panama

Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum atripennis) Four subspecies are recognized, subspecies atripennis is the only subspecies mapped for Panama. Sexes similar. Photographed on Ancon Hill, Panama City, Panama Province, Panama. Lowland tropical rain forest about half way up Ancon Hill at ca. 107 m...

White-winged Becard (Pachyramphus polychoterus similis) Eight subspecies are recognized with only subspecies similis being mapped for Panama. Species sexually dimorphic. Photographed at Finca Hartmann in the western Chiriqui Highlands near Santa Clara, Chiriqui Province, Panama. Species...

Red-breasted Blackbird (Sturnella militaris) Species strongly sexually dimorphic. Just northeast of Quervalo, Chiriqui Province, Panama. Photographed in a open converted pasture at ca. 6 m (20 ft) elevation. Too far for my 300 mm lens, even with a heavy crop it is barely large enough.

Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii leonae) This very small Kite, only 22 cm (8.5 in) long was trying to enjoy his lizard lunch but a Fork-tailed Flycatcher spotted it and was harassing it relentlessly. Lizards are the Pearl Kites primary food source though it will take small birds, insects, etc...

Purple-crowned Fairy (Heliothryx barroti) Photographed at Finca Hartmann in the western Chiriqui Highlands near Santa Clara, Chiriqui Province, Panama. Species sexually dimorphic. Shade coffee plantation at ca. 1,524 m (5,000 ft) elevation.

Red-faced Spinetail (Cranioleuca erythrops rufigenis) There are three recognized subspecies with two being mapped for Panama. Subspecies rufigenis is found in the mountains of western Panama while subspecies griseibularis is mapped for extreme eastern Panama. Sexes similar. Photographed...

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl tzacatl) Five subspecies are recognized with two being mapped for Panama. Only the nominate is found on the mainland while subspecies handleyi (Escudo Hummingbird) is found on Isla Escudo de Veraguas. Photographed in a small town of Nueva Suiza...

Scarlet-thighed Dacnis (Dacnis venusta venusta) Two subspecies are recognized with both being mapped for Panama. The nominate occurs in western to Central Panama while subspecies fulginata is mapped for eastern Panama along the Caribbean-slope into the Dairin Province. Photographed around the...

Scarlet-thighed Dacnis (Dacnis venusta venusta) Two subspecies are recognized with both being mapped for Panama. The nominate occurs in western to Central Panama while subspecies fulginata is mapped for eastern Panama along the Caribbean-slope into the Dairin Province. Photographed around the...

White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus) The common name refers to the inconspicuous white line on the all black males wing while the specific epithet is in reference to the females coloration. Photographed east of Rio Macho de Monte, Chiriqui Province, Panama along the southern foothills of...

Yellow-bellied Seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis nigricollis) Three subspecies are recognized with only the nominate being mapped for Panama. Species slightly dimorphic. Male with black head and neck, otherwise olive above pale yellow to whitish below. Female olive brown above, buffyish...

Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus mellitus) Two subspecies are recognized with subspecies mellitus being the only one mapped for Panama. Species sexually dimorphic. Photographed in a small town of Nueva Suiza, Chiriqui Province, Panama. Montane cloud forest at ca. 1,852 m (6,076...

Volcn Bar is the tallest point (mountain) in Panama at 3,474 m (11,398 ft) elevation. It is situated in the Cordillera de Talamancas and is only 35 km (22 miles) from the Costa Rican border. It is a dormant volcano with the potential of becoming active. It is situated just south of the...

Crucifix Orchid also known as Fire Star Orchid (Epidendrum radicans: Orchidaceae) Each flower is ca. 2.5 cm (1 in) across. A terrestrial orchid that is often found in disturbed moist rocky roadsides and disturbed areas frequently adjacent to mixed pine/oak forest in elevations ranging from...

Purple-crowned Fairy (Heliothryx barroti) Photographed foraging on Centropogon granulosus: Campanulaceae at Finca Hartmann in the western Chiriqui Highlands near Santa Clara, Chiriqui Province, Panama. Species sexually dimorphic. Female similar but with solid green crown and lacking green...

Polkadot Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga arborea: Dendrobatidae) These small frogs are 2.0-2.2 cm (0.79-0.87 in) long. They are highly toxic, containing many alkaloids that cause breathing difficulty, locomotor problems, and eventual death (Myers et al.1984). Photographed on Ancon Hill, Panama...

Fiery-billed Aracari (Pteroglossus frantzii) Sexes similar. Photographed at Finca Hartmann in the western Chiriqui Highlands near Santa Clara, Chiriqui Province, Panama. Shade coffee plantation at ca. 1,524 m (5,000 ft) elevation.

Slaty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa plumbea) Two subspecies have been described with both being in Panama and both occur in this region where this bird was photographed. However, current taxonomist believe subspecies veraguensis is inseparable from the nominate. Even if veraguensis was recognized...

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis) Thirty subspecies have been described with 25-28 subspecies being recognized. Two subspecies are mapped for Panama. Subspecies orestera is mapped for Central Panama southwest to Cerro Campana in Panama Province, Panama. Subspecies...

Ruddy Ground-dove (Columbina talpacoti rufipennis) There are four recognized subspecies with only subspecies rufipennis mapped for Panama. Species sexually dimorphic. Females duller. Photographed on Ancon Hill, Panama Province, Panama City, Panama. Lowland tropical rain forest about half way...

Ruddy Ground-dove (Columbina talpacoti rufipennis) There are four recognized subspecies with only subspecies rufipennis mapped for Panama. Species sexually dimorphic. Males more vividly colored. Photographed on Ancon Hill, Panama Province, Panama City, Panama. Lowland tropical rain forest...

Scintillant Hummingbird (Selasphorus scintilla) These are very small hummingbirds and are generally friendly, especially at feeders though this one was not associated with feeders. Species sexually dimorphic. Male has a solid red gorget when struck at the correct angle with enough intensity...

Stripe-tailed Hummingbird (Eupherusa exima exima) Three subspecies are recognized with only the nominate being mapped for Panama. Species sexually dimorphic. Females lacking green under chin and if present on chest and upper belly sparsely so. Photographed in a small town of Nueva Suiza...

Variegated Squirrel (Scirpus variegatoides helveolus) Yet another subspecies of this variable squirrel species. Photographed on Ancon Hill, Panama City, Panama Province, Panama. Lowland tropical rain forest about half way up Ancon Hill at ca. 107 m (350 ft) elevation.

Stripe-tailed Hummingbird (Eupherusa exima exima) Three subspecies are recognized with only the nominate being mapped for Panama. Species sexually dimorphic. Males being entirely green on chin, chest, and upper stomach. Photographed in a small town of Nueva Suiza, Chiriqui Province, Panama...