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PANAMA


8 - 23 March 2005


by
Richard Carlson


HOW TO SEE 460 SPECIES IN TWO WEEKS

 

We just returned from an amazing two weeks in Panama: the trip was fabulous.  The group of 13 saw (or heard) about 460 species in 14 days of birding.   Many of us actually saw over 400 species including 44 Tanagers, 30 Hummingbirds, 5 Cotingas, 8 Trogons and 5 Manakins.  This was a trip for real birders, not a pampered procession of wealthy wannabes.  We used local guides, ate with the locals and stayed in hotels as close as possible to the birds – whether that meant a tent cabin or a 4 star spa.  As a result, the total land cost, including all meals, tips and drinks was about $2000 each – that’s less than $5 a species. 

 

The trip was organized by David Trently of the Tennessee Ornithological Society and Guido Berguido of Advantage Tours.  There aren’t enough superlatives for Guido’s guiding and organizing skills.  The trip went off without a hitch.  We had both Guido and a local bird guide at nearly every site.  Guido knew exactly where to stop and used his iPod to call in the recalcitrant. (Note: We only used the iPod a few times a day for the really hard to locate birds; this electronic wonder can be overused.) Best of all, his network of birders, guides, friends, and ranchers continually gave us tips throughout the trip.  The guy should write a text on networking.

 

Panama overall is a superb birding site.  We’ve been to Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize and Guatemala.  Panama beats them all, hands down.  Our two-week Panama list nearly beat our total 9 trip, 16-week list to all those other spots combined!  Panamanian birds are so wondrously diverse and so accessible.  San Jose, Costa Rica is a get-out-of-town-fast spot, but it takes most of a day to escape.  Panama City is ultra-modern, clean and safe and has antbirds IN-TOWN at their incredible Metropolitan Park.  Pipeline Rd is only 45 minutes away.  Panama’s Caribbean slope is 1 ½ hours away on a good road while getting from San Jose, CR to the Caribbean slope required the scariest drive of our lives, dodging bouncing boulders in pea soup fog.  We vote for Panama!

 

Panama’s environmental (and economic) blessing is the Panama Canal.  From 1914 on canal authorities protected the canal’s vital watershed by restricting development and logging.  They knew that development would mean erosion into the canal and more expensive dredging.  The military agreed; they saw jungle as the best and cheapest defense from any invasion.  The result was a Canal Zone and adjacent watersheds that were left as mostly unsettled jungle.  The military had a few bases and training areas, most of which have been abandoned. Even the live fire training areas have been blessings; Achiotle road remains wilderness because it is littered with deadly live shells.  Birds don’t care, but humans do.  Now all this territory has become a series of national parks.

 

Day 1 Tuesday March 8. NEVER plan to travel on Monday, something disastrous always happens on the weekend.  This time my wife got badly sick and we had to wait to see a Dr. on Monday. Having been delayed a day, we were forced to buy new tickets.  These routed us from Phoenix via Newark where we skated down an icy runway in a blizzard.  What a send off!  In Panama City, Guido, our devilishly handsome guide, met the flight and we went to the Country Inn.  The hotel was comfy and inexpensive, and we could hear the birds from nearby Metropolitan Park -- B+ for comfort but A+ for location.

 

Day 2 Wednesday March 9. We were counting birds in the dark by 6 a.m. After a quick bkfst., we headed off to our day’s adventure – an Embera village in Chagres Nat’l. Park.  Our 25-passenger van was more than adequate for the 15 of us.  This was an introductory  “non-birding” day, but we picked up 67 new birds and one lucky soul even saw a Jaguarundi.  While waiting for our dugout canoes we watched Snail Kites and Southern Lapwings.  Once seated we chugged off into the wilderness – outboard on the back, loin-clothed Embera poling from the front.  The village re-defined sensory overload: birds and kids everywhere, the village women’s costumes trying to out-dazzle the birds, parrots squawking, flutes playing and a King Vulture soaring serenely above the chaos.  Some of the birders, my wife included, were torn between the handicrafts and all the birds.  The rest of us just chased the birds back and forth across the village, moving like a Rugby scrum.  We saw 10 tanagers here, including spectacular Bay-headed, Golden-hooded, Crimson-backed and Flame-rumped.  We had a leisurely lunch in the heat of the day and then took a short hike where our first feeding group overwhelmed us.  Poor Guido, there were so many birds that each of us were watching a different one, with many asking, “What the heck is this.”  This was the one time we had only one birding guide, and the trail was narrow to boot.  The more experienced birders helped sort things out, but it was a frustrating experience for the novices.  We birded all afternoon, picking up White Hawks, Blue Ground-Doves and Golden-Collared Manakins.  On the way back, we shot down the rapids we had poled up, with our captain handling the 40-ft dugout like it was a 6-ft. Kayak.  We returned to the hotel, happy, sunburned and exhausted.

 

Day 3 Thursday March 10. After our warm-up day, we were up at 6 and headed into Metropolitan Park for serious birding.  Our first stop was so loaded with Toucans, Orioles, Warblers, Grosbeaks and Trogons that Guido had to drag us up the hill to even cooler birds.  The hike’s problem was that we could move only 50 yards before another group of birds stormed in.  What do you do when one tree has a pair of Slaty-tailed Trogons, another has Fasciated Ant-Shrikes, a Crimson-crested Woodpecker is on the other side and a Blue-crowned Mot-mot is downhill?  This trail was wide enough, and the birds sufficiently cooperative, that we could scope many and most of us saw almost all the birds.  My only problem was that my 10 power Swifts weren't wide angled enough to find the birds scooting in the dark around the forest floor – bring wide-angled binoculars to the tropics!  Other highlights included Rosy-Thrush Tanager, Dot-winged Ant-Wren, Western Slaty Ant-shrike, and Plain Xenops. At the top, we were rewarded by seeing a group of Tamarind Monkeys. In migration, there would be thousands of hawks. This was a long-hot and very productive hike. Wear the coolest clothes you have.  One could see a great many of these birds on one’s own, but you’d never match what you’d see aided by Guido’s eyes, ears and wondrous iPod.

 

Metro Park was just the beginning.  We stopped for a quick lunch at Guido’s one sin on budget trips, Nikko’s cafeteria.  It’s quick and cheap, but you know the whole menu by the third time.  After lunch, we did some AC bus birding seeing Black-breasted Mango (bus-driver find) and Saffron Finches. Then we headed out the causeway to a Smithsonian site.  We were treated to cool breezes, hundreds of plovers (mostly semi’s but one Wilson’s), a Garden Emerald, a Yellow-Crowned Tyrannulet, and 3 Sloths. 

We continued our coastal tour by visiting Panama City’s Old Town (don’t try this unescorted) and then drove to the southern beaches which had thousands of shorebirds.  Altogether we had 107 species.

 

Day 4 Friday March 11.  We rose at 5:30 and drove like mad to reach Pipeline Road by dawn.  It was wonderful and frustrating.  Many of the best birds skulked in the shadows.  We had good looks at Black-breasted Puffbird, Great Jacamar, Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant Green Shrike Vireo, Long-billed Gnatwren and 4 Trogons – White-tailed, Black-throated, Black-tailed and Slaty-tailed.  A small ant swarm produced Spotted and Bicolored Antbirds and a Barred Woodcreeper.  Deep in the shadows were a Chestnut-backed Antbird and a Black-faced Antthrush.  The birding was great but the heat wiped us out.

 

After our exhausting Pipeline march, we had lunch at Guido’s home in Gamboa.  It was a perfect stop – eating lunch while White-necked Jacobins, Blue-crowned Mot-mots, Crimson backed Tanagers and Coatimundi came to the feeders.  After a leisurely lunch we went to some nearby ponds where we saw Boat-billed Herons, Yellow-margined flycatcher, and a Lesser Kiskadee.

 

Day 5 Saturday March 12. After another night in Panama City we returned to Gamboa and famous Plantation Rd.  This was more comfortable birding because the higher canopy meant more shade.  The most exciting find was a pair of Sunbitterns walking up a mostly dry series of pools and cascades.  We all watched these amazing birds through the scopes.  We even had scope views of a cooperative White-whiskered Puffbird, Fruit Crows and a Blue-crowned Manakin.  We also saw White-flanked and White-bellied antbirds, an Olivaceous Flatbill and a Yellow-tailed Oriole.

 

After Plantation Road, we drove up the hill to the Canopy Tower.  This is a lovely facility, if expense is no issue.  It’s perfectly located and you can bird from your window.  Here we added GreenViolet-crowned Woodnymph and Blue-chested hummers at the feeders. The hoped for hawks did no materialize, so we went to Guido’s for lunch.  We then birded a nearby marsh where we stumbled on one of the trip’s most fascinating sights  – a green tree snake devouring Golden-hooded Tanager nestlings.  The snake had climbed 30 ft. up this skinny tree and paid no attention to the adult’s ineffective scolding.  The Tanagers even drove off some other birds that tried to attack the snake.  Nearby we saw Wattled Jacana, Yellow-tailed Orioles and a Rufescent Tiger-heron.  We then visited the waterside restaurant at Gamboa Rainforest resort.  This was a lovely spot to sip a cold beer and watch River Otters.

 

Day 6 Sunday March 13.  We flew to Bocas del Toro island and caught a boat out to Swan Cay.  The flight and multi-modal transfers worked without a hitch, amazingly.  After a short boat ride, we were dodging squawking Red-billed Tropicbirds and Brown Boobies.  It’s a beautiful spot.  We then circumnavigated the island and stopped at a local restaurant.  It was a fine stop, with Common Black Hawk, nesting Green-breasted Mango, Banana quit and cold beer. After a quick snorkel stop we went to lovely Solarte Inn.  We were greeted by a swarm of Purple-Crowned Fairies.  After a fine lunch we wandered around to see Montezuma Oropendola, Passrini’s Tanager, White-crowned Pigeon, Black-cowled Oriole and best of all, red poison dart frogs!  We had to tear ourselves away to buzz our way to the mainland, where we quickly escaped Panama’s ugliest port city.  We stayed that night in Changuinola at the Golden Sahara, probably the best place in town, but basically a Spanish Motel 6.  Next door we had a surprisingly good meal.  When in doubt, in a strange place, go for Chines food! 

 

Day 7 Monday March 14.  Next day, the purpose of staying in this unattractive banana plantation town became clear: it was the only way to get to the birding places early enough to see anything.  Staying on Bocas would have been lovely, but you’d miss most of the birds.  Up at dawn we chugged through endless banana plantations until we finally got to some jungle.  The place was hopping with Striped Cuckoo, Olive-Crowned Yellowthroat, Gray-capped Flycatcher, Black-belliedBlack-throated?? Wren and numerous seed finches.  As we walked along, huge kettles of Broad-winged Hawks, Swallow-tailed and Plumbeous Kites soared overhead.  At this point I earned what I feared was Guido’s everlasting enmity when I looked behind the group and shouted, “Snowy Cotinga.”  (The best birds are always flying behind the group.) This rarity zoomed by before Guido could see it.  The Cotinga would have been a long-sought life bird for him.  Finally, as the heat became more intense, we found Olive-backed and Yellow-crowned Euphonia along with a delightful Band-backed wren and a fascinating Long-tailed Tyrant.  We then drove to the end of the road where we scoped a Violaceous Trogon and saw both a rare White-collared Manakin and a White-breasted Wood-Wren.  The heat finally drove us to turn around and we went back to town for lunch.  We then drove up into the foothills, making several stops.  Just over a low pass, we stopped to look into a tall Ceiba tree.  (It looked just like all the other Ceiba trees.)  Fortunately, this Ceiba had the Snowy Cotinga; Guido forgave me for my morning’s sighting!  On the other side was a tree full of parrots, and a pretty house where the owner invited us to use a very welcome bathroom.  The next stop produced Chestnut-collaredChestnut-colored and Pale-billed Woodpeckers.  We stayed until dark and then drove to Willi Mazoo camp.  We arrived exhausted in the rain and had to drag our bags 100 yards into the shelter.  This was a LONG day.  Willi Mazoo is a tent camp with about 8 tents under a large shelter.  It’s not fancy, but it’s the only place in this great habitat.  Food and beds were fine for one night for our old bones.

 

Day 8 Tuesday March 15.  Next morning, Willi Mazoo showed off.  Birds were everywhere.  We saw Barred Hawk, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Black-bellied and Violet-headed hummers, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Buff-rumped Warbler, Tropical Parula, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Emerald and Silver-throated Tanagers, Bay Wren, Tawny-capped Euphonia and a Black-faced Grosbeak.  We finally tore ourselves away to drive over the divided to the Pacific side.  Out trip was soon interrupted by a huge landslide: a blessing in disguise!  The landslide forced us out of the bus, so we carefully scoped the area to find a Three-wattled Bellbird and a Blue and Gold Tanager, the only ones of the trip.  Once the landslide was cleared, we drove just over the pass to see Common and Sooty-capped Bush Tanagers, Red-fronted Parrotlets, Band-tailed Pigeon, White-fronted Parrot, Golden-bellied Flycatcher and Pale-vented Thrush.  We then drove down the hill to a Smithsonian research station and saw Emerald Toucanets and Black Guan.  (plus welcome bathrooms).  It was another long day as we finally got to lovely Los Quetzales Lodge, welcome luxury after Willie Mazoo.

 

Day 9 Wednesday March 16.  Up at dawn, quick breakfast and rough but short drive to the upper cabins at Los Quetzales.  Birders heaven!  Quetzals quickly showed themselves, and then they were followed by a cavalcade of Fiery throated, Stripe-tailed and magnificent Hummingbirds, Violet Sabrewings, and White-throated Mountain Gems. From the deck we saw Prong-billed Barbets, Ruddy Treerunner, Buffy Tufted-cheek, Yellowish Flycatcher, Black-capped Flycatcher, Ruddy-capped Nightingale Thrush, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Mountain Robin, Yellow-winged Vireo, Flame-throated and Black-cheeked Warblers, Collared and Slate-throated Redstarts, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Flame-colored Tanager, Yellow-thighed Finch, and Black and Yellow Silky-flycatcher.  Lower down at the lodge were Violet Sabrewings, Green Violetears, Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher, Yellow throated, Brown-capped and Philadelphia Vireos, Slaty Flowerpiercer, and Stripe-headed Brush-finch.  For the afternoon, we toured and birded the fascinating Dracula Orchid Farm.  That night we walked across the street and spotlighted an amazingly cooperative Dusky Nightjar.

 

Day 10 Thursday March 17.   Near the town of Santa Clara, we visited a shade-grown coffee plantation (Finca Hartmann). The drive itself was very productive. We made three major stops enroute.  The first produced a swarm of warblers: Blackburnian, Tennessee, & Golden-crowned. The second produced a Turquoise Cotinga along with a Long-billed Starthroat.  The final stop was the best: Emerald, Silver-throated, White-lined, and Cherrie’s Tanagers, Elegant & Yellow-throated Euphonias and unusual for Panama, Lesser Goldlfinch.

 

At the farm itself we found a real hot-spot: Immaculate Antbird, Great Antshrike, Gray-headed Tanager, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Olivaceous Piculet, Green Hermit, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Rufous-breasted Wren, Flame–colored Tanager, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Streaked Saltator and White-naped Brush Finch.

 

That night, my wife got sick.  This was due to either the bug traveling around the group, or the food. We’ll never know which.  I never got sick the whole trip, but I was one of a lucky few.

 

Day 11 Friday March 18. This was a long, but fascinating, day.  We explored the forests of the Los Quetzales Trail at the Baru Volcano National Park.  It was a rough ride up Volcan Baru. (Don’t try it in an ordinary car.) At the top we had more White-throated Mountain-gems, Scintillant, and Volcano Hummingbirds, Sulpher-winged Parakeets, White-collared Swifts, and an Eastern Meadowlark.  Amidst the moss-covered, epiphyte-laden trees of the cloud forest we spotted Collared and Orange-bellied Trogons, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Ruddy Treerunner, Mountain Elaenia, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Black-faced Solitaire, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager, Barred Becard, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, and Large-footed Finch. The hike ended with a final Quetzal.

 

After this productive morning we drove to David, for our flight south.  On the way we stopped for a Torrent Tyrannulet at Bambito Lodge. We birded the airport grounds (ponds to the south) finding Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Northern Jacana, Brown-throated Parakeet, Mouse-colored and Yellow Tyrannulets, and Streaked Saltator

 

At about 9 we finally arrived at Hotel Melia Panama Canal and fell to sleep, tired but happy.  This was a lovely spot offering excellent food, great rooms, good access and great birds at your doorstep. 

 

Day 12 Saturday March 19.  That morning we were held up by canal traffic, finding Yellow-bellied Seedeater during the wait.  Too late for Achiote road, we birded nearby jungle and found Mealy Parrot, Greater Ani, Brown-capped Tyrannulet, Fulvous-vented Euphonia, and Scarlet Tanager. We then explored the open fields around the Gatun Dam, finding Red-breasted Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Purple Martin, Ringed Kingfisher, and Common Black-Hawk.  The shore held a Ruddy Turnstone.  Finally, we had lunch at an abandoned Spanish fort overlooking the ocean.  It held Crested and Chestnut-headed Oropendolas and Yellow-rumped Caciques.

 

That afternoon several of us kayaked on the lake.  One island was full of birds: Toucans, Collared Aracari, and Snail Kite plus many sloths.

 

That night we had excellent night birding east of the hotel.  We saw several Pauraques and called in a cooperative Common Potoo.

 

Day 13 Sunday March 20. We got across the canal quickly and made it to fabled Achiote Road for the dawn action.  We found Caribbean slope specialties like Black-headed Saltator, Pied Puffbird, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Barred Antshrike, the amazing Song Wren, and rarities like the Spot-crowned Barbet and a Blue Cotinga.   On the way out, we saw a Spectacled Owl near the road.

 

After lunch, we drove back across Panama for some more Panama City birding, finding a shore-bird hot-spot behind a police station with Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Lesser Yellow-legs and a Mangrove Black Hawk near the airport. We then drove to Hostal Casa De Campo getting only slightly lost on the way.  Our driver was a genius getting us out of one very tight spot.

 

Day 14 Monday March 21.  After a super breakfast, we birded Chagres National Park.  With over 320,000 acres this is the largest protected area in the Panama Canal Watershed.  Here we found humid forest species like Black-striped and Spotted Woodcreeper, White-ruffed and Red-capped Manakin, Olive Tanager, and Montezuma  Chestnut-headed?? Oropendola.

 

That afternoon, we went to the lovely home of the head of Panama Audubon—Birder’s View . It was incredible: Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Violet-headed and Violet-capped Hummingbirds, Bay-headed, Emerald, Speckled, Golden-hooded, Spangle-cheeked NOT HERE only in the West, Hepatic and Rufous-winged Tanagers, White-tipped Sicklebill (after a tough hike that seemed insane until we saw the bird), and the endemic Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker.  At this one spot we saw 17 different Tanagers!  From our high vantage-point, we could watch groups of Swallow-tailed Kites at eye level plus White Hawks and Black Hawk-eagles.

 

 

Day 15 Tuesday March 22.  Next morning we birded the Cerro Jefe area, finding mountain specialties like the Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Slate-colored Grosbeak, flocks of Black-and-Yellow Tanagers, as well as the nearly endemic Tacarcuna Bush-Tanager.  Then back for one more magical afternoon at the Audubon house.  This time we added Rufous-crested Coquette and Rufous-capped Warbler.

 

The area is described at http://www.exoticbirding.com/panama/places/cerro-azul-jefe.html.  Note that this is a gated development, so access is difficult.

 

For the afternoon we went back to Panama City for some shopping and tried for a few Mangrove specialties.  To celebrate we skipped Nikko’s and had some great pizza. Overnight back in Panama City to the Country Inn for one last time.

 

 

Day 16 Wednesday March 23.  Finally, time to leave, but we had a few more birds to pick up and get me over the magic 400.  We drove to a ranch near the airport, and found some nice birds.  On a pond we added Striated Heron, Cattle Tyrants were on their nest in a palm on the airport entrance road and across from the tree was a stream with Lesser Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpiper – 403!!  We flew back via Houston instead of frigid Newark and were home by 6.  What a trip!

 

SPECIES SEEN

March 9-23, 2005 in Panama ~ 402 seen

GREBES

Least Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe

TROPICBIRDS

Red-billed Tropicbird

PELICANS

Brown Pelican

GANNETS AND BOOBIES

Brown Booby

CORMORANTS

Neotropic Cormorant

ANHINGAS

Anhinga

FRIGATEBIRDS

Magnificent Frigatebird

HERONS, EGRETS AND BITTERNS

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Tricolored Heron

Little Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Cattle Egret

Striated Heron

Green Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Boat-billed Heron

Rufescent Tiger-Heron

IBIS AND SPOONBILLS

White Ibis

DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS

Blue-winged Teal

NEW WORLD VULTURES

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

King Vulture

OSPREY

Osprey

HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES

Swallow-tailed Kite

White-tailed Kite

Snail Kite

Double-toothed Kite

Mississippi Kite

Plumbeous Kite

Northern Harrier

Barred Hawk

White Hawk

Common Black-Hawk

Mangrove Black-Hawk

Gray Hawk

Roadside Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Swainson's Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk

Black Hawk-Eagle

FALCONS AND CARACARAS

Crested Caracara

Yellow-headed Caracara

American Kestrel

GUANS, CHACHALACAS, CURASSOWS

Gray-headed Chachalaca

Black Guan

RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS

Gray-necked Wood-Rail

Purple Gallinule

Common Moorhen

American Coot

SUNBITTERN

Sunbittern

JACANAS

Northern Jacana

Wattled Jacana

AVOCETS AND STILTS

Black-necked Stilt

PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS

Southern Lapwing

Black-bellied Plover

Semipalmated Plover

Wilson's Plover

SANDPIPERS

Short-billed Dowitcher

Greater Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Solitary Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Willet

Ruddy Turnstone

Western Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

GULLS

Laughing Gull

TERNS

Sandwich Tern

Royal Tern

PIGEONS AND DOVES

Rock Pigeon

White-crowned Pigeon

Scaled Pigeon

Band-tailed Pigeon

Pale-vented Pigeon

Short-billed Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Ruddy Ground-Dove

Blue Ground-Dove

White-tipped Dove

PARROTS

Crimson-fronted Parakeet

Sulphur-winged Parakeet

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Red-fronted Parrotlet

Brown-hooded Parrot

Blue-headed Parrot

White-crowned Parrot

Red-lored Parrot

Mealy Parrot

CUCKOOS

Squirrel Cuckoo

Greater Ani

Smooth-billed Ani

Groove-billed Ani

Striped Cuckoo

OWLS

Spectacled Owl

POTOOS

Common Potoo

NIGHTJARS

Pauraque

Dusky Nightjar

SWIFTS

White-collared Swift

Band-rumped Swift

Vaux's Swift

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift

HUMMINGBIRDS

White-tipped Sicklebill

Green Hermit

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

Violet Sabrewing

White-necked Jacobin

Green Violet-ear

Green-breasted Mango

Black-throated Mango

Violet-headed Hummingbird

Rufous-crested Coquette

Garden Emerald

Fiery-throated Hummingbird

Stripe-tailed Hummingbird

Black-bellied Hummingbird

Violet-capped Hummingbird

Violet-crowned Woodnymph

Green-crowned Woodnymph

Violet-bellied Hummingbird

Sapphire-throated Hummingbird

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Blue-chested Hummingbird

Snowy-bellied Hummingbird

Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer

White-throated Mountain-gem

Magnificent Hummingbird

Purple-crowned Fairy

Long-billed Starthroat

Scintillant Hummingbird

Volcano Hummingbird

TROGONS AND QUETZALS

White-tailed Trogon

Violaceous Trogon

Collared Trogon

Orange-bellied Trogon

Black-throated Trogon

Black-tailed Trogon

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Resplendent Quetzal

KINGFISHERS

Ringed Kingfisher

Amazon Kingfisher

Green Kingfisher

MOTMOTS

Blue-crowned Motmot

Broad-billed Motmot

JACAMARS

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Great Jacamar

PUFFBIRDS

White-necked Puffbird

Black-breasted Puffbird

Pied Puffbird

White-whiskered Puffbird

BARBETS

Spot-crowned Barbet

Prong-billed Barbet

TOUCANS

Blue-throated Toucanet

Collared Aracari

Yellow-eared Toucanet

Keel-billed Toucan

Black-mandibled Toucan

WOODPECKERS

Olivaceous Piculet

Acorn Woodpecker

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Smoky-brown Woodpecker

Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker

Lineated Woodpecker

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Pale-billed Woodpecker

OVENBIRDS

Slaty Spinetail

Red-faced Spinetail

Ruddy Treerunner

Plain Xenops

Buffy Tuftedcheek

WOODCREEPERS

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Northern Barred-Woodcreeper

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Black-striped Woodcreeper

Spotted Woodcreeper

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Spot-crowned Woodcreeper

TYPICAL ANTBIRDS

Fasciated Antshrike

Great Antshrike

Barred Antshrike

Western Slaty-Antshrike

White-flanked Antwren

Dot-winged Antwren

Dusky Antbird

White-bellied Antbird

Chestnut-backed Antbird

Immaculate Antbird

Bicolored Antbird

Spotted Antbird

ANTTHRUSHES AND ANTPITTAS

Black-faced Antthrush

COTINGAS

Turquoise Cotinga

Blue Cotinga

Snowy Cotinga

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Three-wattled Bellbird

MANAKINS

White-collared Manakin

Golden-collared Manakin

White-ruffed Manakin

Lance-tailed Manakin

Blue-crowned Manakin

Red-capped Manakin

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS

Brown-capped Tyrannulet

Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet

Yellow Tyrannulet

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Lesser Elaenia

Mountain Elaenia

Torrent Tyrannulet

Paltry Tyrannulet

Northern Scrub-Flycatcher

Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant

Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant

Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Olivaceous Flatbill

Yellow-margined Flycatcher

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Tropical Pewee

Acadian Flycatcher

Yellowish Flycatcher

Black-capped Flycatcher

Black Phoebe

Long-tailed Tyrant

Cattle Tyrant

Bright-rumped Attila

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Panama Flycatcher

Great Crested Flycatcher

Lesser Kiskadee

Great Kiskadee

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Social Flycatcher

Gray-capped Flycatcher

Golden-bellied Flycatcher

Streaked Flycatcher

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Piratic Flycatcher

Tropical Kingbird

Eastern Kingbird

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Barred Becard

Cinnamon Becard

White-winged Becard

Masked Tityra

Black-crowned Tityra

SWALLOWS

Purple Martin

Gray-breasted Martin

Mangrove Swallow

Blue-and-white Swallow

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Barn Swallow

SILKY-FLYCATCHERS

Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher

Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher

WRENS

Band-backed Wren

Rufous-breasted Wren

Bay Wren

Rufous-and-white Wren

Plain Wren

House Wren

Ochraceous Wren

White-breasted Wood-Wren

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren

Song Wren

MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS

Gray Catbird

Tropical Mockingbird

THRUSHES

Black-faced Solitaire

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush

Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush

Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush

Swainson's Thrush

Mountain Robin

Pale-vented Thrush

Clay-colored Robin

White-throated Thrush

GNATCATCHERS

Long-billed Gnatwren

Tropical Gnatcatcher

CROWS AND JAYS

Black-chested Jay

Brown Jay

OLD WORLD SPARROWS

House Sparrow

VIREOS AND ALLIES

Yellow-throated Vireo

Yellow-winged Vireo

Brown-capped Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Yellow-green Vireo

Scrub Greenlet

Golden-fronted Greenlet

Lesser Greenlet

Green Shrike-Vireo

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS

Lesser Goldfinch

WOOD WARBLERS

Tennessee Warbler

Flame-throated Warbler

Tropical Parula

Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

American Redstart

Northern Waterthrush

Olive-crowned Yellowthroat

Wilson's Warbler

Slate-throated Redstart

Collared Redstart

Golden-crowned Warbler

Rufous-capped Warbler

Black-cheeked Warbler

Buff-rumped Warbler

Wrenthrush

BANANAQUIT

Bananaquit

TANAGERS AND ALLIES

Common Bush-Tanager

Tacarcuna Bush-Tanager

Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager

Black-and-yellow Tanager

Rosy Thrush-Tanager

Olive Tanager

Gray-headed Tanager

White-shouldered Tanager

White-lined Tanager

Red-crowned Ant-Tanager

Red-throated Ant-Tanager

Hepatic Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

Summer Tanager

Flame-colored Tanager

Crimson-backed Tanager

Passerini's Tanager

Cherrie's Tanager

Flame-rumped Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

Palm Tanager

Blue-and-gold Tanager

Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Thick-billed Euphonia

Yellow-throated Euphonia

Elegant Euphonia

Fulvous-vented Euphonia

Olive-backed Euphonia

Tawny-capped Euphonia

Golden-browed Chlorophonia

Plain-colored Tanager

Emerald Tanager

Silver-throated Tanager

Speckled Tanager

Bay-headed Tanager

Rufous-winged Tanager

Golden-hooded Tanager

Spangle-cheeked Tanager

Scarlet-thighed Dacnis

Blue Dacnis

Green Honeycreeper

Red-legged Honeycreeper

BUNTINGS, SEEDEATERS, ALLIES

Blue-black Grassquit

Variable Seedeater

White-collared Seedeater

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Ruddy-breasted Seedeater

Thick-billed Seed-Finch

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Slaty Flowerpiercer

Saffron Finch

Yellow-thighed Finch

Large-footed Finch

White-naped Brush-Finch

Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch

SPARROWS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS

Black-striped Sparrow

Rufous-collared Sparrow

SALTATORS, CARDINALS AND ALLIES

Streaked Saltator

Buff-throated Saltator

Black-headed Saltator

Slate-colored Grosbeak

Black-faced Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Blue-black Grosbeak

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, GRACKLES, ETC.

Red-breasted Blackbird

Eastern Meadowlark

Great-tailed Grackle

Shiny Cowbird

Bronzed Cowbird

Giant Cowbird

Yellow-backed Oriole

Yellow-tailed Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Orchard Oriole

Black-cowled Oriole

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Crested Oropendola

Chestnut-headed Oropendola

Montezuma Oropendola

-------- STATISTICS --------

Species seen - 402


Richard Carlson
Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian
Part-time Economist
Tucson, AZ & Lake Tahoe, CA
rccarl AT pacbell.net


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