© 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 All rights reserved. Gamboa, 27 April 2010

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

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

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

More photos...

© 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 • Silanche, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Cinnamon Woodpecker
Latin: Celeus loricatus
Other: Es: carpintero canelo
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: SE Guatemala, Nicaragua, Coast Rica, Panama, Colombia, W Ecuador
Similar: Ringed Woodpecker, Chestnut Woodpecker, Scaly-brested Woodpecker

The Cinnamon Woodpecker is an attractive brown forest woodpecker. I saw them in northwest Ecuador and central PanamaMore 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, May 2010

Bird name: Scarlet Rumped Cacique
Latin: Cacicus microrhynchus
Other: Arrendajo cola escarlata, plío, sargento, cacique de rabadilla roja (Es)
Family: Icteridae • Caciques
Range: Honduras to Panama
Similar: Subtropical Cacique split

Here the Scarlet-rumped Cacique, refers only to the bird mostly west of the Darien Gap: Panama, Honduras etc. Also found in western Ecuador (pic below). The red rump is often not visible when perched.

Below: Scarlet Rumped Cacique spotted from the observation deck of the Canopy Tower.

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 • 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 • Brazil, November 2009

Bird name: Blue Dacnis
Latin: Dacnis cayana
Other: Turquoise Honeycreeper • Saí azul (Br) • Dacnis azul, mielero turquesa (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Dacnises
Range: Nicaragua to Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil
Similar:

The Blue Dacnis is a widespread tanager found in much of South and Central America, including nearly all of Brazil. It will visit fruit feeders and sometimes even tries nectar feeders. Also seen on Cecropia from observation deck of Canopy Tower in Panama.

The Blue Dacnis has pink legs, and a black wedge-shaped mask. Plumage is electric blue in the male (above) with black on back, wings and black bill. The female (below) has a green body and blue head.

The lowest photo shows a bird which may be a very young Blue Dacnis, but shows little of the usual colouration.

Below, female Blue Dacnis.

More photos...

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 • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Green Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle americana
Other: Martín pescador verde (Es) • Martim-pescador-pequeno (Br)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: SW USA to N Argentina
Similar: Amazon Kingfisher

The male Green Kingfisher (above) has a white neck, rufous chest, green head and back, white-spotted black wings and white underneath. The female (below) lacks the rufous colouring.

A smaller bird than the Amazon Kingfisher. Seen regularly in the Pantanal on the banks of the Rio Claro, at Curicaca Lodge, for example. Also Ecuador in the Oriente and Panama in the Canal Zone.

A presumed female Green Kingfisher at Pousada Curicaca.
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 • 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, April 2010

Bird name: Palm Tanager
Latin: Thraupis palmarum
Other: Sanhaçu-do-coqueiro (Br) • Tangara (Es), Azulejo de palmeras
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Guatemala to Paraguay & S Brazil
Similar: Olive-green, Sayaca Tanager (Brazil), Plain Tanager (Panama)

The Palm Tanager is one of the duller looking tanagers, in Brazil mostly uniform olive-green, with lighter patches on wing and darker tips, head lighter and greener, with only a black iris and bill which stand out.

In Panama, at least one pair roosted in the eves of the Canopy Tower. The Panama Palm Tanager (above) has brown wing tips and tail and is far less uniform and green than its Brazilian counterpart (lowest photo, next page). On close examination there was an almost purplish sheen to some of the back and chest of the birds in Panama.

In Brazil, the Olive-green tanager is yellower below, with distinct upper and lower halves, and fluffier. The Sayaca Tanager is obviously blue, not green, but from below in some lights, when both are pale can look similar - the same goes for Golden-chevroned Tanager, which can also look similar from below.

The Palm Tanager is fairly common throughout most of the northern half of South America and extending into Central America and the Caribbean. Found near houses as well as other areas.

Directly below, a Palm Tanager in Panama.


Below, a Palm Tanager in Ubatuba, Brazil, Nov 2009. Brazilian Palm Tanagers were a uniform greenish colour and lacked the brown wing of the Panama variety.
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, 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, 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 • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Canopy Tower, Apr 2010

Bird name: Scarlet Tanager
Latin: Piranga olivacea
Other: Tángara rojinegra migratoria (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers - now Cardinalidae
Range: Breeds in North America, migrates to western Amazonia
Similar:

We saw this Scarlet Tanager from the observation tower of the Canopy Tower in central Panama. Presumably migrating, in late April. The female is yellow olive.More photos...

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

Bird name: Plain Colored Tanager
Latin: Tangara inornata
Other: Plain-coloured Tanager (UK) •
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, northern Colombia
Similar: Palm Tanager

The Plain-colored Tanager is aptly named. It is a small tanager with not much in the way of colour except for a small patch of bright blue on each shoulder - which helps differentiate it from the Palm Tanager, which is also larger. They regularly visited the fruiting Cecropia tree beside the Canopy Tower.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Short Tailed Swift
Latin: Chaetura brachyura
Other: Vencejo rabón (Es)
Family: Apodidae • Swifts
Range: Panama through Amazonia

Short-tailed Swifts seemed to be the most common sort in Panama. Identifiable by their apparent lack of tail.

There were one or two other types of swift pointed out at times - Costa Rican Swift, Band-rumped Swift, and the more easily identified White-collared Swift, which I had already seen in Brazil - but the photos are so distant and ambiguous that I’ll wait for a better opportunity before adding those entries to the site.

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 • 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 • Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Breasted Wood Wren
Latin: Henicorhina leucosticta
Other:
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens
Range: Mexico to Peru & northern Brazil
Similar:

There are dozens of photography sites out there which specialise in hummingbirds, but I’ve never seen a photographer who specialises in wren photography! Wrens are fascinating birds, but more often heard than seen. They are often only a few yards away from forest paths, and yet so well hidden that they remain unseen.

This White-breasted Wood Wren was seen on Plantation Rd near Canopy Tower in Panama, but didn’t provide much of a photo opportunity.

The White-breasted Wood Wren is differentiated from the similar Grey-breasted Wood Wren by its mostly white underparts.

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

Bird name: Green Shrike Vireo
Latin: Vireolanius pulchellus
Other:
Family: Vireonidae • Vireos
Range: SE Mexico to Panama

Just a record shot of a Green Shrike-Vireo spotted from the observation deck of the Canopy Tower in central Panama. Note the vivid green plumage.

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 • Canopy Tower, Panama • April 2010

Bird name: Blue Cotinga
Latin: Cotinga nattererii
Other:
Family: Cotingidae • Cotingas
Range: Central Panama through Colombia to nw Ecuador and w Venezuela.

Do you see that tiny blue spot right in the centre of the photo? Standing on the crest of a pale green tree? Trust me it is there, and it is a beautiful Blue Cotinga. See below for the proof!

I would never have seen him, but our eagle-eyed guide spotted him from the observation roof of the Canopy Tower, in central Panama, and we had a good view through his scope.

The female Blue Cotinga is brown and rather dove-like.

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 • 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 • El Valle May 2010

Bird name: Brown Capped Tyrannulet
Latin: Ornithion brunneicapillus
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela

The Brown-capped Tyrannulet has a brown cap and white supercilium which runs round the front of its head. Yellow underparts, olive green upperparts.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 • Do not copy without permission • Panama, April 2010

Bird name: Boat Billed Flycatcher
Latin: Megarynchus pitangua
Other: Neinei (Br)
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Mexico to Brazil
Similar: Great Kiskadee

The Boat-billed Flycatcher is similar to the Great Kiskadee but has a larger, wider bill and is not so rufous. The Boat-billed Flycatcher has an olive tone to its upperparts.More photos...

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

Bird name: Eastern Wood Pewee
Latin: Contopus virens
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Breeds in North America, migrates to South America.

The Eastern Wood-pewee has two wing bars, is light underneath and has a long wingtips. Seen here in Central Panama in late April, migrating northwards presumably.

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

Bird name: Lesser Kiskadee
Latin: Philohydor lictor
Other: Pitangus lictor • Bem-te-vizinho (Br)
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Panama to Brazil
Similar: Social Flycatcher, Rusty-Margined Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee

These Lesser Kiskadees were seen together alighting on narrow branches above a shady brook at the Ammo Ponds in central Panama. They are usually seen in pairs and near water.

They look very similar to the Rusty Margined Flycatcher, but have longer more pointed bills than the latter.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Eastern Kingbird
Latin: Tyrannus tyrannus
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: North America, migrating to South America, via Panama etc

These Eastern Kingbirds were migrating northwards when we saw them in central Panama in April. More photos...

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

Bird name: Rusty Margined Flycatcher
Latin: Myiozetetes cayanensis
Other: Bentevizinho-de-asa-ferrugínea (Br)
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia,Venezuela, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil
Similar: Social Flycatcher, Lesser Kiskadee, Great Kiskadee

The Rusty-margined Flycatcher has slight rufous edging to the wing. Often near water. Seen here near Ammo Ponds, in the canal zone of central Panama.

They look very similar to some other flycatchers, such as the Social Flycatcher, so I’m relying on the guide’s ID for these.More photos...

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

Bird name: Black Breasted Puffbird
Latin: Notharchus pectoralis
Other:
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds
Range: Panama, Colmbia, NW Ecuador

This Black-breasted Puffbird was seen here on Semaphore Hill, the approach road to the Canopy Tower, sitting patiently on a bough overlooking the road. He was still there when I left.

Black-breasted Puffbirds have a broad black band across the chest which connects up to the eye, and white throat, differentiating them from other similar Puffbirds.More photos...

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

Bird name: Dusky Antbird
Latin: Cercomacra tyrannina
Other:
Family: Thamnophilidae • Antbirds
Range: SE Mexico through Panama to N Amazonia

This was almost certainly a female Dusky Antbird, seen beside Semaphore Hill, the approach road to Canopy Tower in Panama.

The male, which is all grey, with some white on the wing edges, was nearby in the undergrowth. The female is orange rufous underneath and brown above. Quite a long bill.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 • Chiriqui, Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Flanked Antwren
Latin: Myrmotherula axillaris
Other: Choquinha-de-flancos-brancos (Br)
Family: Thamnophilidae • Antbirds
Range: Panama, SE Honduras through Amazonia

The White-flanked Antwren looks somewhat similar to the Dot-winged Antwren but has lacks the broad white band on the wings and has an additional white patch on its flank.

It has a large range from Honduras to Brazil, seen here on the Plantation Road near the Canopy Lodge in central Panama.

Lovely bird! 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 • Canopy Tower, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Plain Xenops
Latin: Xenops minutus
Other:
Family: Furnariidae • Xenops
Range: S Mexico, Central America, Panama, to Amazonia, SE South America

Just recognisable as a Plain Xenops, from the characteristic upturned bill. Light supercilium and white malar streak. Spotted on a very misty day, from the top of the Canopy Tower observatory in central Panama.

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, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Plain Brown Woodcreeper
Latin: Dendrocincla fuliginosa
Other:
Family: Furnariidae • Woodcreepers
Range: Panama, SE Honduras to Amazonia, E Brazil

We saw Plain Brown Woodcreeper on Plantation Road, not far from Canopy Tower, in the Canal zone of central Panama. Really just plain brown, with few markings.More photos...

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

Bird name: Chestnut Mandibled Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos swainsonii
Other: Tucán de pico castaño, Tucán de Swainson (Es) • split from R. ambiguus
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: Southest Honduras to western Ecuador
Similar: Choco Toucan (Ecuador and Colombia)

I saw just one Chestnut-mandibled Toucan while in Panama and this was it. It was with a group of other toucans near the Chagres River in the Canal zone of central Panama. Stunning.More photos...

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

Bird name: Collared Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus torquatus
Other: Tucancillo collarejo (Es) • Arasarí acollarado (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: Mexico to Venezuela
Similar:

The Collared Aracari was not at all rare at the Canopy Tower. In fact one could usually be seen every morning at the crack of dawn or just before, feeding at the cecropias and other fruiting trees that surround the hotel. But the conditions never seemed very good for photography.

Upper mandible mostly light off-white with black tip, lower mandible black.More photos...

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

Bird name: American Pygmy Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle aenea
Other: Martín pescador americano chico (Es) • Martim-pescador-anão (Br)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: S Mexico to N Argentina
Similar:

This male American Pygmy Kingfisher (above right) caught a fish and then flew up from a lower a branch and presented it to the female (above left).

The female has a dark band across the chest, the male has a white patch on the lower belly. Otherwise both are rufous below and dark blue-green above.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 • Central Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Gartered Trogon
Latin: Trogon caligatus
Other: T. violaceus, Northern Violaceous Trogon
Family: Trogonidae • Trogons
Range: E Mexico to NW South America

When I saw this bird earlier this year it was identified as a Violaceous Trogon, but since then this northern type has been split from Violaceous Trogon into a new species called Gartered Trogon. I.e. Trogon caligatus is split from Trogon violaceus, the latter is only found in Amazonia.

Gartered Trogon males have a yellow eye-ring, orange yellow belly, deep bluish head, barred tail with two or three large white bands. Females (above) have a slate grey head and chest and black central tail feathers on an otherwise barred tail. Bill not yellow.More photos...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


More photos...

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

Bird name: 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 • Do not copy without permission • Panama, 24-30 April 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • 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...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Semaphore Hill • 26 April 2010

Bird name: Great Potoo
Latin: Nyctibius grandis
Other: Urutau-grande (Br) Mãe-da-lua-gigante
Family: Nyctibiidae
Range: Guatemala to Brazil

This Great Potoo was seen in the Soberania National Park in central Panama, high on a limb near the main road. The species is found in most of tropical Central and South America from Guatemala to southeastern Brazil.

At 50-60 cm, the Great Potoo is the largest of the seven Potoos, and the largest bird in its order. It is nocturnal, preying on large flying insects and sometimes bats. It’s very well camouflaged during the day and difficult to spot.

Slightly reminiscent of Lewis Caroll’s Cheshire Cat.
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...