THE BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA 



PART 2: COLUMBIDAE (PIGEONS) TO 



PICIDAE (WOODPECKERS) 



By Alexander Wetmore 

 Research Associate, Smithsonian Institution 



INTRODUCTION 



The first section of this account of the avifauna of the Isthmus 

 of Panama, published December 27, 1965, covered the 202 species in 

 the 35 families from the Tinamidae (Tinamous) to the Rynchopidae 

 (Skimmers). The 18 families in this second part include 208 species 

 in the groups remaining in the systematic sequence to the great order 

 of the Passer i formes, the perching birds. As in the first part, the indi- 

 vidual accounts include a summary of what is known of each species, 

 based on personal observation and on the published records of others. 

 A further season of field work, from January to March 1966, covered 

 the Burica Peninsula in southwestern Chiriqui, an area not visited 

 previously, and one from which little was known of its natural history. 

 It was fortunate that the visit came at that time as forest cover there 

 was being cleared rapidly for agriculture. 



Introductory paragraphs in the first volume outline briefly the physi- 

 cal features of the Republic so these are not repeated here, except to 

 note that with continued change in access to more remote areas, clear- 

 ing of forests proceeds with a rapidity alarming in its steady pressure 

 in restriction of the native fauna and flora. In this connection it is a 

 pleasure to record the establishment of the National Park and Bio- 

 logical Reserve of Cerro Campana, an interesting region that marks 

 the southern boundary of the mountain flora and fauna of the high- 

 lands of western Panama. With this important beginning it is hoped 

 that other areas also may be set aside for the preservation of their 

 natural features. 



Of equal interest and value is the action of the Ministerio de Agri- 

 cultura, Comercio e Industrias in its Decree No. 23 of January 30, 

 1967, which establishes protective measures for the conservation of 

 the native fauna, with provision for the establishment of a National 

 Commission concerned with these important matters. 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS, VOL. 150, PART 2 



