Silvery-throated Jay
Cyanolyca argentigula
A small, striking jay with a very limited range in the highlands of Costa Rica and Panama. Unmistakable: mostly dark midnight-blue, brighter on the wings, with pale silvery throat and thin eyebrow. Sexes similar. Uncommon to rare in oak forests from around 2,000–3,200 m. Found in pairs or small flocks. Listen for harsh calls, typical of a jay.
Identification
The silvery-throated jay is a distinctive small jay, unlikely to be confused with any other bird found within its range. The sexes are similar, with the adult being about 26 cm (10 in) in length including the long tail. The head is black with a narrow but obvious white supercilium, and it bears an inconspicuous crest of short stiff feathers on the forehead. The throat and breast are silvery-white, sometimes with a violet sheen. The mantle, neck and sides of breast are black which gradually blends into the dark purplish-blue of the rest of the plumage. The upper surfaces of the wings and tail are a brighter, paler shade of blue and the undersides are blackish. The irises are deep red and the bill and legs are black. The plumage of the juvenile is duller and lacks the white on the head.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cyanolyca argentigula
- Authority
- (Lawrence, 1875)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corvidae
- Genus
- Cyanolyca
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
A sociable bird, it moves through the upper parts of the forest canopy in groups of four to ten. Outside the breeding season, larger groups of up to thirty may form, and they tend to roost communally, settling down for the night with much chatter. When foraging, they move methodically through the crowns of trees, searching in crevices and probing into mosses, lichens and other epiphytes. They feed on insects and other invertebrates, amphibians, lizards, fruit and berries. The breeding season is in the period March to June, but little is known about the nest and eggs of this bird.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Flores Heleia
Heleia crassirostris
A gray-and-white songbird with a diagnostic head pattern. Dark olive above and clean white below, with dark cheeks that contrast with the conspicuous pale eye and a white forehead bleeding into dark speckles on the crown. Juveniles show a plain buff forehead and crown. Found singly or in pairs in understory of forest and forest edge in lowlands and foothills, frequenting mixed-species flocks. Confined to the Lesser Sundas. Calls include soft “chup” and weak “pew” notes. Striking, melodious warbling song is punctuated with repeated clear trills and staccato “wit-wit-wit” phrases.
Nihoa Finch
Telespiza ultima
A finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to the island of Nihoa; does not occur on the main Hawaiian Islands. Unlikely to be confused with any other species; the only other passerine bird on Nihoa is the Millerbird, which lacks the Nihoa Finch’s heavy bill. Males have a bright yellow head and breast. Females are paler yellow and heavily streaked on the back. Common throughout the island.
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Adult males are striking and distinctive: mostly glossy black with bright orange flashes on the wings, tail, and sides. Females and young males are duller gray and olive with yellow patches instead of orange. Habitually flicks and fans tail while foraging for insects. Breeds in mature deciduous forests, often near water. Migrants can be found in any wooded habitat. Fairly extensive winter range throughout most of Middle America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Song is extremely variable.
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