Western Panama Chiriqui Highlands (1 Viewer)

Another one from the files. Looks to me like a Yellow-thighed Finch or Yellow-green Finch, but no yellow thighs? Maybe immature. Back looks more brown than other Yellow-thighed finches I have photos of. Feb 09, La Amistad International Park, Panama.

Sorry for the overly enlarged and cropped photo,

Jim

Hi Jim,

That's a Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus gracilorostris.

Chris

Thanks for the ID Chris. I'm afraid I'm going to be in big trouble when we get to Panama in a few weeks. I looked all through the huge guide book I have and couldn't find Jim's bird. Now that you've identified it, it seems obvious--but the illustration I have shows rufous-brown coloring. I guess some of the problem is the usual with photos, but I think I am going to have to find more books when I arrive at the Caribbean side of the Canal. Does anyone have a suggestion for a field guide?
Thanks,
Sue

Check the books forum here for an answer http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1668259#post1668259

SueO said:

Thanks for the ID Chris. I'm afraid I'm going to be in big trouble when we get to Panama in a few weeks. I looked all through the huge guide book I have and couldn't find Jim's bird. Now that you've identified it, it seems obvious--but the illustration I have shows rufous-brown coloring. I guess some of the problem is the usual with photos, but I think I am going to have to find more books when I arrive at the Caribbean side of the Canal. Does anyone have a suggestion for a field guide?
Thanks,
Sue

Click to expand...

Ridgely and Gwynne really is the best book for Panama (at least as far as I know). The reason it is huge is the large number of birds you may encounter there. Specifically for Western Panama, the newer field guide to Costa Rica will do you well. However, probably not a lot less total species!

Niels

njlarsen said:

Ridgely and Gwynne really is the best book for Panama (at least as far as I know). The reason it is huge is the large number of birds you may encounter there. Specifically for Western Panama, the newer field guide to Costa Rica will do you well. However, probably not a lot less total species!

Niels

Click to expand...

Hi Niels,
Thanks for your help again. Yeah, I know that the book is encyclopedic due to the nature of it's coverage. I have started thinking along the lines you suggest. I'm just concerned because I have tried to learn a bit before I get there and this ID post made me realize that I am going to be (once again)way over my head. I will probably only get one ID for every 10 birds I see.
:-O C'est la vie! Still, I am so excited about wandering in Central America. My problem continues to be that I am a Backward Birder. I began to get really involved in birding during our circumnavigation and I didn't have a strong birding background before being thrown into all these different geographical regions. So many times I have not been able to find proper books when I've arrived in a new area. This time I tried but I am going to be lost anyway simply because I am entering such a rich area.
Sue
P.s. Sorry Jim, I seem to have pirated (is that the term?)your post.
pps. Just remembered it's highjacked.