Pheasant Cuckoo
Latin: Dromococcyx phasianellus
Other: Géocoucou faisan (Fr), Saci-faisão (Br), Cuco faisán (Es),
Family: Cuculidae - Cuckoos
Range: Mexico to Brazil, Argentina
Similar:

Record shots of the hard-to-see Pheasant Cuckoo, which was calling in very dark forest undergrowth, near the Pipeline Road, in central Panama. Then again very responsive to calls at one location at forest edge, Chapada das Guimarães, Brazil.

The Pheasant Cuckoo has a white line above the eye, a pronounced rufous crest, and voluminous fanned tail.

Below, Pheasant Cuckoo, Chapada das Guimarães, Brazil
More photos...

© monacoeye • Silanche, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Black Cheeked Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes pucherani
Other: Es: carpintero centroamericano, carpintero cara negra
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: S Mexico to W Ecuador
Similar: Yellow-tufted Woodpecker ?

I had a brief view of a male Black-cheeked Woodpecker in the Canal Zone in central Panama and better views at the Rio Silanche Reserve in NW Ecuador.

The male has a red cap with black band running down from eye to neck and cream coloured face and throat. Small white spot above eye. Blackish back with some white spots or bars. Belly lightly barred. Female only nape is red.

Below, male Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Silanche, Ecuador, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Central Panama, April 2010 • All rights reserved

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

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.

Below, male Red-crowned Woodpecker, Panama, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Para, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Crimson Crested Woodpecker
Latin: Campephilus melanoleucos
Other: Br: Pica-pau-de-topete-vermelho • Es: picamaderos barbinegro, carpintero marcial • Fr: Pic de Malherbe
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Panama to northern Argentina
Similar: Lineated Woodpecker

The Crimson-crested Woodpecker is a large woodpecker, similar-looking to the Lineated Woodpecker. One main difference is that the two white stripes on its back are narrow and converge in a v, unlike those of the Lineated Woodpecker which are widely spaced.

The Crimson-crested Woodpecker male (further below) has a mostly red head, with a black and white “badge” on the ear coverts. The female (above and below) has a broad white stripe on face and black forehead. Throat black, underside swirly stripes.More photos...

© monacoeye • Central Panama, April 2010 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Lineated Woodpecker
Latin: Dryocopus lineatus
Other: Br: Pica-pau-de-banda-branca • Es: picamaderos listado, carpintero crestirrojo, carpintero real, carpintero de garganta estriada, pito negro listado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Widespread Latin America
Similar: Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Powerful Woodpecker etc

The Lineated Woodpecker is found throughout most of South and Central America north of Argentina, including all of Brazil. Was seen fairly frequently in Panama, Ecuador, Brazil.

The Lineated Woodpecker has a red crest, and white face stripe, relatively thin usually, which extends down neck - red malar stripe (see below) on male, dark on the female (photo above). The chest is dark, with variable amounts of horizontal barring on underside, depending on race.

The Lineated Woodpecker usually has two widely-spaced white vertical bands on its back, differentiating it from the Crimson Crested Woodpecker which has narrow bands which meet in “v”. It also has a large dark grey patch behind the eye unlike most of the Campephilus woodpeckers.

Below, male Lineated Woodpecker, Pantanal, Brazil, showing red facial stripe
More photos...

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

Bird name: Shining Honeycreeper
Latin: Cyanerpes lucidus
Other: Mielero dorsiazul (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Honeycreepers
Range: Mexico to Colombia
Similar: Red-legged Honeycreeper

Just a record shot of this Shining Honeycreeper seen in Panama! NB yellow legs.

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...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Serra dos Tucanos, September 2011

Bird name: Red Eyed Vireo
Latin: Vireo olivaceus
Other: Vireo ojirrojo (Es) • Juruviara (Br)
Family: Vireonidae • Vireos
Range: Canada through Amazonia, South America
Similar:

The Red Eyed Vireo has a red iris, thin black stripe above white supercilium, light underparts, yellowy green upperparts.

There are resident North American and South American populations, both migrating. A South-American resident group is called Chivi Vireo - birds have brown eyes and yellow vent.

The Chivi Vireo pictured above was seen at Serra dos Tucanos Lodge near Rio in September. Red-eyed Vireos are seen in many forests of South America, many for example in Oriente, Ecuador, in March. We saw a migrant Red-eyed Vireo at the Finca Hartmann in western Panama, in May (further below).More photos...

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

Bird name: Great Jacamar
Latin: Jacamerops aureus
Other: Jacamará, jacamará grande (Es) • Jacamaraçu (Br)
Family: Galbulidae • Jacamars
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, NW Ecuador, Amazonia
Similar:

This Great Jacamar was somehow difficult to see, despite its vivid colours, as it sat motionless on an overhanging branch. Not a very common bird in Panama, we only saw one, here on the Pipeline Rd.More photos...

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...

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

Bird name: Keel Billed Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos sulfuratus
Other: Tucán pico iris (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: E Mexico to NW Venezuela
Similar:

We saw the Keel-billed Toucan quite frequently in the Canal Zone of Panama. We could see at least one, usually a pair or group, most days from the Canopy Tower itself, though often at some distance.

Unmistakeable by its beautiful lime green, raspberry, orange and sky blue bill, and yellow throat. More photos...

Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Ecuador, October 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Pied Puffbird
Latin: Notharchus tectus
Other: Buco Pinto (Es) • Macuru-pintado (Br)
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador through Amazonia to Brazil
Similar:

Many thanks to Tom for the great photo above of a Pied Puffbird, in Ecuador. With white spotting to crown, and larger black band.

In Panama, the Pied Puffbird has a narrow black collar and white-tipped tail, differentiating it from other Notarchus Puffirds. More photos...

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

Bird name: White Tailed Trogon
Latin: Trogon chionurus
Other:
Family: Trogonidae • Trogons
Range: Panama to W Ecuador

The White-Tailed Trogon is now considered a separate species from T. viridis. Both male and female White-Tailed Trogons have pale blue eye rings and predominantly white tails (unlike all other Panamanian yellow bellied trogons). The female has slate grey upperparts while the male is bluish-black. Both have yellow bellies.

We saw several in Central Panama, including one from the observation deck of the Canopy Tower. Also seen in Ecuador at the Rio Silanche Reserve (see “more photos” below).
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Silanche, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Purple Throated Fruitcrow
Latin: Querula purpurata
Other: Querula gorgimorada (Es)
Family: Cotingidae • Cotingas, Manakins, Fruitcrows
Range: Southern Nicaragua to Amazonia. Inc. Panama, Ecuador.
Similar:

Above a male Purple-throated Fruitcrow, extending the purple ruff on its neck after calling, in the Rio Silanche Reserve in northwest Ecuador. Females are all black (see “more photos”), only males have the purple throat. Not in the crow family, but related to Cotingas. More photos...

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

Bird name: Blue Black Grosbeak
Latin: Cyanocompsa cyanoides
Other: Picogrueso negro (Es)
Family: Cardinalidae • Grosbeaks
Range: SE Mexico to Ecuador & W Amazonia
Similar:

An adult Blue-black Grosbeak feeding a brown juvenile below.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Blue Grey Tanager
Latin: Thraupis episcopus
Other: Blue-Gray Tanager (US) • Tangara azulada, azulejo de jardín (Es), sanhaço-da-amazônia (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: S Mexico to Bolivia, Amazonia
Similar: Palm Tanager

The Blue-grey Tanager is one of the most common and omnipresent garden tanagers in Panama. It is pale grey with blue on wings tail and back. The shade of blue varies from cobalt to turquoise. Seen from below the Blue-gray Tanager can look very white, like other Thraupis tanagers.More photos...

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

Bird name: Grey Headed Tanager
Latin: Eucometis penicillata
Other: Gray-headed Tanager (US) • Tangara cabecigrís (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: SE Mexico to SC Brazil & N Paraguay
Similar: Female White-shouldered Tanager

The Grey-headed Tanager has a grey head and bright yellow underparts. Olive green above. This one was seen on Pipeline Road.

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, April 2010

Bird name: Red Throated Ant Tanager
Latin: Habia fuscicauda
Other: Tangara rojisucia fuscicauda, Tangara hormiguera gorjirroja (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Mexico to Colombia
Similar: Red Crowned Ant Tanager

The male Red-throated Ant Tanager is red-brown with brighter red throat and red crown. The female, below, is olive-brown with brighter yellow throat and yellow crown. I relied on the guide’s ID for these.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Tropical Gnatcatcher
Latin: Polioptila plumbea
Other:
Family: Polioptilidae • Gnatcatchers
Range: South Mexico to Peru and northeast Brazil

A few views of Tropical Gnatcatchers from Panama. These individuals have black markings near the bill and chin, unlike the illustrations in Ridgely and Gwynne which have a white face. Otherwise Tropical Gnatcatchers are generally white below and dark above, with a black line behind eye meeting black cap.

These are small fast moving birds, working the branches of large trees.More photos...

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

Bird name: Red Capped Manakin
Latin: Dixiphia mentalis
Other: Pipra mentalis
Family: Pipridae • Manakins
Range: SE Mexico to W Ecuador

The Red-capped Manakin males above were shuffling along their branch, “doing the moonwalk”, as part of their courtship in order to be selected by a female. Adult males have red heads, white irises, yellow thighs, and black bodies.

Females Red-capped Manakins are predominantly olive-green - one presumed below in “more photos”.More photos...

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

Bird name: Blue Crowned Manakin
Latin: Lepidothrix coronata
Other:
Family: Pipridae • Manakins
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, NW Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil

I only saw female Blue-crowned Manakins in Panama. They are distinguished from other female manakins by their bright green colour. Other female manakins tend to be olive green.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 • Pipeline Road, April 2010

Bird name: Forest Elaenia
Latin: Myiopagis gaimardii
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Elaenias
Range: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guianas, Bolivia, Brazil.

We saw this Forest Elaenia on Pipeline Road in central Panama.More photos...

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

Bird name: Brownish Twistwing
Latin: Cnipodectes subbrunneus
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Panama, Colombia, Ecuado, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil

We saw this Brownish Twistwing briefly on the Pipeline Road, in Panama. Chocolate brown, lighter underneath.More photos...

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

Bird name: Black Capped Pygmy Tyrant
Latin: Myiornis atricapillus
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador

The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant really is a tiny bird. In fact the smallest passerine in Panama. It has almost no tail, a black cap, white around eye, light underneath, and yellowish upperparts.

We saw this Black-Capped Pygmy Tyrant on the Pipeline Road in central Panama.

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

Bird name: Golden Crowned Spadebill
Latin: Platyrinchus coronatus
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Nicaragua to Brazil

Just one brief view of this Golden-crowned Spadebill. It is a very small bird, with hardly any tail, but a wide bill. Black vertical bands on the face below the eye and chestnut cap.

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

Bird name: White Whiskered Puffbird
Latin: Malacoptila panamensis
Other: Buco bigotiblanco (Es)
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds
Range: SE Mexico through to Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, W Ecuador
Similar:

We saw a couple of White-whiskered Puffbirds while in Panama. They don’t move around much so are relatively easy to photograph.

These were on Semaphore Hill, near Canopy Tower, and Pipeline Road in the canal zone of central Panama.

They have conspicuous white whiskers around the bill, red irises, and a streaked underparts and tawny chest. The lower half of the bill is light yellowish green.

See comments below for an individual in Silanche, NW Ecuador.More photos...

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

Bird name: Dot Winged Antwren
Latin: Microrhopias quixensis
Other: Velvety Antwren
Family: Thamnophilidae • Antbirds
Range: Panama, S Mexico to S Amazonia

The Dot-winged Antwren was probably the easiest to see of the Antwrens in Panama, as they will appear beside forest paths in fairly open understory. These were all seen beside the Pipeline Road in central Panama.

But they are still very hard to photograph as they move around at a frenetic pace in tangled branches. Photos below show them collecting nesting material and a spider.

The female, above, is the colourful one with rufous underparts and the rest dark except for white dots and white band on the wings and white tips to tail feathers. The male has the same white markings, but is otherwise completely black.

Both are very beautiful birds to look at, one of my favourites from Panama - still hope one day to get some really sharp shots!

More photos...

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

Bird name: Fasciated Antshrike
Latin: Cymbilaimus lineatus
Other:
Family: Thamnophilidae • Antbirds
Range: Panama, SE Honduras through Amazonia

We had a quick look of this male Fasciated Antshrike, on the Pipeline Road in central Panama.

It is narrowly barred throughout with a large overbite and red irises. More photos...

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

Bird name: Western Slaty Antshrike
Latin: Thamnophilus atrinucha
Other: Split from Slaty Antshrike, T. punctatus
Family: Thamnophilidae • Antbirds
Range: S Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, NW Venezuela, NW Peru

The male Western Slaty Antshrike is dark grey with white wing and tail markings, and the female is brown with similar white markings.

I saw them on a couple of occasions in central Panama on Pipeline Road and Plantation Road.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Streak Chested Antpitta
Latin: Hylopezus perspicillatus
Other: Spectacled Antpitta • Tororoi Pechirrayado (Es)
Family: Grallariidae • Antpittas
Range: Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, N Ecuador

This Streak-chested Antpitta was walking around on the dark forest floor near Pipeline Road in Central Panama.

It has no tail to speak of, a light eye ring, and strong, widely-spaced streaks on chest down flanks.More photos...

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

Bird name: Spotted Antbird
Latin: Hylophylax naevioides
Other:
Family: Thamnophilidae • Antbirds
Range: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, W Ecuador

The Spotted Antbird is a small bird with a richly marked plumage and light chest.

As with all antbirds, fast moving and difficult to photograph in the dense forest undergrowth. We saw them in the forest understory near Pipeline Road and Plantation Road in central Panama.More photos...

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

Bird name: Chestnut Backed Antbird
Latin: Myrmeciza exsul
Other:
Family: Thamnophilidae • Antbirds
Range: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, W Ecuador

Just a record shot of this Chestnut-backed Antbird, seen on the Pipeline Road in Panama. Dark with blue eyering.More photos...

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

Bird name: Checker Throated Antwren
Latin: Epinecrophylla fulviventris
Other: Fulvous-bellied Antwren
Family: Thamnophilidae • Antbirds
Range: SE Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, W Ecuador

Just a fleeting glimpse of this Checker-throated Antwren on the Pipeline Road in the Panama canal zone.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 • 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 • Soberania Park, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Throated Trogon
Latin: Trogon rufus
Other: Surucuá amarillo (Es) • Surucuá-de-barriga-amarela (Br)
Family: Trogonidae • Trogons
Range: Panama, Honduras to Ecuador, Amazonia, N Argentina

Both male and female Black Throated Trogons have a blue eyering - the female has an outer white ring. Both sexes have a yellow belly and striped tail with two or three thick white bands. Males have green upperparts, black face, light grey shoulder and yellow bill. Females have brown head and chest and dark bill.

We saw several in central Panama, in Soberania National Park, Pipeline Road, Plantation Road and in the Metropolitan Park - so this was probably the most common type of Trogon we encountered.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Black Tailed Trogon
Latin: Trogon melanurus
Other:
Family: Trogonidae • Trogons
Range: Panama to Venezuela, Amazonia

Here is a female Black-tailed Trogon seen in on the Pipeline Road in central Panama. Note predominantly dark tail, red belly, greyish upperparts, and yellow lower bill.

Bill colour differentiates Black-tailed Trogons from Slaty-Tailed Trogons, which have red bills.

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

Bird name: Slaty Tailed Trogon
Latin: Trogon massena
Other: Trogón grande (Es)
Family: Trogonidae • Trogons
Range: SE Mexico to NE Ecuador

The Slaty Tailed Trogon is identifiable by its orange-red bill and red belly with dark tail.

Males (above) have greenish head and top parts and red eye-ring, while females are slate grey. Males have light grey shoulders and upper wings. The female (directly below) tends to have a darkish upper bill and reddish lower bill. Bill and eye-ring colour is the best way to differentiate Slaty-tailed Trogons from Black-tailed Trogons.

We saw several in Soberania National Park, including on Pipeline Rd and from the observation deck of the Canopy Tower.

More photos...

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...

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!


More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Pipeline Road, Panama • 25 April 2010

Bird name: Semiplumbeous Hawk
Latin: Leucopternis semiplumbea
Other:
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador

The Semiplumbeous Hawk is slate grey on upperside, with red legs and one white band on tail, red ceres and base of bill, black bottom half of bill, orange-yellow irises, white underneath.

This individual was seen at the start of Pipeline Road, in central Panama, high in a tree, late April.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Swainson’s Hawk
Latin: Buteo swainsoni
Other: Grasshopper Hawk • Gavilán langostero (Es), Gavilán de Swainson
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: North and west US etc (Apr - Sep) to Argentina etc (Nov - Mar)
Similar:

A couple of Swainson’s Hawks were seen migrating northwards at the end of April, one in a large group of Mississippi Kites, near Pipeline Road in central Panama.More photos...

© monacoeye • Do not copy • Pipeline Road • 24 April 2010

Bird name: Spectacled Owl
Latin: Pulsatrix perspicillata
Other: Búho de antifaz (Es), Oropopo, Lechuzón • Murucututu (Br), Murucutu
Family: Strigidae • Owls
Range: Mexico to Argentina
Similar:

This Spectacled Owl was very difficult to see and focus on, perched inside a hollow in the canopy in almost total darkness. This large owl will sometimes prey on the much larger three-toed sloth.

This individual was seen off the Pipeline Road in central Panama. The Panamanian subspecies is Pulsatrix perspicillata chapmani. Spectacled Owls live from southern Mexico and Trinidad to southern Brazil and northwestern Argentina.More photos...

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

Bird name: Rufous Nightjar
Latin: Caprimulgus rufus
Other: João-corta-pão (Br)
Family: Caprimulgidae • Nightjars

The Rufous Nightjar is found from Costa Rica to Argentina.

This individual was sitting on a chick (not really visible here) in its “nest” on the ground, near Pipeline Road, east of the Panama Canal at the end of April. I think the chick might be the second patch of white on the chest.

It was very well camouflaged on the canopy floor of fallen leaves, and characteristically very difficult to spot even when looking straight at it.

More photos...