Tag Archives: birdwatching

The sunbittern a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas, and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae (sometimes spelled Eurypigidae) and genus Eurypyga. It is found in Central and South America, and has three subspecies. The sunbittern shows both morphological and molecular similarities with the kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus) of New Caledonia, indicating a gondwanic origin, both species being placed in the cladeEurypygiformes.

Populations of this species are found mainly in Colombia and a small portion of northwestern Venezuela. Its name Thamnophilus comes from the Greek roots thamnos = bush and philos = lover of. The epithet multistriatus comes from the Latin roots multi = much and striatus = striated.

The Purplish-mantled Tanager is an Almost Endemic species of Colombia, characterized by its purple color throughout the body and its yellow throat. Iridosornis means rainbow bird and derives from the Greek roots iris = rainbow and ornis = bird and porphyrocephala comes from the Latin porphyro = purple and cephalus = head. This species is in the Near Threatened category.

It is a conspicuous species that lives in dry areas mainly in stubble forests, cultivated areas and forest plantations. It feeds mainly on insects that it captures by jumping and exploring on the foliage, supplementing its diet with fruits and nectar. Its name comes from the Greek ikteros which means yellow, and its specific epithet nigrogularis means black throat, which comes from the Latin roots niger = black and gularis = neck.

This species is endemic to the eastern Andes of Colombia. Its name Synallaxis comes from the Greek sunallaxis = change, which was assigned by Vieillot (1818) referring to characters that merited recognition as a different gender. The epithet subpudica comes from the Latin sub = something, somewhat and pudicus = modest.

The tawny Antpitta is confident and easy to see. It inhabits dwarf forests and moors in the central and eastern mountain ranges. It feeds on small vertebrates, insects, seeds, and fruits. It runs quickly or jumps across the ground and takes refuge in bushes or grasses.

Formerly classified in the genus Schizoeaca. It is a difficult to see bird with a fairly long tail that lives in the high Andean mountains from Venezuela to Peru. Its name Asthenes comes from the Greek and means weak or insignificant. The epithet fuliginosa comes from the Latin fuliginosus = sooty.

It is one of the largest species in the genus. Its name Grallaria derives from the modern Latin grallarius = stilt man. The epithet squamigera derives from the Latin roots squama = scale and gerere = carry on.

Hummingbird mainly cinnamon color, inhabits highlands and with a proportionally short bill for its body size. Its name Aglaeactis comes from the Greek aglaia = splendor and aktis = ray of sun. The epithet cupripennis comes from the Latin cupreus = copper or copper and pennis = winged.

It is the only species in the genus Urochroa. Its name means colorful tail and derives from the Greek roots oura = tail and khroa = color. The epithet bougueri was established in honor of the French mathematician, astronomer and hydrographer Pierre Bouguer.