25 March - 5 April 2000
(Actual Birding: March 26-April 4)
by Paul Blakeburn
Cost: $1093 per person from Panama City
SUMMARY:
We were disappointed in this our first birding trip to Panama because our itinerary was changed at the last minute. The trip did, however, provide quite good birding overall (242 species seen, of which 49 "lifers,") and some extraordinary birding experiences: e.g., Black Hawk-Eagle perched in easy view, two good looks at the difficult Green Shrike-Vireo, and Harpy Eagle on a special extension trip. Lodging and food was less-expensive and of higher quality than in Costa Rica. We would like to return to Panama if we can be sure of the promised itinerary.
BACKGROUND:
We had signed up for a group tour to Costa Rica March 10-25 and decided at the end of January to see if some kind of independent "add on" to Panama would be feasible as we'd already be in the area. An inquiry on BIRDCHAT brought favorable reports on Panama birding overall, and specific recommendations for a guide/ground operator. We contacted the guide, and received a proposed itinerary that looked great - we could join a group of 8 for the Western Highlands, a few days in the former Canal Zone, and finally a special trip for Harpy Eagle - and signed up. The day before we left for Costa Rica, the guide phoned to say he was having trouble with the air transport arrangements on which our itinerary had been based. Would we be amenable to an itinerary based mostly in the former Zone? With air tickets locked in and us leaving at O-dark-30 the next morning, we didn't see a lot of options. We said we'd leave it to him to work something out, bearing mind that we were interested primarily in highland-type birding. And off we went to Costa Rica.
BIRDING THE FORMER CANAL ZONE AND ENVIRONS
On Sunday, March 26 (Birding Day 1,) we were picked up at the comfortable Hotel Roma in Panama City at 6:00 and we headed for the well-known Old Gamboa Road. It doesn't take long to leave the bustle of the city behind if you're heading east or west, and we were soon in good Pacific lowland habitat. Stopping first on the road to the Police Academy, we bumped into a Panama Audubon Society fieldtrip group, and picked up Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, White-necked Jacobin, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Brown-capped Tyrannulet and - of course - Panama Flycatcher to start the day off right. Exploring other sites along the road, we got a good look at the Blue Ground-Dove of which we had had only a glimpse in Costa Rica, enjoyed Short-tailed Swifts wheeling overhead, and finally came across some spectacular Purple-throated Fruitcrows.
By 11:30 or so, we were all hungry and it was downright hot, so a lunch break seemed a good idea. Now, which would you prefer? A box lunch by the roadside; or a plateful of smoked salmon with all the fixins, a selection of excellent ceviches, and sushi imaginatively overwrapped with lightly fried plantain, all part of the Sunday buffet at the new Gamboa Resort? We thoroughly enjoyed the latter.
Back to birding somewhat later, we had a quick but decent look at the often-heard but rarely seen Green Shrike-Vireo, good sights of Fasciated and Slaty Antwrens, and Rosy Thrush-Tanager as some of the more exciting events of the afternoon.
The next morning (Day 2) we zipped along the Old Gamboa Road to begin exploring the renowned Pipeline Road. We probably only covered a couple of miles each way in a whole morning, but we had a real treasure trove. Early on, Robin heard and spotted a Black Hawk-Eagle overhead, and started whistling to it. There's no way to tell if Robin sounded that much like a lovelorn Hawk-Eagle, but the bird came in to perch beside the road, in perfect light, close enough to fill the field of 10X binocs! We were blown away by this good fortune, but it didn't prevent us from fully appreciating an incredible second Green Shrike-Vireo right above the road; White-tailed, Black-throated and Slaty-tailed Trogons; and the opportunity to watch a small covey of Marbled Wood Quail which Robin found down a trail into the woods.
After another, less-Sybaritic lunch at the resort, we returned to the same general area to check out some National Park trails. Here we had a real feast for the eyes: Checker-throated, White-flanked, Dot-winged and Slaty Antwrens; Dusky Antbird, Black-faced Antthrush, Olivaceous Flatbill, Long-billed Gnatwren, and spectacular male Golden-collared and Blue-crowned Manakins well off the trail in the woods (Manakins are Robin's favorite bird and he is a genius at tracking them down.)
The plan had been that on the third day we would join up with Willie and the group after their return from Cana in the Darien. This scheme went awry when an aircraft veered off the Cana runway into the woods while leaving its tail sticking out to partially block the airstrip. By the time the group returned, we had already covered much of the territory envisioned for them for the next couple of days, so we stayed with Wendell and Robin and went to other spots. Covering just about all the good sites in the former Zone, we picked up such goodies as Blue Cotinga, White-headed Wren, White-bellied Antbird, Tawny-faced Gnatwren, lots of the Plain Xenops which had been so hard to see in Costa Rica, Spot-crowned Barbet, Flame-rumped and Blue-and-Gold Tanagers, and even a difficult Pied Puffbird on the entrance road to the Gatun Yacht Club. Joining the group for some owling one evening, we saw both Common and Great Potoo, and virtually had our hair parted by a Mottled Owl crossing the trail.
On our final day in Panama, we went west to Cerro de Blanco, up a really lousy road off the main highway from Panama City to David. Up around 3500', the birding was a bit slow for quantity, but gave us some very nice treats in the form of White-ruffed Manakin, Golden-fronted Greenlet, Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant, Plain Antvireo and Crowned Woodnymph. To round out our last day with Robin and Wendell we had the pleasure of identifying a lifer for them: their first Black-throated Blue Warbler.
ON THE TRAIL OF THE HARPY EAGLE
Willie's company has supported Harpy Eagle resarch and conservation for nine years. Thanks to his contacts with an Embara (accent on the final "a," please) Indian group, he had worked out a one-shot trip to a nesting site for the group to which we were now attached. The basic plan was to drive from Panama City to a launch point on Madden Lake; go by dugout canoe across the lake and up the Pequeni River to San Juan de Pequeni, the Embara village; camp out there the first night; hike to the Harpy Eagle nest site on the second day; camp there the second night; and hike/canoe back to the launch point on the third day. We eight gringos (three of Mike's group had left for home) would be accompanied by an Embara who works with the Harpy Eagle research program; a Panama National Parks Ranger; Willie, Wendell and Robin Martinez; and Embara porters, cooks and so on. All in all, quite an operation!
This Harpy Eagle site is a nest that is not currently in use, but the adult Harpies which had last used it had been seen in the area, possibly interested in renovating it; and the product of the last use - a 20 month old male Harpy - was known to be consistently in the area.
Arriving at the launch site about 8:30 am, we found that we had a problem or two. There weren't as many canoes as Willie had asked for, and the river level had dropped so much that it wasn't clear how far we could go by canoe before having to hoof it. Nothing daunted, eleven of us donned lifejackets, piled into a BIG outboard-powered dugout - probably 30 feet long but only 2 feet wide - and set out across the lake; leaving the supplies and the Park Ranger to come by a smaller canoe. Half an hour later, we entered the river and soon pulled into a mudflat: the end of the line for the big canoe. Setting out across this desolate plain of dry, cracked mud punctuated by dead saplings was a bit like a scene from an End-of-the-World sci-fi flic. We had no idea how far we would have to walk to get to the Embara village, or what the intervening terrain would be, but it certainly wasn't one of those times when one could say, "Hey guys, I'll just wait here. You all go on ahead."
The trek to the village turned out to be about three hours, punctuated by seven river crossings ranging from ankle deep to about three feet, and scrambles up and over promontories where the riverbed wasn't a feasible route. And was it hot? You betcha it was.
Our distinctly soggy group reached San Juan de Pequeni about noon, to be welcomed by the Cacique (Chief - chosen by election each five years and now in his 9th year of office) and his son who serves as the village's ecotourism director. (All the adults and many of the kids involved in our visit had donned traditional dress for our visit: the men with loincloths and body paint, the ladies topless with skirts and body paint.) Our equipment and supplies soon arrived by poled dugout, and our little camp of five tents sprouted among the horse buns on the soccer field below the village. The scene of half a dozen loincloth-clad, body-painted Embara men sitting around blowing up air mattresses was unforgettable. After lunch, and a short nap for some, we set out with the "Eagle Man" for some birding around the village. It soon became apparent that what the Embara considered a perfectly good trail for a birdwalk was virtually impassable to us gringos, and we had to abandon that idea.
Later, the village dance specialists put on an exhibition of selected folk dances, and we had an opportunity to buy handicrafts (cocobolo and vegetable ivory carvings, baskets, beaded pieces, etc.) made in the village.
Our main course for dinner arrived alive and slung by the legs. The two chickens were dispatched out of sight of the visitors, and were converted to a tasty stew over the open fire near our tents by a few village ladies wearing only skirts and body paint. With nightfall at about 7 pm we were in our tents early, but soon found that the village's dog population was a lot more wideawake than we. It seemed that there was a dog fight every ten minutes through the night, but it was probably more like only every half-hour. One rooster sounded off about 4 am, of course to be answered by another, but the exchange died mercifully quickly.
Up with the sun about 6:00, we breakfasted on fruit and home-made granola, made sandwiches to carry with us, and hit the trail close to 8:00, first being ferried across the river by dugout. The trail to the Harpy site was fairly demanding, featuring many steep - and sometimes slippery - descents to stream beds, followed by equally steep ascents. (Linda says she found hands-and-knees the best course on some climbs as she figured if she lost her footing she'd take out those behind her like a bunch of bowling pins.)
About an hour out of the village, we left sporadically cultivated areas and secondary forest for the primary forest, essentially untouched by man. Though we had done some birdwatching on the hike the day before, this day we mostly just kept our heads down and slogged along. And that's what Paul was doing when the porter in line ahead of him suddenly whipped around, said "Stop" and held out his hand to warn Paul, and with his short machete pinned down a section of the palm leaf litter on the trail. Paul jumped back (he may be getting on in years, but his "fight or flight" reflexes are still good,) and those up ahead came back to see what was going on. Oh my goodness me! There, half-exposed about where Paul would have stepped, was a nasty-looking grayish snake about 18 inches long - a juvenile Bushmaster. Ever the photographer at heart Paul videoed the snake, the Eagle Man dispatched it with his machete and took it off to bury it, and we resumed our trek. (Somewhere along the trail in a Fer-de-Lance was also met and dispatched as Wendell kept the remains, but where and how is not clear.)
After some three hours, just about the time we were all wondering "How much farther???", we crossed yet another stream and sighted a thatch-roofed, open-sided leanto in a clearing. Eureka! We were there. Needless to say, all our gear was already at the site as the well-loaded porters had filtered up through the file of gringos and gone on their way as if for a stroll in the park. We downed our lunch, and many stretched out among the piles of gear on the rickety split-palm floor of the hut for a rest. As we did so, the ladies who had cooked our dinner the night before showed up to prepare this night's dinner, peeling off their T-shirts as they arrived for work.
While we rested, and the ladies built a fire and cleaned the chickens down by the stream, Willie and others went off to reconnoiter the Harpy nest site. They found no activity at that time, so - after inspecting the Harpy nest tree and its environs - we set off on an up-hill, down-dale quest for primary forest birds. Chestnut-backed and Bicolored Antbirds turned up, but by 3 pm or so many of us were beginning to be a bit pessimistic about the Harpy Eagle. Several of us headed down the creek toward camp, others toward the lookout spot for the Harpy nest, and then things got really interesting. First, Robin Martinez came trotting up the hill toward us in the "toward camp" group, urging us on but motioning for silence. He and Wendell had found a Crimson-bellied Woodpecker, which we hustled to see. The bird flew before the tailenders in this group had a chance to see it, so Robin took off uphill after it. Minutes later, he was scrambling back downslope with the electrifying news that the young Harpy Eagle had come to perch near the nest! Rarely has a 45-dgree slope with slippery leaves been attacked by a bunch of the semi-aged with so much vigor and so little regard for life and limb.
Arriving panting at the lookout spot and oriented by Willie to the proper window in the foliage, we got our first look at Harpia harpyja in all his white, black and gray glory: three feet long in the body and weighing more than 15 pounds. He was a fair ways up in the trees, but half filled the view of 10X binocs, and was - miracle of miracles - well lighted and facing us. In the scope, one could see every feather detail. We all watched this magnificent bird for about a half hour, and Paul got some pretty good video, before we decided to remove whatever disturbance we might be causing the bird. (He didn't seem even to be aware of our presence, but with a bird who routinely preys on monkeys and sloths who can tell what might or might not be sensed?)
A jubilant crew made its way back to camp to find dinner on the fire and the ladies gone back to the village. Willie and his assistants disappeared to set up the tents and the rest of us sat around telling birding tales and occasionally muttering apprehensively about the next day's looming six hour hike to the point where a canoe could pick us up. (Actually, our buddies Robin and Wendell had told us fairly confidently that we'd be able to board canoes at the village, but we didn't share the info out of fear that it might turn out not to be true.) That night's stew, kicked up a notch by lots of onions and garlic, was duly devoured, and we followed Willie et al. to the tents. Wonder of wonders, they had found level ground beside the stream and we were all soon ensconced on our air mattresses. (We blew them up ourselves this time, in case you're wondering.) This night was filled with the sounds of some really loud frogs, and the call of a Lesser Pygmy Owl - much more peaceful than in the village.
Up again with the sun the next morning, we breakfasted on porridge, Tang and coffee and headed back out to civilization. This time, we devoted time to more serious birdwatching, and Willie found what was to us one of the neatest sights of the trip: a pair of Ocellated Antbirds going about their business. The trip back seemed easier somehow, though it had begun to rain intermittently, and we even had time to stop at a farmstead for a demonstration of low-tech sugar cane crushing.
Finally back at the village, we and the Embara exchanged mutual thanks and good wishes, quite a few folks got temporary tattoos using the Embara vegetable-based dye, and we boarded two canoes for the trip downstream. Although the leaks in the canoes and the light rain called for occasional bailing to keep our butts relatively dry, we agreed wholeheartedly that the trip down the river beat the heck out of the trip up. It also had the bonus of Buff-rumped Warblers and various Kingfishers at close range. Almost at the end of the trip, where the river lapped broad mudbanks, we all got a surprise as a couple of Collared Plovers and a few Southern Lapwings showed up on top of the banks. And, after landing, we even had a Cocoi Heron at a distance. Not a bad ending for a spectacular experience.
PANAMA SIGHTINGS
Data of: Paul Blakeburn, Linda Bogiages
Limitations: Panama; from 3-26-00 to 4-4-00
Note: "F" preceding entry indicates first sighting
Magnificent
Frigatebird
Fregata magnificens
Neotropic
Cormorant
Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga
Brown
Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Little Blue
Heron
Egretta caerulea
Snowy
Egret
Egretta thula
Capped
Heron
Pilherodius pileatus
Cocoi
Heron
Ardea cocoi
Great
Egret
Ardea alba
Green
Heron
Butorides virescens
Boat-billed
Heron
Cochlearius cochlearius
Black
Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Turkey
Vulture
Cathartes aura
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Gray-headed
Kite
Leptodon cayanensis
Hook-billed
Kite
Chondrohierax uncinatus
Swallow-tailed
Kite
Elanoides forficatus
White-tailed
Kite
Elanus leucurus
Snail
Kite
Rostrhamus sociabilis
Double-toothed
Kite
Harpagus bidentatus
White
Hawk
Leucopternis albicollis
Common
Black-Hawk
Buteogallus anthracinus
Great
Black-Hawk
Buteogallus urubitinga
Savanna
Hawk
Buteogallus meridionalis
Broad-winged
Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Short-tailed
Hawk
Buteo brachyurus
Swainson's
Hawk
Buteo swainsoni
F Harpy
Eagle
Harpia harpyja
Black
Hawk-Eagle
(First GOOD view) Spizaetus tyrannus
Crested
Caracara
Caracara plancus
Laughing
Falcon
Herpetotheres cachinnans
American
Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Bat
Falcon
Falco rufigularis
Gray-headed
Chachalaca
Ortalis cinereiceps
F Marbled
Wood-Quail
Odontophorus gujanensis
Gray-necked
Wood-Rail
Aramides cajanea
Purple
Gallinule
Porphyrula martinica
Common
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Wattled
Jacana
Jacana jacana
Solitary
Sandpiper
Tringa solitaria
Spotted
Sandpiper
Actitis macularia
Black-necked
Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
Collared
Plover
Charadrius collaris
Southern
Lapwing
Vanellus chilensis
Pale-vented
Pigeon
Columba cayennensis
Short-billed
Pigeon
Columba nigrirostris
Plain-breasted
Ground-Dove
Columbina minuta
Ruddy
Ground-Dove
Columbina talpacoti
F Blue
Ground-Dove
Claravis pretiosa
White-tipped
Dove
Leptotila verreauxi
Gray-chested
Dove
Leptotila cassini
Orange-chinned
Parakeet
Brotogeris jugularis
Blue-headed
Parrot
Pionus menstruus
Red-lored
Parrot
Amazona autumnalis
Squirrel
Cuckoo
Piaya cayana
Greater
Ani
Crotophaga major
F Mottled
Owl
Ciccaba virgata
Least Pygmy-Owl
(HEARD ONLY)
Glaucidium
minutissimum
Great
Potoo
Nyctibius grandis
Common
Potoo
Nyctibius griseus
White-collared
Swift
Streptoprocne zonaris
Vaux's
Swift
Chaetura vauxi
Short-tailed
Swift
Chaetura brachyura
Bronzy
Hermit
Glaucis aenea
Little
Hermit
Phaethornis longuemareus
White-necked
Jacobin
Florisuga mellivora
Black-throated
Mango
Anthracothorax nigricollis
Violet-crowned
Woodnymph
Thalurania colombica
F Violet-bellied
Hummingbird
Damophila julie
Blue-chested
Hummingbird
Amazilia amabilis
F Snowy-bellied
Hummingbird
Amazilia edward
Rufous-tailed
Hummingbird
Amazilia tzacatl
F White-vented
Plumeleteer
Chalybura buffonii
Bronze-tailed
Plumeleteer
Chalybura urochrysia
Long-billed
Starthroat
Heliomaster longirostris
Slaty-tailed
Trogon
Trogon massena
White-tailed
Trogon
Trogon viridis
Orange-bellied
Trogon
Trogon aurantiiventris
Black-throated
Trogon
Trogon rufus
Violaceous
Trogon
Trogon violaceus
Ringed
Kingfisher
Ceryle torquata
Amazon
Kingfisher
Chloroceryle amazona
Green
Kingfisher
Chloroceryle americana
Broad-billed
Motmot
Electron platyrhynchum
Rufous
Motmot
Baryphthengus martii
Blue-crowned
Motmot
Momotus momota
White-necked
Puffbird
Notharchus macrorhynchos
F Pied
Puffbird
Notharchus tectus
White-whiskered
Puffbird
Malacoptila panamensis
F Spot-crowned
Barbet
Capito maculicoronatus
Collared
Aracari
Pteroglossus torquatus
Keel-billed
Toucan
Ramphastos sulfuratus
Black-cheeked
Woodpecker
Melanerpes pucherani
Red-crowned
Woodpecker
Melanerpes rubricapillus
F Cinnamon
Woodpecker
Celeus loricatus
Lineated
Woodpecker
Dryocopus lineatus
F Crimson-bellied
Woodpecker
Campephilus haematogaster
Crimson-crested
Woodpecker
Campephilus melanoleucos
Plain-brown
Woodcreeper
Dendrocincla fuliginosa
Long-tailed
Woodcreeper
Deconychura longicauda
Wedge-billed
Woodcreeper
Glyphorynchus spirurus
Straight-billed
Woodcreeper
Xiphorhynchus picus
Buff-throated
Woodcreeper
Xiphorhynchus guttatus
Spot-crowned
Woodcreeper
Lepidocolaptes affinis
Plain
Xenops
Xenops minutus
Fasciated
Antshrike
Cymbilaimus lineatus
F Eastern Slaty
Antshrike
Thamnophilus punctatus
F Plain
Antvireo
Dysithamnus mentalis
F Spot-crowned
Antvireo
Dysithamnus puncticeps
F Checker-throated
Antwren
Myrmotherula fulviventris
F White-flanked
Antwren
Myrmotherula axillaris
F Slaty
Antwren
Myrmotherula schisticolor
Dot-winged
Antwren
Microrhopias quixensis
Dusky
Antbird
Cercomacra tyrannina
F White-bellied
Antbird
Myrmeciza longipes
Chestnut-backed
Antbird
Myrmeciza exsul
F Bicolored
Antbird
Gymnopithys leucaspis
F Ocellated
Antbird
Phaenostictus mcleannani
Black-faced
Antthrush
Formicarius analis
F Blue
Cotinga
Cotinga nattererii
F Purple-throated
Fruitcrow
Querula purpurata
Red-capped
Manakin
Pipra mentalis
Blue-crowned
Manakin
Pipra coronata
F White-ruffed
Manakin
Corapipo leucorrhoa
F Golden-collared
Manakin
Manacus vitellinus
Common
Tody-Flycatcher
Todirostrum cinereum
Black-headed
Tody-Flycatcher
Todirostrum
nigriceps
Paltry
Tyrannulet
Zimmerius vilissimus
F Brown-capped
Tyrannulet
Ornithion brunneicapillum
Southern
Beardless-Tyrannulet
Camptostoma obsoletum
Yellow
Tyrannulet
Capsiempis flaveola
Yellow-crowned
Tyrannulet
Tyrannulus elatus
Forest
Elaenia
Myiopagis gaimardii
Yellow-bellied
Elaenia
Elaenia flavogaster
Lesser
Elaenia
Elaenia chiriquensis
Scale-crested
Pygmy-Tyrant
Lophotriccus pileatus
F Pale-eyed
Pygmy-Tyrant
Lophotriccus pilaris
F Southern
Bentbill
Oncostoma olivaceum
F Olivaceous
Flatbill
Rhynchocyclus olivaceus
Yellow-margined
Flycatcher
Tolmomyias assimilis
F Golden-crowned
Spadebill
(LINDA ONLY) Platyrinchus coronatus
Ruddy-tailed
Flycatcher
Terenotriccus erythrurus
Long-tailed
Tyrant
Colonia colonus
Bright-rumped
Attila
Attila spadiceus
Dusky-capped
Flycatcher
Myiarchus tuberculifer
F Panama
Flycatcher
Myiarchus panamensis
Tropical
Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Fork-tailed
Flycatcher
Tyrannus savana
Eastern
Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Boat-billed
Flycatcher
Megarynchus pitangua
Streaked
Flycatcher
Myiodynastes maculatus
Rusty-margined
Flycatcher
Myiozetetes cayanensis
Social
Flycatcher
Myiozetetes similis
Piratic
Flycatcher
Legatus leucophaius
Lesser
Kiskadee
Philohydor lictor
Great
Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Cinnamon
Becard
Pachyramphus cinnamomeus
Masked
Tityra
Tityra semifasciata
F Black-chested
Jay
Cyanocorax affinis
F Green
Shrike-Vireo
Vireolanius pulchellus
Yellow-winged
Vireo
Vireo carmioli
Yellow-throated
Vireo
Vireo flavifrons
Philadelphia
Vireo
Vireo philadelphicus
Red-eyed
Vireo
Vireo olivaceus
Golden-fronted
Greenlet
Hylophilus aurantiifrons
Lesser
Greenlet
Hylophilus decurtatus
Clay-colored
Robin
Turdus grayi
White-throated
Thrush
Turdus assimilis
Tropical
Mockingbird
Mimus gilvus
F White-headed
Wren
Campylorhynchus albobrunneus
Bay
Wren
Thryothorus nigricapillus
Plain
Wren
Thryothorus modestus
Buff-breasted
Wren
Thryothorus leucotis
House
Wren
Troglodytes aedon
Gray-breasted
Wood-Wren
Henicorhina leucophrys
F Song Wren (HEARD
ONLY)
Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus
F Tawny-faced
Gnatwren
Microbates cinereiventris
Long-billed
Gnatwren
Ramphocaenus melanurus
Tropical
Gnatcatcher
Polioptila plumbea
Mangrove
Swallow
Tachycineta albilinea
Gray-breasted
Martin
Progne chalybea
Barn
Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Cliff
Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Lesser
Goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria
Tennessee
Warbler
Vermivora peregrina
Yellow
Warbler
Dendroica petechia
Chestnut-sided
Warbler
Dendroica pensylvanica
Black-throated
Blue
Warbler
Dendroica caerulescens
Bay-breasted
Warbler
Dendroica castanea
Northern
Waterthrush
Seiurus noveboracensis
Rufous-capped
Warbler
Basileuterus rufifrons
Buff-rumped
Warbler
Basileuterus fulvicauda
Orange-billed
Sparrow
Arremon aurantiirostris
Black-striped
Sparrow
Arremonops conirostris
Bananaquit
Coereba flaveola
Sooty-capped
Bush-Tanager
Chlorospingus pileatus
Yellow-throated
Bush-Tanager
Chlorospingus
flavigularis
Black-and-yellow
Tanager
Chrysothlypis chrysomelaena
Dusky-faced
Tanager
Mitrospingus cassinii
Gray-headed
Tanager
Eucometis penicillata
F Sulphur-rumped
Tanager
Heterospingus rubrifrons
White-shouldered
Tanager
Tachyphonus luctuosus
Red-throated
Ant-Tanager
Habia fuscicauda
Summer
Tanager
Piranga rubra
Scarlet
Tanager
Piranga olivacea
Crimson-backed
Tanager
Ramphocelus dimidiatus
F Flame-rumped
Tanager
Ramphocelus flammigerus
Blue-gray
Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
Palm
Tanager
Thraupis palmarum
F Blue-and-gold
Tanager
Bangsia arcaei
Yellow-crowned
Euphonia
Euphonia luteicapilla
Thick-billed
Euphonia
Euphonia laniirostris
F Spot-crowned
Euphonia
Euphonia imitans
F Fulvous-vented
Euphonia
Euphonia fulvicrissa
Tawny-capped
Euphonia
Euphonia anneae
F Plain-colored
Tanager
Tangara inornata
Silver-throated
Tanager
Tangara icterocephala
Golden-hooded
Tanager
Tangara larvata
Blue
Dacnis
Dacnis cayana
Green
Honeycreeper
Chlorophanes spiza
Green
Honeycreeper
Chlorophanes spiza
Shining
Honeycreeper
Cyanerpes lucidus
Red-legged
Honeycreeper
Cyanerpes cyaneus
Saffron
Finch
Sicalis flaveola
Blue-black
Grassquit
Volatinia jacarina
Variable
Seedeater
Sporophila americana
Yellow-bellied
Seedeater
Sporophila nigricollis
Ruddy-breasted
Seedeater
Sporophila minuta
Rose-breasted
Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Buff-throated
Saltator
Saltator maximus
Streaked
Saltator
Saltator striatipectus
F Blue-black
Grosbeak
Cyanocompsa cyanoides
Crested
Oropendola
Psarocolius decumanus
Chestnut-headed
Oropendola
Psarocolius wagleri
Yellow-rumped
Cacique
Cacicus cela
Scarlet-rumped
Cacique
Cacicus uropygialis
Yellow-billed
Cacique
Amblycercus holosericeus
Yellow-backed
Oriole
Icterus chrysater
Baltimore
Oriole
Icterus galbula
Orchard
Oriole
Icterus spurius
Red-breasted
Blackbird
Sturnella militaris
Eastern
Meadowlark
Sturnella magna
Great-tailed
Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Giant
Cowbird
Scaphidura oryzivora
Paul Blakeburn
Linda Bogiages
Gulf Breeze, FL
paulb@ksinc.net