Xenornis

The following miscellaneous observations may be of interest. The first hummingbird I saw using my newly-installed feeder, on 3 September, was a Long-billed Starthroat. It has returned several times since, though Rufous-tailed now dominate. On one occasion the gorget showed clear lateral projections, befitting the name Starthroat better than the illustration in Angehr. On 12 October I saw a male Purple-throated Mountain-gem at Monte Azul, at about 1000m. Blue cap, purple gorget and white post-ocular stripe were all clear in direct sunlight. This extends the range stated by Angehr a little to the east. On 9 October, at Valle Bonito, five small birds foraging on or near the ground took to the trees on my approach, revealing yellow rumps and flanks. I could not get a definitive sighting but Yellow-rumped Warbler would appear to be only possible identification, in which case they were a full month earlier than the period stated by Angehr. Blackburnian Warbler have been more numerou...

On May 16, Charles Adsett, Fátima Hawthorne and myself found several individuals of Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch —and heard several more—on the grasslands of the upper southern slope of Cerro Tute. They were relatively easy to see since when flushed from their hiding places in the grass, they would often fly to low perches in bushes and elfin forest where they could be well observed. According to Ridgely, Francisco Delgado has reported them from two nearby sites, La Yeguada (surely not in the pine trees!) and Buenos Aires de Cañazas, so their presence on Cerro Tute is not that surprising. Sadly, this is the exact site on which Santa Fe Energy plans to build a wind farm, under a concession to be signed with ANAM. This will cause considerable permanent disturbance to the area. Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch is known from only a few locations in Panama, always in undisturbed natural grasslands. Therefore, its days on Cerro Tute may be numbered, despite the supposedly protected status of its habita...

I wanted to send in a report for Xenornis of some of the more significant sightings during my visit for the last half of October. On October 17th, Danilo Rodriguez and I heard (only) a pair of Stripe-cheeked Woodpeckers on the Caribbean slope of Las Minas Trail, near El Valle (good audio was captured). These birds have now been present in the area for at least 5 months, and we are on the alert for signs of breeding. Other good finds at Las Minas were a calling Black-headed Antthrush, large numbers of Black-and-yellow Tanagers, a Spot-crowned Barbet, a pair of amorous Ornate Hawk-Eagles, a point-blank Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, and a flock of at least 10 Yellow-eared Toucanets. A field trip to the western limits of Altos del Maria on 10/19 (also with Danilo) yielded Black-crowned Antpitta, Red-faced Spinetail, Spotted Barbtail, White-tailed Emerald, Snowcap, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, and Purplish-backed Quail-Dove. On 10/22 I took a trip with Danilo, Eliacer and Rodrick Rodriguez to ...

Jacobo Ortega photographed a pair of Wedge-tailed Grass-Finches in Altos de Campana National Park. The birds were seen this morning in the grassy area around the antennas.