Bulletin 323 - Guatemala #9 - Antthrush, Antvireo, Becards, Ovenbirds, Croc

I went for a third visit to Guatemala in May. Once again, I used the wonderful local guide Knut Eisermann of Cayaya Birding. On this visit, we went to different locations to see new species.

I photographed my second Antthrush and it was a life bird. The 7.5" Mayan Antthrush (Formicarius monilager)

Mayan Antthrush

I also saw and photographed my second antvireo. The 4.5" Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis) is a tiny gray bird with yellowish belly and spots on his wings.

Plain Antvireo

The funarids or ovenbirds are a huge family of mostly brown birds that glean insects in various fashions. Many of then are difficult to see clearly and try your patience to get a photo. The woodcreepers ascend the trunk of a tree like a woodpecker. The 8" Ruddy Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla homochroa) is a uniform bright rufous color,

Ruddy Woodcreeper

The 7.5" Tawny-winged Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla anbatina) is olive brown above with rufous wings. Both these species will follow ant swarms and that is where we saw them.

Tawny-winged Woodcreeper

The 6.5" Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner (Anabacerthia variegaticeps) is a brown bird with rufous tail and a light colored throat.

Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner

The leaf-tossers walk on the forest floor and turn over leaves to uncover insects. The 7" Scaly-throated Leaf-tosser (Sclerurus guatemalensis) is a dark brown bird. Here he is just seen from the back through a window in vegetation.

Scaly-throated Leaf-tosser

The 6" Tawny-throated Leaf-tosser (Sclerurus mexicanus) is brown above and rufous below.

Tawny-throated Leaf-tosser

The next 2 birds were formerly in the flycatcher family but have since been moved to the becards. The 7" Northern Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus mexicanus) is a brown bird with rufous tail and a large crest that is kept folded back giving a hammer head look.

Northern Royal Flycatcher

And a different view where can see the orange and black crest.

Northern Royal Flycatcher

The last bird is a favorite of mine since I first saw it in Costa Rica about 25 years ago. The 6.5" Northern Schiffornis (Schiffornis varaepacis). This is a plain brown bird, but his song is a very clear "Heeeey Ricky". I will never forget that song.

Northern Schiffornis

Lastly is the Morelet's Crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) is a smallish croc up to 8' in length. They inhabit fresh water and swamps from Mexico to Belize and Guatemala along the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico coasts.

Morelet's Crocodile

I have put the different bird families in single folders for easy viewing

I have photos of 2 of the 12 species of antthrushes

I have photos of 20 of the 236 species of antbirds, antvireos

I have photos of 31 of the 313 species of ovenbirds

I have photos of 10 of the 45 species of tityras and becards

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald
dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2006 - 2018 David McDonald

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