Xenornis

We received a second-hand José Tejada report of two Harpy Eagles seen this morning from the mirador beyond Nusagandi.

Fasciated Tiger-Heron seen twice at Quebrada Bonita, Chagres National Park first on the 4th of January with Fidelino (Igua) Jimenez, and again on the 7th. January 17th: Giant Cowbird seen on the grass next to the U.S. Consulate fence in Clayton. January 22nd: A male Magenta-Throated Woodstar on the shrubs next to the Coffee Museum at Finca Hartmann, Chiriquí.

Sunny Phillips sent us these photos taken in early September 2005 near the entrance of Pipeline Road. We are assuming it to be a Gray-breasted Crake until proven otherwise. It looks like a gray-breasted alright; maybe a non-adult because of the non-greenish bill. I can't find any description of juvenile gray-breasteds; birds of colombia says young white-throateds have gray sides of neck and breast, which doesn't sound as dramatic as these pictures. i don't know what young paint-billeds are like, either, but i'd imagine the chestnut nape rules out this species. Although there is also chestnut on the forecrown, which shouldn't be there on gray-breasted...Any thougths? Dr. Dodge Engleman chimes in: "Juvie rails are tough. Most likely demographically of course is a youngster White-throated that isn't brown on the breast yet. But with rails it's hard to go by demographics! It looks good for a Gray-breasted to me, either the young not having the dark side of ...

The Canopy Tower's Carlos Bethancourt forwarded a report from the Canopy Lodge's Faustino Sanchez and Danilo Rodriguez of a weird warbler they had a couple of days ago. Any guesses better than melanistic Canada Warbler? Dr. Robert Ridgely had this to say: By its overall conformation and the facial pattern, this is clearly a Canada Warbler. But my lord, what an aberrant plumage! Dr. George Angehr added: A check of references shows that Canada has hybridized with Mourning Warbler, which would perhaps give it that black throat. I also wonder if it might be a Canada/Hooded cross, since they are in the same genus, which could also produce a black throat. I can't find anything on what hybrids look like, though.

The Canopy Tower's Carlos Bethancourt saw an immagure Reddish Egret on the rocks below the Gatún Spillway this morning. This is the same spot where one spent a couple of months in early 2002.