Channel-billed Toucan
Ramphastos vitellinus
Large toucan, widespread across South American lowlands. Mostly black with a dark bill (although some populations have a yellow ridge on top of the bill). Significant plumage variation across range: throat color varies from white to orange; bare skin around eye varies from blue to red. In the western part of its range, appearance is very similar to White-throated Toucan, but note voice: a grating croak, not a clear yelp. Singles, pairs, or small flocks are found in the forest canopy, often around fruiting trees. Named for the groove along the upper part of the bill, which is difficult to see in the field.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ramphastos vitellinus
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Ramphastidae
- Genus
- Ramphastos
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Lemon-rumped Warbler
Phylloscopus chloronotus
Small leaf warbler with many extremely similar relatives. Like other “Pallas’s-type” leaf warblers, has olive-yellow upperparts, pale underparts, prominent brow and crown stripes, double wingbars, and a pale rump. Unlike Ashy-throated and Buff-barred Warblers, lacks any white on outer tail edges. Pallas’s averages yellower-headed and brighter overall. Gansu and Chinese Leaf Warblers can be incredibly similar, but Lemon-rumped averages whiter-browed and yellower-bellied than the former, more contrastingly-marked on the head than the latter, and darker-billed than both. As with many other physically similar leaf warblers, best distinguished by voice and habitat. Breeds in coniferous and mixed forests at mid- to high-elevation forests, though may descend into foothills in the winter. Two song types are both highly distinctive; one is a buzzy, descending rattling trill and the other is a series of high-pitched clicking twitters. Call is a loud, strident pair of notes: “pse-tew!”
Spot-crowned Euphonia
Euphonia imitans
Tiny finch with a very limited range in Costa Rica and Panama. Male has typical euphonia plumage: dark steely-blue upperparts with yellow belly and crown and dark throat. Namesake spots on rear end of crown can be very difficult to see in the field. But note yellow is mostly restricted to front half of crown, whereas Yellow-crowned Euphonia has more extensive yellow crown. Scrub Euphonia is very similar, but ranges do not overlap. Female Spot-crowned is actually more distinctive than male; no other euphonia in range has rufous belly and forecrown. Found in pairs or small groups at all levels of lowland forest and edge, up to around 1,300 m.
Moustached Antwren
Myrmotherula ignota
A tiny antwren with a very short tail. Looks like a ping-pong ball bouncing around the middle levels and canopy in lowland forest and edge. Occurs from Panama to Peru and Brazil. Male has a pale yellowish belly, bold black-and-white striping on the head and back, and thick white wingbars. Female is similar, but has a buffier head and upper breast. Best distinguished from Pygmy Antwren by voice. Listen for the long series of piping whistles that accelerates slightly at the end. The series is longer and doesn’t accelerate as rapidly as Pygmy. Also note thicker black mustache stripe and eyeline on Moustached Antwren.
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