BIRDS OF THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE 



Vulture (Catharista urubu), both commonly 

 called Buzzards, must be mentioned first, for 

 one has only to look toward the sky in almost 

 any direction, to see individuals of one or 

 both species circling and soaring high in the 

 air. The former is more widely distributed, 

 though the Black Vulture often outnumbers 

 it along the seashore or in the vicinity of 

 towns. A favorite haunt where both con- 

 gregate in numbers, is on the edge of the 

 corrugated iron roof of the Panama City 

 market, a point of vantage whence they en- 

 gage in their scavenging operations. Also 

 often to. be seen sailing high over the land 

 (though really a sea bird), is the Frigate 

 Bird (Fregata magnificens rothschUdi), so 

 pneumatic that it can float in the air for 

 hours, its immensely long wings outspread 

 and apparently motionless. 



Of the birds frequenting the trees or gar- 

 dens about the towns, and even in the city 

 parks of Panama, the Panama Robin (Plane s- 

 ticus grayi} should head the list. Resem- 

 blance to its familiar northern relative will 

 make it easily recognizable in spite of a 

 duller coat ; its song is softer and more melo- 

 dious. One of the most familiar and droll of 

 bird neighbors in the Zone is the Panama 

 House Wren (Troglodytes musculus inquietus) 

 which will be identified immediately from 

 its similarity in appearance and habits to the 

 species of the United States. 



A monotonously repeated song from the 

 tree tops, resembling the Red-eyed Vireo's 

 of the United States, is that of the Yellow- 

 green Vireo ( Vireosylva /. flavoviridis) of the 



