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

Bird name: Chestnut Capped Brush Finch
Latin: Arremon brunneinucha
Other: was Buarremon • Rascadorcito gorricastaño (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Brush Finches
Range: Mexico, via Panama, Colombia, to Ecuador, Peru
Similar:

A horde of Chestnut-capped Brush Finches immediately appeared when the guide put out some seed for them in the forests above Los Quetzales. I had seen one before briefly with juvenile (photo further below) in El Valle, but the prospect of a good meal was all these birds needed to overcome their otherwise shy nature.

Adult Chestnut-capped Brush Finches are great-looking birds with a chestnut crown bordered by a thin yellow stripe, black face with white spots, white throat bordered by black line below, grey chest, white belly, greenish back and grey tail.

Below, Chestnut-Capped Brush Finch, Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010
More photos...

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

Bird name: White Naped Brush Finch
Latin: Atlapetes albinucha
Other: Yellow-throated Brush Finch, Atlapetes gutturalis, is conspecific - Atlapetes barbiamarillo, Comepuntas (Es) • Atlapetes corona blanquirrayada (Mex)
Family: Emberizidae • Brush Finches
Range: Mexico to western Panama, Colombia
Similar:

The White-naped Brush Finch is also known in Panama as the Yellow-throated Brush Finch, and now considered conspecific by the IOC.

In Panama the White-naped Brush Finch has a yellow throat, white crest, white underside and dark upperparts. Seen here around the Lago Volcan.More photos...

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

Bird name: Large Footed Finch
Latin: Pezopetes capitalis
Other: Pata Larga (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • New World Sparrows, Brush Finches
Range: Costa Rica, western Panama
Similar:

I think the above photo is a juvenile Large-footed Finch and the lowest photo is a blurry shot probably of an adult seen at the same time.

We saw these above Cerro Punta in the Chiriqui mountains - higher than 2000 metres.More photos...

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

Bird name: Sooty Capped Bush Tanager
Latin: Chlorospingus pileatus
Other: Frutero copetón (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Bush Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica, western Panama
Similar:

In Panama, the Sooty-Capped Bush Tanager is found only in the western highlands. This individual was seen above 2000m.

The Sooty-Capped Bush Tanager is identified by the large white stripe above the eye, white throat, yellow body, and otherwise sooty head.More photos...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More photos...

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

Bird name: 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 • 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 • Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Little Blue Heron
Latin: Egretta caerulea
Other: Garceta azul (Es), garza azul • Garça-azul (Br)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Texas to Uruguay
Similar: Snowy Egret

The adult Little Blue Heron is an unmistakeable intense blue colour, with a touch of purple around the neck. Seen above at Rio Clarinho Lodge in the Pantanal - the only place I saw this bird. Much rarer than other similar sized herons and egrets.

Pictured below is a juvenile Little Blue Heron. Before gaining his blue-grey adult plumage, he could be mistaken for a Snowy Egret, as he is mostly white. This one was seen by the Chagres River in central Panama.

Below, juvenile Little Blue Heron, Gamboa, Panama, April 2010.
More photos...

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
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Blue Headed Parrot
Latin: Pionus menstruus
Other: Blue-headed Pionus (Pet) • Loro cabeciazul (Es) • Maitaca-de-cabeça-azul (Br)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, to Brazil
Similar:

The Blue-headed Parrot below was seen at Finca Hartmann in the Chiriqui province of western Panama in May.

The Blue-headed Parrot has a distinctive blue head, with small patch of red at base of bill and on chest, difficult to see in the field. Otherwise green with reddish under tail.

More seen in the Upper Napo region of the Amazon Basin in Ecuador below in “more photos”.

Below, a Blue-headed Parrot at Finca Hartmann, Panama, March 2010.
More photos...

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...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Mostardas, Brazil, November.

Bird name: Blue and White Swallow
Latin: Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
Other: Golondrina barranquera (Es) • Andorinha-pequena-de-casa (Br)
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows
Range: Widespread South America, also Panama
Similar:

The Blue-and-White Swallow is a small swallow, with dark, blue-black and brown upperparts and white below except for under tail. NB dark rump.

The Blue-and-White Swallow seems one of the most widespread swallows in Latin America, seen frequently in Brazil, in Mostardas and Itatiaia, and then again in the highlands of Panama.

Below, a Blue-and-white Swallow in the Chiriqui highlands, Panama, May.
More photos...

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

Bird name: Crested Oropendola
Latin: Psarocolius decumanus
Other: japu-preto (Br)
Family: Icteridae • Oropendolas
Range: N, SC, South America, also Panama
Similar: Chestnut-headed Oropendola

This was very likely a Crested Oropendola - a predominantly black bird with yellow bill. But just a record shot.

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

Bird name: Yellow Thighed Finch
Latin: Pselliophorus tibialis
Other:
Family: Emberizidae • New World Sparrows
Range: Costa Rica, western Panama
Similar: Yellow-Green Finch, Slaty Finch

The adult Yellow-thighed Finch is generally instantly recognisable with its yellow thigh pompom, black head and grey body, although the juvenile may have no yellow thigh. Also can be difficult to see in the rain.

These Yellow-thighed Finches came to eat seed in the mountains above Los Quezales.More photos...

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

Bird name: Slaty Flowerpiercer
Latin: Diglossa plumbea
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Flowerpiercers
Range: Costa Rica and western Panama
Similar:

The Slaty Flowerpiercer has a uniquely shaped bill adapted to its special method of feeding. The lower half of the bill is upturned and the upper bill has a small downturned hook at the tip. Slaty Flowerpiercers use this to puncture the base of flowers and access the nectar.

The male is a small dark grey bird and the female brownish. If you can see the bill there can be no doubt as to the identification in Panama. Slaty Flowerpiercers were common among the garden flowers of Los Quetzales lodge.


More photos...

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

Bird name: Streaked Saltator
Latin: Saltator striatipectus
Other:
Family: Cardinalidae • Saltators
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Streaked Flycatcher

The Streaked Saltator has similar colouring to the Streaked Flycatcher, but, of course, a completely different shaped bill.
More photos...

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

Bird name: Slaty Finch
Latin: Haplospiza rustica
Other: Gorrión pizarra (Es), Pizarra, Pinzón pizarroso (Mex)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters
Range: S Mexico to Venezuela, Bolivia
Similar:

The Slaty Finch is a little shy but I saw it coming to eat seed a couple of times near Cerro Punta, once at the Finca Dracula orchid farm seed feeder below and once when we put out some seed at Los Quetzales cabin number 8. The guide said that Slaty Finches were usually difficult to see.

The Slaty Finch is an all-grey bird found in the highlands.More photos...

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

Bird name: Yellow Faced Grassquit
Latin: Tiaris olivaceus
Other: Semillerito cariamarillo, Tomeguín de la tierra, viudito (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters, Grassquits
Range: Greater Antilles, E Mexico to Venezuela
Similar:

The male Yellow-faced Grassquit is quickly recognised by its distinctive face pattern, which almost resembles a nuclear hazard sign when viewed face on, with three yellow marks - two above the eyes and one below the chin. The female, directly below, is greyer with only a hint of the same pattern.

We saw Yellow-faced Grassquits frequently in Panama, in diverse habitats.


More photos...

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

Bird name: Tropical Mockingbird
Latin: Mimus gilvus
Other: Sinsonte, cenzontle tropical (Es) • Sabiá-da-praia (Br)
Family: Mimidae • Mockingbirds
Range: S Mexico to El Salvador, N, E South America

The Tropical Mockingbird which is endemic west of El Salvador and east of Colombia, was apparently introduced to Panama - I saw them at the Ammo Dump and in Chiriqui.

Light grey underneath with dark eye stripe and light iris.More photos...

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

Bird name: Yellow Bellied Siskin
Latin: Carduelis xanthogastra
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Siskins
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil. Bolivia
Similar:

The male Yellow-bellied Siskin is quite easy to identify - a dark hood reaching down to chest, bright yellow underparts, dark upperparts with a yellow patch on wing. This one was seen at the Finca Hartmann coffee farm in Chiriqui.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Black Striped Sparrow
Latin: Arremonops conirostris
Other:
Family: Emberizidae • New World Sparrows
Range: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, N Brazil
Similar:

The Black-striped Sparrow has a grey head with black stripes, light grey underparts and yellowish green upperparts. Great song which speeds up.More photos...

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

Bird name: Cherrie's Tanager
Latin: Ramphocelus costaricensis
Other: Scarlet-rumped Tanager • Tangara grupirroja (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: W Costa Rica, W Panama?
Similar: Passerini’s Tanager

These Cherrie’s Tanagers were seen in Chiriqui, western Panama. The male is black with a bright red rump and female is yellowish underneath with orange chest and rump and olive brown wings and tail.

They were often referred to as Scarlet-rumped Tanagers (the old name) which also includes Passerini’s Tanager.


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, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Flame Colored Tanager
Latin: Piranga bidentata
Other: Flame-coloured Tanager (UK) • Quitrique de espalda rayada (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers - now Cardinalidae
Range: W Mexico to Panama
Similar: White-winged Tanager

My taxi driver in Cerro Punta, who quickly got the bird-watching bug, spotted the above Flame-colored Tanager on the windowsill of a house we were passing. I was a little nervous walking into a stranger’s front garden and my prevarication probably missed me a really good shot.

The male Flame-colored Tanager is a fantastically bright orange-red bird. The female is yellow not red, but still has the white wingbars. Both male and female have a dark shadow behind the eye - this area is darker in the similar White-winged Tanager.More photos...

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

Bird name: Black and Yellow Tanager
Latin: Chrysothlypis chrysomelas
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica and Panama
Similar: Red-throated Ant Tanager

A possible Black-and-yellow Tanager seen in Chiriqui…

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

Bird name: Eastern Meadowlark
Latin: Sturnella magna
Other:
Family: Icteridae • Meadowlark
Range: SE Canada to NE Brazil
Similar:

I saw these Eastern Meadowlarks a couple of times in Panama, once in a meadow in El Valle, then again crossing the road near a house in Chiriqui.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Silver Throated Tanager
Latin: Tangara icterocephala
Other: Tangara garganta de plata (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador
Similar:

The Silver-throated Tanager is another beautiful tanager. Quite a small bird, and I didn’t see that many of them until I arrived at Los Quetzales in the Chiriqui western highlands of Panama, where they were attracted by the red berries of this fruiting tree.

The Silver-throated Tanager is mostly yellow with green and black markings on back, and distinctive whitish throat, which can look pale turquoise with flash. Throat bordered above with black line.

Also seen at El Monte Lodge, Mindo, northwest Ecuador.

Below, Silver-throated Tanager feeding on berries, Chiriqui, Panama, May.
More photos...

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

Bird name: Speckled Tanager
Latin: Tangara guttata
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica to N, NW Brazil
Similar:

The Speckled Tanager is a great looking tanager, but stayed in the shade when we saw it at Finca Hartmann in western Panama, so the colours are a little muted in the photo.

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

Bird name: Golden Browed Chlorophonia
Latin: Chlorophonia callophrys
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Chlorophonias
Range: Costa Rica and western Panama highlands
Similar:

A superbly coloured Golden-browed Chlorophonia seen in the Chiriqui highlands of western Panama.

An adult male is pictured above with yellow chest and stripe above eye, pale blue crest and neck, black mark near neck. The rest bright green.

Directly below, perhaps a juvenile feeding on a fruit, predominantly green with only a hint of the adult markings.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Spot Crowned Euphonia
Latin: Euphonia imitans
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Euphonias
Range: SW Costa Rica and Pacific W Panama (W Chiriqui)
Similar: Yellow Crowned Euphonia

Pictured is a female Spot-crowned Euphonia seen in Finca Hartmann in Chiriqui, Panama. She is identified by tawny cap and belly. The male is more difficult to ID - similar to the Yellow-crowned Euphonia but with spotting on crown.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Elegant Euphonia
Latin: Euphonia elegantissima
Other: Blue-hooded Euphonia • Eufonia gorriazul (Es)
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Euphonias
Range: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, W Panama.
Similar:

I couldn’t coax this Elegant Euphonia further out from its tangle of branches near Lago Volcan in western Panama.

The Elegant Euphonia is the only euphonia in its range with pale blue hood, black face, yellow-orange below, dark upperparts. In Panama, only found in western highlands.

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

Bird name: Collared Whitestart
Latin: Myioborus torquatus
Other: Collared Redstart
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Costa Rica and Western Panama highlands
Similar:

In Panama found mostly in the western highlands above 1800m. The Collared Whitestart (more commonly known as Collared Redstart) is very colourful in the dark forest, and can be found near habitations.

The adult is unmistakable with yellow face and underside, dark above with dark neck, and raised rufous crest. Fast moving, so difficult to photograph in that respect, but not particularly shy either.

The above adult was one of two returning to feed an adorable chick, below, which lacks most of the yellow colouring. An endearing bird!

More photos...

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

Bird name: Black Cheeked Warbler
Latin: Basileuterus melanogenys
Other:
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Costa Rica and Western Panama
Similar:

The Black-cheeked Warbler seems to have a feisty expression. We only saw one a couple of times in the high forest above Los Quetzales.

Black-cheeked Warblers are pale off-white below, light throat, with black face and white stripe above eye, a small rufous crown and white mark on wing. The rest dull olive brown.More photos...

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

Bird name: Rufous Capped Warbler
Latin: Basileuterus rufifrons
Other:
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Mexico to Panama
Similar:

The Rufous Capped Warbler has a rufous cap, white stripe above eye, black around eye, then more rufous and white below eye. Yellow underparts, olive green above.

Seen on most outings to the mountains of El Valle and once in Chiriqui.
More photos...

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

Bird name: Tropical Parula
Latin: Parula pitiayumi
Other: Chipe azul olivo tropical (Es)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Widespread Latin America, also S Texas
Similar: Flame Throated Warbler, Thick-billed Euphonia

The Tropical Parula is yellow below and dark above. Similar colour scheme to the Thick-billed Euphonia but lacks the yellow head patch, and completely different bill.

Only seen once in Panama, at Lago Volcan in Chiriqui.More photos...

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

Bird name: Flame Throated Warbler
Latin: Parula gutturalis
Other:
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Costa Rica and Western Panama highlands
Similar:

The Flame-throated Warbler is similar to its relative the Tropical Parula but white extends further up the belly, leaving only chest and neck orange-yellow.

I only saw the Flame-throated Warbler in the high mountain forest areas above Los Quetzales.More photos...

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

Bird name: Buff Rumped Warbler
Latin: Phaeothlypis fulvicauda
Other:
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia
Similar:

We saw this Buff-rumped Warbler on the Finca Hartmann in Chiriqui, western Panama. It was not far from a stream and scurried along the ground ahead of us as we approached, pausing on mounds. The guide said that they were not very common.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: Mountain Thrush
Latin: Turdus plebejus
Other:
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Southern Mexico to western Panama

I only saw these Mountain Thrushes in the high mountain forest in western Panama, where they were not uncommon but neither were they very approachable, generally flying soon after making eye-contact.

The above picture is a subadult. Mountain thrushes are generally brown with lighter underparts. Dark eyes and bill. Attractive song. Where I was, their habitat didn’t overlap with the Clay-colored Thrush.More photos...

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

Bird name: Ruddy Capped Nightingale Thrush
Latin: Catharus frantzii
Other:
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Central Mexico to Western Panama

The Ruddy Capped Nightingale Thrush is a small mountain thrush, one of the more frequently seen birds in the forested mountains above Los Quetzales in Panama, and has an attractive song.

Ruddy brownish, which extends over cap, lighter underneath.More photos...

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

Bird name: Black Faced Solitaire
Latin: Myadestes melanops
Other:
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama

The high mountain forests above Los Quetzales in Chiriqui resound to the entrancing, mystical sounds of the Black-faced Solitaire. Listening to recordings on the internet doesn’t do the song justice (eg here), because the frequencies can’t be captured with recording equipment and mp3.

The closest description I could give would be an aeolian harp or someone playing “wine glasses” by rubbing a wet finger around the rims of half-filled glasses. It is a high-pitched sound which carries, but also rich with deep tones. This ethereal song transforms the forest into a place of mystery - the first time I heard it I couldn’t believe that a bird could be the origin.

Although its song is often heard, I only saw a Black-faced Solitaire once. It is differentiated from other thrushes by its orange bill and legs, with dark iris and no orange eye-ring. It is dark grey with some white on wing and black face. Pictured below is a tree-trunk in which it was making a nest.More photos...

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

Bird name: Long Tailed Silky Flycatcher
Latin: Ptilogonys caudatus
Other:
Family: Ptilogonatidae • Silky Flycatchers
Range: Mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama

The Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher was relatively easy to spot near habitations in the Chiriqui highlands, but generally kept its distance, settling in the top branches of tall trees. They were always in pairs, the male having a greyer chest.

The Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher is instantly recognisable by its crest and long tail. Now placed in a small family of its own.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Black and Yellow Phainoptila
Latin: Phainoptila melanoxantha
Other: Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama

The more common name for the Black-and-yellow Phainoptila was Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher but Phainoptila is the name adopted by the IOC.

I only saw this one Black-and-yellow Phainoptila in Chiriqui, so considerably less numerous that its relative the Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Yellow-winged Vireo
Latin: Vireo carmioli
Other:
Family: Vireonidae • Vireos
Range: Costa Rica and western Panama

An endearingly curious small bird, the Yellow-winged Vireo can only be found in the western highlands of Panama and in Costa Rica.

Two yellow wing-bars, pale yellow under eye, broad supercilium, pale yellow underneath.More photos...

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

Bird name: Brown Capped Vireo
Latin: Vireo leucophrys
Other:
Family: Vireonidae • Vireos
Range: Mexico to N Bolivia

The Brown-capped Vireo has a thin pointed bill and brown cap. I saw this one in the forest above the Los Quetzales lodge in Chiriqui, Panama. In Panama, the Brown-capped Vireo only found in the western highlands.More photos...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bird name: White Ruffed Manakin
Latin: Corapipo altera
Other:
Family: Pipridae • Manakins
Range: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama

Just a glimpse of a female White-ruffed Manakin at the Finca Hartmann in Chiriqui, western Panama. They are greenish mostly with a whitish-grey throat area. Males are glossy blue black all over with a strongly demarcated white throat.

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

Bird name: Barred Becard
Latin: Pachyramphus versicolor
Other:
Family: Tityridae • Becards
Range: Costa Rica and western Panama, then Colombia, NW Bolivia and NW Venezuela

The Barred Becard male, above, is black and white with yellow on face and throat. The female, below, has a slate grey cap, brown on wings, and barred yellow underparts.

I saw these individuals in the highland forests of Chiriqui in western Panama.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Mountain Elaenia
Latin: Elaenia frantzii
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Elaenias
Range: Guatemala to Venezuela

The Mountain Elaenia was the most common flycatcher around the Los Quetzales lodge in Chiriqui. Birds often came to feed on berries of fruiting trees beside the hotel. Also seen elsewhere in Chiriqui.


More photos...

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

Bird name: Yellowish Flycatcher
Latin: Empidonax flavescens
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Southeast Mexico to western Panama highlands

The Yellowish Flycatcher is identifiable by its prominent eye-ring. It is yellowish below and has two wing bars. This individual was low in the canopy and not too wary - typical for the Yellowish Flycatcher - so I could focus.

In Panama found only in the western highlands.More photos...

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

Bird name: Black Phoebe
Latin: Sayornis nigricans
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Southwest USA to northwest Argentina. Panama highlands.
Similar: Dark Pewee

The Black Phoebe is dark with white belly, and often found near streams. Seen here near the river at the Los Quetzales lodge and up the road at Cerro Punta.More photos...

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

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

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

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

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

Bird name: Ruddy Treerunner
Latin: Margarornis rubiginosus
Other:
Family: Furnariidae • Ovenbirds
Range: Costa Rica and western Panama highlands

A very cute-looking young Ruddy Treerunner, above, which was following its parent around, hopping from tree trunk to tree trunk in the dark montane rainforest in the Volcan Baru National Park in Chiriqui, above Guadalupe, in Panama. It wasn’t quite as speedy as its parent though, allowing me to focus for once!

The adult is rufous with white supercilium. In the large ovenbird family, which includes woodcreepers and spinetails.

Not very common, and in Panama only found in the western highlands.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Red Faced Spinetail
Latin: Cranioleuca erythrops
Other:
Family: Furnariidae • Spinetails
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, W Ecuador

In Panama, the Red-faced Spinetail is only found in the western and eastern highlands. This individual was seen in the mountains in Volcan Baru National Park, in Chiriqui, western Panama. Identifiable by rufous head, wings and tail with greyish shoulders, throat and underparts. He wasn’t shy and seemed genuinely curious and territorial. He must have been nest-building near the path we were walking on, near the forest border.More photos...

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

Bird name: Streak Headed Woodcreeper
Latin: Lepidocolaptes souleyetii
Other:
Family: Furnariidae • Woodcreepers
Range: Panama, S Mexico to Guyana & NW Peru

We saw Streak-headed Woodcreepers at Finca Hartmann in western Panama. They were easy to see, not overly shy, at the edge of open ground on low trunks, and let me approach for photos. Streaked head and neck and underparts. Light bill.More photos...

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

Bird name: Spot Crowned Woodcreeper
Latin: Lepidocolaptes affinis
Other:
Family: Furnariidae • Woodcreepers
Range: E Mexico to western Panama

The Spot-crowned Woodcreeper looks similar to the Streak-headed Woodcreeper but lives at a higher altitude. These were seen above 2000 metres in the Chiriqui mountains of western Panama, which is the easternmost part of their range.More photos...

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

Bird name: Fiery Billed Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus frantzii
Other: Arasarí piquinaranja (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: Costa Rica, Panama
Similar: Collared Aracari

The Fiery-billed Aracari is found in the west of Panama and in Costa Rica. These were perched atop a tall tree when we arrived at the Finca Hartmann (a lovely bird-friendly coffee farm - well worth buying a couple of bags of coffee to take home with you while you’re there).

The Fiery-billed Aracari looks similar to the Collared Aracari but the upper bill is all red and orange.More photos...

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

Bird name: Acorn Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes formicivorus
Other: Carpintero centroamericano, Carpintero cara negra (Es)
Family: Picidae • Woodpecker
Range: NW USA, Central America to western Panama, Colombia

These Acorn Woodpeckers, seen in Panama, were very charismatic - they would all disappear into their hollow trunk in the blink of an eye, and then reappear just as quickly.

Acorn Woodpeckers have red caps, black backs, pale yellow faces with black-ringed eyes and bills, pale yellow irises. Female only nape red apparently (these would then be mostly males?) Underparts, chest especially, black and white vertical streaks.

In Panama, only found in the western highlands of Chiriqui.More photos...

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

Bird name: Hairy Woodpecker
Latin: Picoides villosus
Other:
Family: Picidae • Woodpecker
Range: Widespread North America, Middle America to Panama.

In Panama, the Hairy Woodpecker is only found in the western highlands. It was not uncommon in the cloud forest above Los Quetzales Lodge in April but only seen feeding high in the trees.

They are mostly black with one white stripe down centre of back. They have white stripes above and below the eye and on nape, males have some red on nape or top of head. They are buffish underneath.More photos...

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

Bird name: Blue Diademed Motmot
Latin: Momotus lessoni
Other: Blue-Crowned Motmot • Momotus momota
Family: Momotidae • Motmots
Range: S Mexico to W Panama
Similar:

I’ve given this the relatively new IOC name of Blue-diademed Motmot, but most know this as the Blue Crowned Motmot - its former name before splitting. This complex are all readily identifiable by their distinctive blue crown, but within the complex the birds are separated mostly geographically. This one is found from Western Panama to Southern Mexico. Seen here in Chiriqui.
More photos...

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

Bird name: Resplendent Quetzal
Latin: Pharomachrus mocinno
Other: Quetzal or Quetzal mesoamericano (Es)
Family: Trogonidae • Trogons and Quetzals
Range: S Mexico to W Panama, montane cloud forest

The Resplendent Quetzal is a spectacular bird with superb iridescent colours and, in the male, long tail feathers. I saw these birds in May in Chiriqui, Western Panama, in the hills above Los Quetzales Lodge. Quetzales are fruit eaters, so can sometimes be found in groups feeding in certain fruiting trees.

The male has a superb red belly, white tail, long green tail feathers and upper parts, with yellow bill and green crest. The female is duller and lacks the long tail feathers and crest.

Classified Near-Threatened on the IUCN Red List, Respendent Quetzals are not always that easy to find in Panama - they are most common in the western Chiriqui highlands. They nest in tree holes.

The males are very beautiful in flight, their tails undulating through the air like snakes. The Resplendent Quetzal is the largest bird in the trogon family, the national bird of Mexico, and a sacred bird in Mayan culture.
More photos...

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

Bird name: Violet Sabrewing
Latin: Campylopterus hemileucurus
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Southern Mexico to western Panama.

The Violet Sabrewing is a spectacular large hummingbird seen regularly in the Chiriqui highlands of western Panama, for example at the Los Quetzales Hotel feeders in May.

The male Violet Sabrewing is predominantly violet with green shoulders and terminal white outer tail feathers. It has a long curved bill, white spot behind eye, and is pretty unmistakeable in Panama.

The female (see below) is greenish above, whitish below, with purple throat only, but the same white in tail feathers as the male and white spot behind eye.More photos...

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

Bird name: Green Violetear
Latin: Colibri thalassinus
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Mexico to western Panama. Also Venezuela and Bolivia.

The Green Violetear is a good looking hummingbird, dark green with a very characteristic violet ear patch, which is easy to see and easy to remember! Thanks Green Violetear! The female is similar but smaller than the male with a violet band on the chest. The tail has a broad, diffuse, violet subterminal band. The tail is otherwise a sort of emerald colour below.

The Green Violet-ear is fairly common in the western highlands of Chiriqui state in western Panama and was seen regularly at the Los Quetzales Hotel feeders in May.More photos...

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

Bird name: Stripe Tailed Hummingbird
Latin: Eupherusa eximia
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Northeastern Mexico to western Panama.

The Stripe-tailed Hummingbird is identifiable by the copper wing patches below the shoulder. Otherwise mostly green, with bluish tail with white edges. Small white patch behind eye.

White-tailed Hummingbird and Blue-capped Hummingbird are sometimes considered subspecies of this species.More photos...

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

Bird name: White Tailed Emerald
Latin: Elvira chionura
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Southwest Costa Rica to central Panama.

Not much in the way of distinguishing features for the White-Tailed Emerald. These photos, taken in Chiriqui, have been identified as probably female White Tailed Emeralds, but I’m not certain. The male is mostly green with white bordered tail - like Stripe Tailed Hummingbird but without the copper epaulettes. The female is whitish below, sometimes flecked with green.More photos...

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

Bird name: Scintillant Hummingbird
Latin: Selasphorus scintilla
Other: Colibrí scintilla (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica and western Chiriqui highlands in Panama.

Great little hummer this one, quite easy to see around Los Quetzales in the Chiriqui highlands of western Panama. The Scintillant Hummingbird above is either female or juvenile. Adult males, which flash a bright orange gorget, were less common - below in “more photos” is a record picture. The tail of the Scintillant Hummingbird has a rufous edge.
More photos...

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

Bird name: Magnificent Hummingbird
Latin: Eugenes fulgens
Other: Colibrí Magnífico (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Texas to western Panama

The male Magnificent Hummingbird has a wonderful bright iridescent purple cap and emerald throat combination, when seen in the right light, with white post ocular spot and the rest green mostly.

This female (lowest photo in “more photos”) is dull underneath with some purple on throat, and similar postocular spot. Seen here in the western Chiriqui highlands of Panama.

More photos...

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

Bird name: White Throated Mountain Gem
Latin: Lampornis castaneoventris
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Western Panama (Grey-tailed Mountain-gem in Costa Rica)

The female White-throated Mountain Gem, below, is the looker in this pair. She has a lovely buff-orange colour underneath, with a similar black eye stripe to the male, and white postocular stripe, the is rest mostly greenish. The male, above, has a white throat , green chest, greyish belly and prominent black eye stripe with bluish tail.

More photos...

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

Bird name: Fiery Throated Hummingbird
Latin: Panterpe insignis
Other: Colibrí Insigne (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica and high western mountains of Panama.

The fantastic fiery throat isn’t showing on this bird, but the characteristic dark blue back and white postocular spot can be seen. High mountains.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Chiriqui, Panama, 4 May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Volcano Hummingbird
Latin: Selasphorus flammula
Other: Colibrí volcán (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica and Chiriqui, Panama

This seems likely to be a Volcano Hummingbird although not much colour showing. The gorget is typically purple-grey-green. Seen near the Boquete trail.

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

Bird name: Green Fronted Lancebill
Latin: Doryfera ludovicae
Other:
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador Bolivia and Venezuela

The Green-fronted Lancebill is not that easy to find. This one was perched above a deep-cut river in a dark, damp forest in the western highlands of Panama.

The Green-fronted Lancebill has a very long straight bill, is dull greenish mostly and greyish underneath. It has a small white spot behind the eye.

Below, in “more photos”, a Lancebill nest in the eves of a house.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 • Metropolitan Park, Panama, 8 May 2010

Bird name: Squirrel Cuckoo
Latin: Piaya cayana
Other: Alma-de-gato (Br)
Family: Cuculidae • Cuckoos
Range: Mexico to Brazil

The Squirrel Cuckoo in Panama, Piaya cayana thermophila, has a pinkish-brown head and neck, grey chest and belly. Otherwise it is mostly rufous, with conspicuous white ends to very long tail feathers, which are dark underneath. It has red irises, and eye rings and bill are dirty yellow. Seen in central Panama and Chiriqui.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chiriqui, Panama, 8 May 2010

Bird name: Sulphur Winged Parakeet
Latin: Pyrrhura hoffmanni
Other: Hoffmann's Conure • Perico de Hoffman (Es)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots
Range: Costa Rica highlands and western Panama

We observed a sizeable group of Sulphur-winged Parakeets feeding on this fruiting tree on Finca Hartmann in western Panama. The guide noted we were lucky to get such good views of a relatively timid bird.

The Sulphur-winged Parakeet is mostly green with a red cheek, white eye ring and some yellow around head and wings. It has a light coloured bill, and reddish under long tail.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, 8 May 2010

Bird name: Finsch's Parakeet
Latin: Aratinga finschi
Other: Crimson-fronted Parakeet • Finsch's Conure • Perico frentirrojo (Es)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots
Range: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, western Panama

These Finsch’s Parakeets, or Crimson-faced Parakeets, as they are known locally, flew overhead at Finca Hartmann, in the western highlands of Panama.

Finsch’s Parakeets have red forehead and red markings around the “elbow” region, differentiating them from Red-lored Amazons. Otherwise mostly green, with underside of flight feathers olive-green.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chiriqui, Panama, 7 May 2010

Bird name: Mourning Dove
Latin: Zenaida macroura
Other: Huilota (Es)
Family: Columbidae • Doves
Range: North America to central Panama

The Panamanian subspecies, pictured here, is Zenaida macroura marginella. A pale dove with pinkish head and blue orbital skin and a few dark spots on wings. Pointed tail. The Mourning Dove is very widespread in the US.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • 8 May Chiriqui, Panama

Bird name: Band Tailed Pigeon
Latin: Patagioenas fasciata
Other:
Family: Columbidae • Pigeons
Range: Americas

A large group of Band-tailed Pigeons were seen eating the yellow fruit of this tree in Chiriqui, western Panama, in May. In Panama, this species is only found in the western highlands. This race is sometimes known as the White-naped Pigeon, Patagioenas albilinea.

Band-tailed Pigeons are large pigeons, with a distinctive white band at the back of the neck, bright yellow bill and feet, a black band on tail, with well-defined lighter grey end of tail. There is a patch of irridescent green on the back of the neck.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Chagres River, Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Spotted Sandpiper
Latin: Actitis macularius
Other: Maçarico-maculado (Pt) • Maçarico-pintado (Br) • Playero manchado (Es), andarríos maculado
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range: North, Central and South America

The Spotted Sandpiper in breeding plumage seen here has attractive black spots on a white belly and brown upperside. Yellowish legs , orange bill with black tip. Seen by rivers in central and western Panama in May.
More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Lago Volcan, Chiriqui, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Pied Billed Grebe
Latin: Podilymbus podiceps
Other: Zampullín de pico grueso (Es) • Mergulhão-caçador (Br)
Family: Podicipedidae • Grebes
Range: North and Central America, migrating to southern South America.

A distant shot of a Pied-billed Grebe, recognisable by a dark vertical stripe on the bill of the breeding adult. Seen here in western Panama.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Gamboa, Panama • April 2010

Bird name: Green Heron
Latin: Butorides virescens
Other: Green-backed Heron • Garcita verde (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: North and Central America

The Green Heron, (once called Green-backed Heron), is a small dark heron with black cap and rufous neck with white line down throat. Some greenish sheen on dark feathers. Yellow or orange legs.

These Panama birds had mostly yellow ceres and yellow or orange irises. Seen in the Chagres River, a few feet away from a Caiman - apparently not a threat - and in the Chiriqui highlands.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Los Quezales, Panama • 5 May 2010

Bird name: Ornate Hawk Eagle
Latin: Spizaetus ornatus
Other: Aguila crestuda real (Es), águila copetona real • Gavião-de-penacho (Br)
Family: Accipitridae • Hawk Eagles
Range: Humid tropical forests from Mexico to northern Argentina

Distant shots of an Ornate Hawk Eagle, from cabin number 8 at Los Quetzales in the Chiriqui highlands in western Panama.

A spectacular looking raptor when seen up close …More photos...