Featured species: Streak-chested Antpitta (Hylopezus perspicillatus)

Streak-chested Antpitta (Hylopezus perspicillatus)

Streak-chested Antpitta (Hylopezus perspicillatus) is a terrestrial insectivorous bird species found in lowland tropical forests from eastern Honduras south to northwestern Ecuador, which spend their time almost exclusively on the forest floor either intently foraging for terrestrial invertebrates or resting, during which they repeatedly puff their breast feathers in a distinctive manner. It usually advances with hops, but on occasion it runs for a short distance, in the manner of a thrush. In Panama it’s fairly common on entire Caribbean slope, western Chiriquí and eastern Pacific slope.

Streak-chested Antpitta (Hylopezus perspicillatus)

Streak-chested Antpitta (Hylopezus perspicillatus)

The general plumage of Streak-chested Antpitta is brown upperparts, gray crown, a striking "spectacled” appearance due to a buffy eyering, obvious pale lores, heavy black-streaked underparts, and buffy spotted wing bars.

Streak-chested Antpitta (Hylopezus perspicillatus)

Like most other species in the antpitta family (Grallariidae), Streak-chested Antpitta can be distinguished from other understory birds by its characteristically short, stubby tail. The combination of short tail, long legs and terrestrial habits makes Streak-chested Antpitta easily recognizable as member of the family Grallariidae. Within its range, Streak-chested Antpitta is superficially similar to two other antpitta species, the congeneric Thicket Antpitta (Hylopezus dives) and Scaled Antpitta (Grallaria guatimalensis), but can be distinguished from both species by its wide buffy eyering, heavily streaked breast, and buffy spotting on the wings. 

Streak-chested Antpitta (Hylopezus perspicillatus)

Streak-chested Antpittas have a bicolored bill, with a slate gray culmen and a pale gray to pink lower mandible. The toes and tarsi are pale gray and the irises are dark brown.

Doris Longwing (Laparus doris viridis)

The Doris Longwing or Doris (Laparus doris viridis) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family and only member (monotypic) of the Laparus genus. It is found from Central America to the Amazon. It has a considerable color and pattern variation.

Red-capped Manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis) - female building a nest

Red-capped Manakins’ nest is a small cup suspended in a fork from 1.5-9 m (4.9-29.5 ft) above the ground. It is constructed of plant fibers woven with black fungal filaments; externally has a variable number of pieces of dry leaves, and is attached to the fork with spider web. Only the female builds the nest, incubates the eggs and provisions the nestlings.

Purple-throated Fruitcrow (Querula purpurata)