Panama No.4 Blog
Another blog on our trip to Panama in 2008.
Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus Eleven subspecies We recorded this species on six dates with a total 20 birds being seen with a daily maximum of six. They were present at both sites Canopy Lodge area and Canopy Tower area. Common in residental areas, clearings, shrubby areas, second-growth woodlands in lowlands and foothills chiefly below 900 m .Range: Southern Mexico to northern Bolivia, and southern Brazil. Also Cuba.
Male Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Hebia rubica Seventeen subspecies. We recorded it on just three dates with a total of 8 individuals and all were seen in the Canopy Lodge area. Uncommon, usually in undergrowth of second-growth woodlands and has been recorded up to 1200 m. Scarce in Canal area. Range: Central Mexico, to Bolivia, north eastern Argentina, and southeastern Brazil.
Red-crowned Woodpecker Melanerpes rubricapillus Four subspecies.We recorded this species at both locations on a total of nine days wirh a total of twentytwo birds with a daily maximun of 6. Very common in lighter woodland , shrubby clearings, residential areas, and mangroves. Range: Southwestern Costa Rica, through Panama, northern Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas.
Male Red-capped Manakin Pipra mentalis Three subspecies. Just recorded on four dates with six birds seen all from the Canopy Tower area. Common in humid forests and second-growth woodland in the lowlands, very rare above 600 m. Range: Southeastern Mexico to northwestern Ecuador
Male Purple-throated Fruitcrow Querula purpurata. Just seen on two dates along the Pipieline road, Canopy Tower, with a total of six birds seen. Common in humid forests, and second-growth woodland in the lowlands. Noisy and conspicuous and often in groups of three to six birds. Range: Costa Rica to northern Bolivia and Amazonian Brazil
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Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea. We recorded it on four dates all in the Canopy Tower area with a total of 135 birds with a daily maximum of 70 birds. When in flight the red on the underside of the primaries is distinctive as shown in the above picture. Uncommon in forests and forest borders and second-growth woodland. It appears to be absent from Panama between mid October and mid-January. Range: Breeds from eastern Mesico to Boliva, northern Argentina and southern Brazil.
Plain Xenops Xenops genibarbis Ten subspecies. We recorded it at both areas on seven dates with a total of eleven birds seen. Common in woodland and second-growth woodlands in the lowlands up to 900m. Range: Southeastern Mexico to northern Bolivia, Paraguay northeastern Argentina and south eastern Brazil.
Plain Brown Woodcreeper Dendorcincla fuliginosa Twelve subspecies. Recorded it on six dates with a total of fourteen birds wirth a daily maximum of six, all seen in the Canopy Tower area. Note the black moustrical stripe and the lack of streaking. Regularly seen at ant swarms. Fairly common in humid forests and second-growth woodland. Range: Honduras to northeastern Argentina and southeastern Brazil.
Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii Three subspecies. Just two seen on the car journey from Canopy Lodge to Canopy Tower. Recent colonizer to Panama, and first recorded in Panama in 1977, and has been recorded in a number of semi-open areas in Panama. Range: Western Nicaragua, Panama, South America south to northern Argentina and southern Brazil.
Panama Flycatcher Myiarchus panamensis Two subspecies. Just two singles were seen in the Canopy Lodge and Canopy Tower areas. Very similar to Great Crested Flycatcher but Panama Flycatcher lacks rufous in wings and tail as shown in the above picture. Fairly common in shrubby and semi-open areas and in coastal mangroves. Range: Slouthwestern Costa Rica to northern Venezuela.
Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus Seen on four dates in the Canopy Lodge area with seven birds seen with a daily maximum of four. Often forages in high in trees, fairly common in canopy and borders of humid forests. and second-growth woodland in lowlands to about 1200 m. Range: Southern Mexico to northwestern Colombia.
Palm Tanager Thraupis palmmarum Four subspecies. Recorded virtually daily in good numbers at both locations. Common in gardens, shrubby clearings, and humid forests. Range: Southern Honduras, to Bolivia, Paraguy and southern Brazil.
Pale Vented P igeon Columba cayennensis Seven subspecies. Recorded on four dates with a total of fifteen birds all seen in the Canopy Tower area. Fairly common in lighter woodland and borders, mangroves and residential areas. Range: Southeastern Mexico to Boliva , southern Argentina and Uruguay.
Pale-vented Thrush Turdus obsoletus Five subspecies. Just seen on two dates at the Canopy Lodge area with three birds seen. Uncommon in humid forests and forest borders. Range: Costa Rica and western Ecuador.
Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis Two subspecies. Recorded on nine dates with a total of 162 birds seen with a daily maximum of seventy. The most familar of Panama's parrots. Albundant and widespread in lowlands. Range: Southern Mexico to northern Colombia and northern Venezuela.
Orange-billed Sparrow Arremon aurantiirostris. Eight subspecies. Singles seen on six dates at both locations. Common in shrubby clearings, woodland borders and thickets in lowlands to about 1650m. Range: Honduras to Venezuela , extreme northern Brazil and western Ecuador.
Male Orange-bellied Trogon Trogon aurantiirostris Just recorded on three dates with five birds being seen in the Canopy Lodge area, with no more than two on a day. Uncommon in humid forests and forest boarders in foothills. Range: Eastern Mexico to northern Bolivia and Amazonian and eastern Brazil.
Ocellated Antbird Phaenostictus mcleannani. Only seen along Pipeline road at an ant swarm in the Canopy Tower area with three on the 15th and two on the 17th. Superb!!.
Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata Nine subspecies. We recorded this species on four dates with a total of seven birds seen. We recorded 2 near the Canopy Lodge and five at the Canopy Tower area.
Common and widespread in wooded lowlands and foothills. Range: Northern Mexico, to Bolivia and Amazonian Brazil.
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens Three subspecies. Recorded on five dates with a total of 93 birds with a daily maximum of sixty as we drove along the coast on the journey to Canopy Lodge. Very common along the Pacific coast.Range: Breeds on small islands in tropical Atlantic and eastern Pacific ocean.
We will carry on with this report on our next blog No. 5.
