Author: canopytower

Dot-winged Antwren Microrhopias quixensis Photo by David Tipling This warbler-like, charismatic antwren is one of the most energetic birds in the rainforest! The Dot-winged Antwren is one of the most widespread and well-known members of the antbird family. Almost always found in pairs or small groups, males and females are very distinct from each other—males are jet black with a wide white wing bar and conspicuous white spots on the wing coverts. Females have the same white wing markings, but have dark gray to black upperparts and bright chestnut underparts. Both male and female have a long, tapered tail with white spots on the tips, which they often flare when foraging. Young birds are brown above and cinnamon below. The Dot-winged Antwren is the only member of the genus Microrhopias, and there are 10 recognized subspecies, differing widely in plumage, especially the females. Two subspecies are found in Panama. Seemingly always active, Dot-winged Antwrens are frequently found in mixed feeding flocks in Neotropical forests, and often associate with White-flanked and Checker-throated antwrens. They are found in the middle levels of humid forest and woodlands, and also like to forage in vine tangles and dense growth, where they glean small insects and arthropods from the foliage. They prefer areas of secondary growth, and are rarely found in primary forest. They can also be found foraging at forest edge. Dot-winged Antwrens are quite vocal; their song is a series of sharp notes that ascend in pitch then descend more rapidly. Like some other antbirds, when startled or excited, they flare a large, bright white patch on their back as a display of aggression, which could also be done during courtship display. In Panama, Dot-winged Antwrens breed from February to July. The female lays two white eggs with brown spotting. Like many other

Yellow-rumped Cacique Cacicus cela Photo by David Tipling The Yellow-rumped Cacique is a very attractive and gregarious bird—at nearly a foot in length, it is a large member of the blackbird family. Like other caciques, it has mainly black plumage and a large, pale bill; it shares the Scarlet-rumped Cacique's pale blue eyes. It has a bright yellow lower back, rump and vent, with yellow “epaulets” or shoulder patches. Males and females have similar plumage, although the male’s plumage is brighter and the male has a short, thin crest. There is a pronounced size difference between males and females—males are significantly larger than females. Juveniles have dark eyes and a brown bill base. Yellow-rumped Caciques can be found in the middle and upper levels of forest, woodlands and open areas with large trees, riversides and along lakes and fields. They are a lowland species, found from sea level to 700 meters. They are very social and garrulous birds; they forage in groups and nest in colonies, often with closely-related oropendolas (especially Chestnut-headed Oropendolas). Yellow-rumped Caciques feed on insects and fruit, also nectar and seeds. They are often detected by their calls, giving a wide variety of vocalizations including liquid whistling, burbling calls, churrs, squeaks and ear-piercing sharp notes. On occasion, they will even mimic other birds. Colonies share 5-7 song dialects which vary colony to colony. Their vocalizations also vary geographically. Males are territorial and counter-sing to establish dominance. Read more about the Yellow-rumped Cacique’s complex vocalizations and interesting vocal facts here. The Yellow-rumped Cacique has three recognized subspecies. Yellow-rumped Caciques are polygynous, meaning males mate with multiple females; thus, females are responsible for building the nest, incubation and caring for young and males take no role in any aspect of parental care. Yellow-rumped Caciques make complex, hanging woven nests,

Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus coronatus Photo by Rafael Lau This well-named, medium-sized forest flycatcher is a most-wanted bird on many of our guests' lists! It is known for its spectacular long, fanned, red and blue crest, which is almost always held down, giving the Royal Flycatcher a distinct hammerhead appearance. It is brown overall with a bright buffy, long tail, and has small buff spots on the wings. It has a long bill with conspicuous rictal bristles. With its big size and unusual crest, the Royal Flycatcher is an unmistakable bird. The Royal Flycatcher is inconspicuous and usually solitary, and can be found in the forest understory, often near streams. It can also be found in mature secondary growth and forest edges. It does not join mixed feeding flocks. It is overall relatively quiet, but occasionally announces its presence by giving an abrupt, sharp and clear two-note call, kwee-up! Its song is a series of high, sharp notes, often followed by a series of descending whistles. It forages in the understory of the forest for ticks, leafhoppers, small cicadas, butterflies, dragonflies and grasshoppers, capturing its prey by sallying flights from a perch. It perches upright with its tail vertical, and spends more time perched and visually searching for prey than sallying out to catch insects. The Royal Flycatcher is best known for its incredibly ornate crest, which is rarely seen under natural conditions. When it displays, it raises and extends its crest, fanning it laterally, and rhythmically and slowly twists its head from side to side, opening and closing its bill. This is most often seen in the hand in mist net captures, but has been observed in the wild when preening, in courtship displays, after mating and as a territorial display. Both males and females have the elaborate crest, but

Red-lored Parrot Amazona autumnalis Photo by David Tipling One of our most charismatic birds, we think all would agree, is the Red-lored Parrot. Common throughout Panama, and at over a foot in length, this species is one of the largest parrots we encounter at the Canopy Family lodges. The Red-lored Parrot is well-named for its bright red forehead and lores (the space between the eyes and bill on a bird) which distinguish this large green parrot from other Amazona parrot species in Panama. It has a bluish tinge on the crown and nape feathers, and some subspecies have yellowish cheeks. It shows a red patch in the secondary flight feathers when in flight. It has a bicolored bill with a distinct black tip and pale base. The tail is tipped with yellow. Males and females have the same plumage. In Panama, the local subspecies (salvini) lacks yellow in the cheeks! Red-lored Parrots are best seen early in the morning when they fly, usually in pairs, to their daily feeding areas, where they feed primarily on seeds and nuts, then again in the late afternoon when they fly to their evening roosts. Amazona parrots (also including the Mealy Parrot and the Yellow-crowned Parrot in Panama) fly with stiff, shallow, rapid wingbeats, distinguishing them in flight from some of the other species of parrots. They are vocal in flight, but usually silent during the day when feeding, and being primarily green, they blend in very nicely in the crowns of leafy trees. Red-lored Parrot calls are similar to the slightly larger Mealy Parrot, with loud, harsh flight calls but slightly higher pitched, and giving a distinct “crack-er-jack” call in the Canal area of Panama, not heard in other parts of its range – a local dialect! The Red-lored Parrot is found in the