Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher Terenotriccus erythrurus Photo by Rafael Lau A tiny flycatcher – only 10 cm in length and weighing only 7 grams – this teeny rainforest dweller is distinguished by its gray head and upper back, bright rufous breast, wings, rump and tail, and buffy lower belly. It has a short, stubby bill with prominent rictal bristles. It appears to have a large, bushy head profile and has large eyes, characteristic among many understory flycatchers that live where light is reduced by canopy cover. Males and females are similar in appearance. It is the only member of its genus, and there are eight recognized subspecies of the Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher; in Panama, T. e. fulvigularis is found. The Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher is found in the lowland and foothills forests, up to 800 meters elevation, and inhabits lower and middle levels of the forest. It prefers humid lowland forest and secondary growth woodlands. It is usually solitary, but occasionally joins mixed feeding flocks. It is usually first detected by its distinctive call – a high, thin peeee-sit! It vocalizes throughout the day, and often gives repeated calls at dawn. While often seen in the forest understory, the Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher will also perch in the open, and sits very upright. Like many other flycatchers, it takes a sit-and-wait approach to catching insects, sallying out from a branch to catch prey, and particularly favors feeding on leafhoppers (Cicadellidae). Like a few other understory flycatchers, the Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher sometimes does rapid wing lifts, usually both wings at the same time. Female Ruddy-tailed Flycatchers are responsible for all aspects of breeding – males are not involved in parental care. They do not form pair bonds, even during the breeding season. The female constructs a pear-shaped nest made up of various plant fibers with a semi-concealed side entrance.

Northern Barred-Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae Photo by Carlos Bethancourt The Northern Barred-Woodcreeper is one of our most impressive woodcreepers, rivaling all others in size at 26 cm in length. It is distinctly barred on its head, back and underparts, allowing it to be easily identified among this challenging group of Neotropical birds. Its tail is rufous and unbarred, and like all other woodcreepers, has stiffened feathers to use as support when creeping up trees. It has a heavy, straight bill, blackish in color. The Northern Barred-Woodcreeper is uncommon in the lowlands and rare in the foothills of Panama, but can be seen regularly around the Canopy Tower. This large woodcreeper is found in the lower levels of the forest. It regularly attends army ant swarms, and occasionally forages in mixed feeding flocks. It is solitary and lethargic, and often remains motionless while clinging to a tree trunk for extended periods of time. It eats a wide variety of arthropods, usually picked up from antswarms or gleaned from foliage, trunks, and occasionally in the air. It is also known to eat small lizards. It sounds off its distinctive, upward-slurring repeated whistle call, usually made up of 3 to 6 notes, most frequently at dawn and dusk, alerting us to its presence nearby. Natural tree cavities are chosen as nests, usually between 1.5 and 6 meters above the ground. Two chicks are reared during a rather prolonged nesting season between February and November. The Northern Barred-Woodcreeper used to be considered conspecific with the Amazonian Barred-Woodcreeper (D. certhia), but the two species differ morphologically, vocally and behaviorally. Primarily a Central American species, the Northern Barred-Woodcreeper ranges from southeastern Mexico to northwestern South America. In Panama, it is found along the entire Caribbean slope and on the Pacific slope in eastern Panama, up to 1100

Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja Photo by David Tipling Panama’s national bird—the Harpy Eagle—is the largest, most powerful eagle in the Americas. Found in the lowland rainforests of tropical America, this mighty forest eagle is on every birder’s wish list! It is easily identifiable by its massive size, which separates it from all other raptors in these tropical lowlands. It has a long, divided crest on its head, often swept back but readily held erect and often blows around freely in the breeze. These neotropical raptors are built for life inside a forest—broad, relatively short-winged (despite 2 meter wingspan!), with a long, banded tail that acts as a rudder to maneuver through the forest canopy. Adult Harpy Eagles have gray heads with crest, uniform dark charcoal gray upperparts, broad black chest band, white lower breast and belly and fine black barring on legs. Juveniles and immatures are generally light gray all over, with varying degrees of gray on back and wings depending on age and stage of molt. It takes 3-4 years for a young Harpy Eagle to attain full adult plumage, and reach sexual maturity around 5 years of age. Harpy Eagles have very strong bills and very robust tarsi and toes, key features to help distinguish it from the Crested Eagle, another large eagle which shares the same range and habitat as the Harpy Eagle. Crested Eagles are overall smaller and lighter built, with single crest, and has 2 color morphs (light morph and dark morph) but never show black chest band. Long talons allow Harpy Eagles to catch their prey – medium-sized mammals including sloths, monkeys, tamandua, iguana, coati, agouti and even porcupines make up their diet. Most prey is taken in the canopy of the forest, but at times, these neotropical raptors will descend to the ground

Bay Wren Cantorchilus nigricapillus Photo by Uwe Speck The Bay Wren is an attractive, medium-sized wren with a black crown and nape and a distinct white throat. It has a rich chestnut-colored back and underparts, and a rufous tail with black barring. Several races occur in Panama, with their underparts varying geographically in the extent of white and rufous/chestnut and presence or absence and extent of black barring. The western Caribbean slope race has bright chestnut underparts, and the eastern Panama race, the one we encounter in Darién, is mostly white on its underparts and has extensive black barring on its breast, belly and flanks. Intermediate individuals have mostly rufous underparts with black barring. Sexes are similar in all plumages, and juveniles are generally less brightly-colored than adults, with less contrast between the head and body. The Bay Wren is found in lowlands and foothills up to 750 meters in elevation. It can be found in secondary growth forest and forest edge, in areas where the vegetation is particularly dense, and often near streams and water courses. It is especially fond of dense patches of Heliconia plants. Bay Wrens usually remain well-hidden in dense vegetation, but are inquisitive and readily emerge from their hiding places to investigate observers. They are a very adaptable species, and tolerate habitat modification. Like other wrens, they eat a variety of invertebrates including insects, spiders, earwigs and cockroach eggs. They feed by gleaning prey from vegetation. Bay Wrens are not gregarious and do not associate with other species or in mixed feeding flocks. Bay Wrens are very vocal, in fact one of the most vocal of the family, sounding off a loud, ringing series of high-pitched whistles, often repeated several times. Their songs are highly variable and complex. They also give a variety of dry,