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 • 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 • 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: 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, 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 • 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 • 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...

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...