Birdwatching In Panama » Birds from Panama

Woodcreeper

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:59:28 +0000

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The woodcreepers (Dendrocolaptinae) comprise a subfamily of sub-oscine passerine birds endemic to the Neotropics. They were formerly considered a distinct family Dendrocolaptidae, but are now placed as a subfamily of the ovenbirds (Furnariidae). They superficially resemble the Old World treecreepers, but they are unrelated and the similarities are due to convergent evolution. The subfamily contains around 57 species in 15 to 20 genera.

Woodcreepers range from 14 to 35 centimetres in length. Generally brownish birds, the true woodcreepers maintain an upright vertical posture, supported by their stiff tail vanes.

They feed mainly on insects taken from tree trunks. However, woodcreepers often form part of the core group at the center of flocks attending army ant swarms. Woodcreepers are arboreal cavity-nesting birds; 2-3 white eggs are laid and incubated for about 15 to 21 days.

These birds can be difficult to identify in that they tend to have similar brown upperparts, and the more distinctive underparts are hard to see on a bird pressed against a trunk in deep forest shade. The bill shape, extend/shape of spots/streaks, and call are useful aids to determining species.

Image of this Woodcreeper was taken along the Pipeline Road in the Soberania National Park in Panama.

Woodcreeper

Slaty tailed Trogon

admin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:02:26 +0000

The Slaty-tailed Trogon, Trogon massena, is a near passerine bird in the trogon family, Trogonidae. Slaty-tailed Trogons feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. The attached images where taken not long ago in the Soberania National Park in Panama along the Pipeline Road where you can see them often.

Hermit Hummingbird – Panama

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:25:21 +0000

The Hermits are tropical and subtropical hummingbirds in the subfamily Phaethornithinae, comprising 30–40 species in six genera. They occur from southern Mexico, through Central America, to South America as far south as northern Argentina. Their plumage typically involves greens, browns, rufous or grey. Most hermits are restricted to the edge and undergrowth of forest, woodland and second growth, the photos shown here where taken along the Pipeline Road in the Soberania National Park in Panama. Please see also this page here for more photos of Hummingbirds from Panama. Stripe-throated Hermit (Phaethornis striigularis):

The Capped Heron

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:41:43 +0000

Capped-Heron

This image of a Capped Heron was taken at the Summit Garden, first time I seen this one anywhere in Panama. Description from Wikipedia: The Capped Heron (Pilherodius pileatus) is a species of heron in the Ardeidae family. It is in the monotypic genus Pilherodius. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are rivers, swamps, and freshwater lakes.It feeds on frogs,lizards,fish,insects,crabs,small mammals,and young birds.

Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo

admin — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:05:42 +0000

Another good day along the Pipeline Road, on the way back we came along an Army Ants Swarm and those are always followed by many hungry birds feeding on the insects that are in the way of those huge ants swarms. Today among many other birds there was a a rare Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus geoffroyi), a large terrestrial species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family, see attached images.

New Years Hike along the Pipeline Road

admin — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:47:30 +0000

Here are a few pictures from my New Years hike along the Pipeline Road. First surprise was that Tiger Heron at a pond right before reaching the first bridge (Juan Grande), then shortly after that bridge on the left side there is a little pond and right beside it just a few meters from the Pipeline road was that little Croc, so watch out next time ya walk by there. The other pictures where taken a little further down the Pipeline road close to the next bridge (Rio Frijolito).

Our Picture Galleries with Birds from Panama

admin — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:39:13 +0000

You can always find our picture galleries with birds from Panama here on our website. The Index of all galleries with birds from Panama is located here, there we have slide shows with: Birds of Prey, Hummingbirds, Trogons & Motmots, Toucan, Parrots & Macaws, Birdwatching along the Pipeline Road, Woodpeckers, the Harpy Eagle @ Soberania National Park, Tanagers, Flycatchers, Puffbirds, Herons & Egrets and much more! You can find many more great nature photos at my other website YourNaturePhotos.com where you also can upload your own pictures.

Lots of Hummingbirds

admin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:07:28 +0000

Visited the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center last Sunday, after a short walk along the Pipeline road, while a light rain was refreshing the air. There are always lots of hummingbirds to see at the Center around the feeders, but now it seams even more so as so they say there arent that many blooming plants around in the forest, so they go for the easy food. There are many colorful birds to see there like the Blue-Chested-Hummingbird, Jacobin-Hummingbird, White-Vented-Plumeleteer, Hermits and others. The Panama Rainforest Discovery Center is located 1.6 km from the Pipeline Road entrance. After arriving at Gamboa town at the end of Gaillard Highway, drive 3 more km following the signs for Panama Rainforest Discovery Center. The Panama Rainforest Discovery Center is open daily from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. except Christmas and New Year days. Well worth a visit to see the hummingbirds and to go on discovery tours along the jungle paths or to climb the observation tower.

Last Weekend along the Pipeline Road

admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:13:45 +0000

Here are a few images from last weekend along the pipeline road. I went out early and started my walk around 6:30AM, along the way there was still some fog hanging over the Canal and the sun barley started to cut trough it giving some areas some mystical looks. I was pretty much alone at that time and it is always a great feeling listening to the forest and its many voices while enjoying the fresh and cool morning air plus walking is healthy anyway so they say. The attached images show show the rarley seen Great Jacamar (thanks to Jose Carlos Garcia from birdingpanama.com for the id) that was catching some insects, a Motmot plus some butterflies along the way that caught my attention, interesting also the image of the Great Jacamar with flash and one without showing the colors of his feathers in a very distinctive light each time.

Trogons in Panama

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:26:02 +0000

The trogons and quetzals are birds in the order Trogoniformes which contains only one family, the Trogonidae. Trogons are residents of tropical forests worldwide, with the greatest diversity in Central and South America. They feed on insects and fruit. Here in Panama along the Pipeline Road or at the Trogon Trail along the Achiote Road they can be seen frequently. You can find many more photos of Trogons from Panama here.