Xenornis

I would like to submit the following audio recording and description in support of my recent sighting of 1 Unspotted Saw-whet Owl on the Vulcan Baru summit road on 10 Dec 2013. I am under the impression that no confirmed record exists for this species in Panama since the 1965 banding and used all appropriate caution in making this identification. While camping at the designated camping area (3,260m according to park signage) approximately 1 km from the summit, 1 USWO was heard calling slowly at 2345 hrs by Lena Ware and myself. We had not played any owl recordings and the calling was completely unsolicited. After about 2 min and a quick review of various calls, I began playing a USWO recording. The bird responded with an accelerated call and moved closer. At this point I made the recording of the call (attached). After another bout of playback I saw an object move overhead and the owl called now from behind me. It continued calling for at least 5 min in this location and with a h...

On 9 September I walked up to about 3100 m on Volcan Baru. At around 3000 m I saw a Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl being mobbed by Peg-billed Finches and a Fiery-throated Hummingbird. A bit further up, at around 3100, the bamboo was seeding and there were plenty of Peg-billed Finches and Large-footed Finches feeding.