Small swallow/martin type bird in Panama (1 Viewer)

Zackiedawg

Well-known member

• May 10, 2019

• #1

I was looking back on some bird photos taken in Panama years ago, and one that I never got around to processing or looking at was a shot taken from on a boat while in the Panama Canal, towards the Gatun locks side. I didn't think of them at the time because they were just small brown birds sitting around the boat - but I realize I can't quite figure out what they are...so hoping to get some help. Closest guess I could make was brown-chested martin. Any firm IDs?

 

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birdmeister

Well-known member

• May 11, 2019

• #2

Somehow I get a Purple Martin feel over Brown-chested, but I can't pin down why. Definitely martin sp.

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• May 11, 2019

• #3

Why aren't they Rough-wings?

 

Zackiedawg

Well-known member

• May 11, 2019

• #4

Interesting - I suppose they could be juvenile - though there were probably 10 of them hanging out on the boat, and all seemed to have this same coloration.

The part that's throwing me is that brown slash going down the chest, which didn't really match for brown-chested...rough-winged I suppose could also be possible, though again that brown vertical bit seemed to be common on many of them. What about bank swallows? Some photos show them with this type of brown vertical bit just below their bands - but I'm not familiar with their range and if they'd be occurring in the Panama Canal zone.
I still felt initially that the mouth/bill area had a Martin look.

 

Last edited: May 11, 2019

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• May 11, 2019

• #5

They look like progne to me, don't know options at location

 

Zackiedawg

Well-known member

• May 12, 2019

• #6

In further researching, I found a central and south American martin variety called the 'grey-breasted martin'...at least in some photos, they appear close...including in some photos showing that vertical line or indent on the chest.
What say you - could this be the species?

 

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arcadillor

Well-known member

• May 12, 2019

• #7

maybe grey breasted martin

 

Zackiedawg

Well-known member

• May 12, 2019

• #8

I tried a bunch of image searches for the grey-breasted, and many had that same vertical coloration and indent in the chest feathers...so I think that's going to be the firmest ID I can get. I appreciate all the help.