Xenornis

On May 1st, 2002, I was birding at the Metropolitan Nature Park. I started my day at the Mono Tití trail and then continued at La Cienaguita trail. At 9:34:07 A.M., at the eleventh station, I saw a bird hanging almost upside down on a branch of a monkey ear tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum). It was a Crane Hawk. It was slate colored, more grayish than blackish, with thin, long red-orange legs and two white bands on its tail. I stood there watching it for a while, and then another bird flew in and perched on another branch of the same tree, a second Crane Hawk. It was enough for me to see one, but I never thought that I would see two in the same place.

Cagan Sekercioglu, in Panama for the Mesoamerican Conservation Biology Conference, found a Crane Hawk at La Cienaguita Trail, Metropolitan Nature Park.

Ruby Zambrano and the birdwatching course found a Crane Hawk eating something on a tree just past the gate to the Mono Tití Road, casually before the STRI Crane. Further on the road they found a Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant.

The Kaufmanns saw a Capped Heron from parking lot at Summit Gardens, and a Crane Hawk at the Cárdenas Cemetery.

José Tejada, with Mr and Mrs Victor Czaja, found two Crane Hawks at La Cienaguita Trail at the Metropolitan Nature Park.

Camilo Montañez reports a Crane Hawk from the grounds of the Instituto Fermín Naudeau at La Locería, Panama City. Last friday (nov.20), i was at the at my school (Inst. Fermín Naudeau), when i saw a large flock of Grackles chasing a dark bird. It perched on some trees where he stayed for about 30 seconds before changing perches. It would constantly bob its long tail, and flew away after a minute. Once i got close to it, i saw that it was a dark gray all over, with a long tail which gave the bird a forest-falcon like shape. The tail had three white stripes on it. Very noticeable where its long, reddish legs. I did not have binoculars at the time, but i'm convinced that the bird was a Crane Hawk, based on the combination of fieldmarks observed, plus previous experience with the species. I couldn't see the white crescents on its wings, because it was perched most of the time. José Tejada told me that he has seen the species on the Metropolitan Nature Park, which is a minute away f...