White-shouldered Tanager
Loriotus luctuosus
Small tanager with striking sexual dimorphism: male entirely black with bold white shoulder patch; female olive above and yellow below with gray head. Male most similar to White-lined Tanager but smaller with much more obvious white shoulder. Female confusing, could be mistaken for several other species of tanagers; always note small size and fairly thick bill. Typically found in pairs or small groups, usually with mixed feeding flocks, in forested habitats in lowlands and foothills.
Identification
The white-shouldered tanager (Loriotus luctuosus) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae, the tanagers and allies. It is found from Honduras to Panama, on Trinidad, and in every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Taxonomy
Genus: Loriotus; Family: Thraupidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Loriotus luctuosus
- Authority
- (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Loriotus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Little Ground-Tyrant
Syrtidicola fluviatilis
Small tan flycatcher of river beaches; terrestrial, or perches on low shrubs. Tan above, lighter whitish below, with a black tail with white outer tail feathers. Overlaps with the similar and often more common Drab Water Tyrant. Compared to that species, Little Ground-Tyrant has lighter underparts, no facial pattern (unlike the black eye line and pale eyebrow of Drab Water Tyrant) and white outer tail feathers contrasting with black inner tail feathers (as opposed to uniformly brown). They often flush and move in low flight along river banks, exposing their diagnostic tail patterns. Prefers wide, open beaches and mudflats along rivers to steep river banks. Known to wander when not breeding, when it can be found in a variety of open habitats.
Azure Kingfisher
Ceyx azureus
Small bright blue and deep orange kingfisher. Almost always found above water. It patrols up and down waterways and rivers from perch to perch flying very fast, and only a few meters off the water, typically making a loud high pitched "seeeeeeeep" call. Sacred Kingfisher has similar orange-buff belly, but it is a much larger bird.
Black Guineafowl
Agelastes niger
Small black guineafowl with a long tail and a bare red head. Note the narrow line of black feathers along the back of the neck and the top of the head. Found on the ground in lowland rainforest, sometimes venturing into forest clearings or onto tracks. Usually in pairs or small groups, which are quite shy. The vocalizations include a long series of “too-wit” whistles and fast, repeated, metallic “ghik” notes. Similar to other guineafowl, but smaller, all black, without white spots, and with an all-red head.
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