The antbirds and relatives are generally secretive except for the antshrikes. However, with just 2 people and not a big group trying to see the bird, my success has been much better.I am really starting to appreciate this family of birds now that I can see them well.
The 6" Black-hooded Antshrike (Thamnophilus bridgesi) is endemic to Costa Rica and western Panama. The male is all black with white shoulder spots.
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| Black-hooded Antshrike - male |
The female is unusual for an antbird as she is mostly charcoal as well, rather than brownish. She is IDed by the streaking on her head and chest.
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| Black-hooded Antshrike - female |
The 6" male Dull-mantled Antbird (Myrmeciza laemosticta) has a gray head, dark brown back and bright red eye as well as white shoulder spots.
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| Dull-Mantled Antbird - male |
I had seen the 6" Chestnut-backed Antbird (Myrmeciza exsul) in Ecuador, but got a better photo this time. The female shown here is all brown except for the gray head. Like many antbirds, she has a patch of bare blue skin around the eye. The male would be all charcoal except for brown wings.
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| Chestnut-backed Antbird - female |
The 4" Spotted Antbird (Hylophylax naevioides) is a very cute little bird. The male has a gray head, white underparts with black spots and brown back and wings with wing bars.
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| Spotted Antbird - male |
The female is similar but has a brown head.
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| Spotted Antbird - female |
The next 2 birds were real prizes as they are so secretive and hard to see well. Both were lifers for me.
The 5" Streak-chested Antpitta (Hylopezus perspicillatus) was spotted by my guide standing quietly on a log just about 8 feet off the trail. Like all antpittas, they appear tailless. They are described as 'eggs with legs'. The sexes are similar. It is brown backed with white underparts and streaking.
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| Streak-chested Antpitta |
The 7" Black-faced Antthrush (Formicarius analis) was the first antthrush I ever saw. We actually saw it on 2 different days. The walk along the forest floor with their tail cocked up.
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| Black-faced Antthrush |
Here is another showing his head and face.
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| Black-faced Antthrush |
The manakins are family of small colorful songbirds. The males do elaborate dances to attract a mate. The females are usually dull green or olive. I was able to photograph 3 new species on this trip.
The 4" male Orange-collared Manakin (Manacus aurantiacus) has a black crown and wings, orange collar, yellow belly and olive back.
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| Orange-collared Manakin - male |
The 4" male White-ruffed Manakin (Corapipo altera) is all black with a white throat.
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| White-ruffed Manakin - male |
The female is olive, but this bird is a juvenile male as you can see some black on his head as he is starting to molt to adult plumage.
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| White-ruffed Manakin - juvenile male |
The 4" male Blue-crowned Manakin (Lepidothrix coronata) is all black with blue on top of his head.
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| Blue-crowned Manakin - male |
Happy birding and photography,
David McDonald
dkmmdpa@gmail.com
photos copyright 2006 - 2016 David McDonald
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