Bulletin 317 - Guatemala 2018 #3 - Raptors, Puffbird

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 new locations to get different species.

I got some wonderful photos of raptors on this trip including a life bird. The best was the 14" Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus). This was only my second time ever to see this bird.

Orange-breasted Falcon

And another

Orange-breasted Falcon

Another falcon was my first time ever to see one of the group of Forest Falcons. It is not a great pic, but after almost 30  years birding I finally saw one at dusk, the 14" Barred Forest Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis). It has a striped breast.

Barred Forest Falcon

Another first was a photo of the beautiful white 28" King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa). I have never seen this bird perched, always overhead. It has a white body and black trailing edge of the wings. 

King Vulture

The life bird was the 18" Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus). This bird occasionally is found in south Texas, but I have never seen it before.

Hook-billed Kite - dark morph

Also we found a 14" Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea) on the nest.

Plumbeous Kite

The 14" Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) is a very common hawk in the tropics, This one was beside the road (of course) but sitting at eye level watching the action around an army ant swarm. He was perhaps only 25 feet from me when I took this photo and not concerned in the least.

Roadside Hawk

I have seen the 8" White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) before, but always the male. This time we saw a pair of them. The male is bright rufous.

White-whiskered Puffbird - male

The female is plain brown with a streaked breast

White-whiskered Puffbird - female

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

I have photos of 13 of the 65 species of falcons

I have photos of 5 of the 7 species of new world vultures

I have photos of 38 of the 254 species of hawks, eagles

I have photos of 8 of the 38 species of puffbirds

Happy birding and photography,


David McDonald
dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2006 - 2018 David McDonald

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