Panama No. 2 blog
We now continue with Terry's and my birding trip to Panama, where we spent five days staying at Canopy Lodge and nine days staying at the Canopy Tower.
Adult male White-tailed Trogan Trogon viridis We recorded it on four dates totalling 6 birds, although some were probably repeat sightings in the rain forest around the C;anopy Tower area. It is locally fairly common in humid forests, second-growth woodland and borders. In the Canal area it is quite common in suitable habitat. Its range is Western Panama to northern Boliva and central Brazil .
Adult male White-ruffled Manakin Corapipo leucorrhoa Two subspecies. A poor picture of this very attractive Manakin. We only saw singles on just three dates in the vicinity of Canopy Lodge. As usual they were very active not allowing much time for photography. They are fairly common in undergrowth of humid forests in the foothills and lower highlands on both slopes, with the range Eastern Nicaragua to western Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.
Adult male White-necked Puffbird Notharchus macrohynchus. Two subspecies. Just a single bird seen during our stay at the Canopy Tower. It is fairly common in the canopy and borders of forests and second-growth woodland in the lowlands on both slopes. It is usually seen perched rather high on exposed branches, with a range from Southern Mexico to Boliva, north eastern Argentina and Southern Brazil.
Adult White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis Four subspecies.We saw this attractive hawk on 3 dates with a total of four individuals seen. The first was seen from the Canopy Lodge area and two together in the Canopy Tower area. It is considered to be fairly common in forest and forest borders in more humid lowlands and foothills on both slopes. ranging to around 1200 m. Its range is in Southern Mexico, to Boliva, central Brazil and the Guianas.
Female Western Slaty Ant-Shrike
Male Western Slaty Ant-Shrike
Western Slaty Ant-Shrike - Thamnophilus punctatus Four subspecies. We recorded this Ant-Shrike on six dates with a total of 9 individuals seen all in the Canopy Tower areas. Very common in the lower growth of forest, and second-growth woodlands, and is often bold and inquisitive in behaviour. It ranges from Guatemala, and Belize to Bolivia and southern Brazil.
Wedge-billed Wood-Creeper - Glyphorhynchus spirurus. Thirteen subspecies. Just two singles were seen in the Canopy Lodge area and these were our only sightings. Its the smallest Woodcreeper in Panama with a short wedge shape bill. Uncommon in humid forests and mature second-growth woodlands in the lowlands and is recorded up to 1200 m. Usually found singly and less often in pairs or parties. Its range is from Southeastern Mexico to northern Boliva and central Brazil.
Wattled Jacana - Jacana jacana. Six subspecies. We recorded this on five dates with a total of 32 individuals seen all in the Canopy Tower area. It is common in fresh-water marshes and along shore of lakes and ponds. Its range from Western Panama to Boliva, northern Argentina and Uruguay and has been recorded from central Chile
Male Violet-Headed Hummingbird - Klais guimeti Three subspecies.We just recorded this attractive hummingbird on three occasions during our stay at the Canopy Lodge, but only four individuals were seen by ourselves. Its uncommon in lower growth and borders of humid forests and second-growth woodland in the foothills. Its range is Honduras to western Venezuela and Boliva.
Female Crowned Woodnymph Thalurania columbica Eight subspecies. We recorded it on three dates with 8 individuals seen including six on the 6th and only seen in the Canopy Lodge area. Fairly common in humid forests, second-growth woodland and borders in lowlands and foothills on both slopes, and regularly found inside forests, but more often seen along the forest edges. Its range Western Mexico, Guatemala to western Venezuela and western Ecuador.
Male Violet-Bellied Hummingbird Damophila julie Three subspecies. We recorded this fine Hummingbird on four dates with a total of eight birds seen all in the Canopy Tower area. Fairly common in forest boarders and is widespread in the Canal area. Its range is from central Panama to Western Ecuador.
Female Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus Just three seen on two dates in the Canopy Tower area. Not a bird of forest interior but is fairly common in forest boarders, lighter woodlands and clearings with large trees in lowlands on both slopes. Its range is Eastern Mexico to northern Boliva and Amazonian Brazil.
Turkey Vultures - Cathartes aura Four subspecies. Good numbers recorded daily at both locations. Common resident throughout and abundant on migration. Range: Breeds from southern Canada to Tierra del Fuego, Greater Antilles, with many northern birds winter in middla America and northwestern South America.
Tropical Mockingbird - Mimus gilvus Ten subspecies. We recorded it on five dates with a total of nineteen birds seen all at the Canopy Tower area. Apparently this specis was introduced from Colombia around 1932. Now common in cleared and residential areas on both slopes of the Canal area. Its range is Southern Mexico to El Salvador and Honduras, Colombia to the Guianas and northern Braziland south along Brazilian coast, Lesser Antilles and introduced in central Panama.
Tropical Screech Owls - Otus choliba Nine subspecies, greyish-brown form. An evening night ride produced these two Owls close to the Canopy Tower. It is the commonest Owl on the Pacific slope, with its range Costa Rica to Boliva, northern Argentina and southern Brazil.
Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus Three subspecies. Very common, good numbers were seen virtually daily with up to 100 on a day. Range: Southern Arizona, and Mexico to central Argentina, Southern breeders migrate north to at least Amazonia during austral winter.
Tody Motmot - Hylomanes momotula Three subspecies. Just two singles were seen at Canopy Lodge and was one of the highlights of our trip. Rare to locally fairly common in undergrowth of humid forests. Range: Eastern Mexico to northern Argentina and southern Brazil.
Swallow-tailed Kite - Elanoides forficatus Two subspecies. Recorded on six dates with four seen on two dates at the Canopy Lodge and 190 seen over four dates in the Canopy Tower area including a day maximum of 100 seen on the 11th. Superb!! Breeds in Panama with its main range from Southern United States to Boliva , northern Argentina and south eastern Brazil.
Thick-billed Euphonia - Euphonia laniirostris Five subspecies. We recorded it on nine occasions from the Canopy Tower area with a total of 137 birds seen. Larger numbers were seen around the Canopy Lodge. Fairly common in clearings, gardens, second growth woodland and forest borders in the lowlands. Range: Costa Rica to Boliva and Amazonian Brazil.
Stripe-throated Hermit - Phaethornis strigularis Four subspecies. Recorded on six dates with a total of eleven individuals seen with the majority at Canopy Lodge area and just two seen in the Canopy Tower area.
Streaked Salator - Saltator striatpectus Ten subspecies. We recorded it on five dates with a total of fifteen individuals and it was seen at both the Canopy Lodge area and the Canopy Tower area.
Streaked Flycatcher Myiodymastes maculatus Six subspecies. We recorded it on six dates with a total of twelve individuals were seen at both Canopy Lodge and Canopy Tower areas. Common in open second-growth woodland, forest boarders, and clearings and more numerous in humid rgions. Range: Eastern Mexico, to Boliva, northern Argentina, and southeastern Brazil.
