COMMONEST BIRDS OF THE CANAL ZONE 



same genus as the northern one. A very 

 well known bird that nests about buildings 

 in the city as well as in the country, is the 

 Gray -breasted Martin (P rogue c. chalybea), 

 much like the Purple Martin of the United 

 States. Other swallows are common; among 

 the migrants, especially the Barn Swallow 

 (liirundo erythrogaster), and among the native 

 species, the Panama Rough- winged Swallow 

 (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis uropygialis), and the 

 Mangrove Swallow (Iridoprocne albilinea). 



The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula), 

 another winter visitor, is frequently seen in 

 the early spring in Ancon, at that time prob- 

 ably on its journey north. A larger, lighter- 

 yellow native species, Salvin's Oriole (Icterus 

 mesomelas salvinii), is not uncommon and is 

 widely distributed; in the spring, in passing 

 along the roads, one's attention is often 

 attracted to it by its clear, high-pitched 

 whistles. The Great-tailed Grackle (Mega- 

 quiscalus major assimilis) is abundant in the 

 winter and spring months; his piercing, in- 

 quiring whistle may greet one on isolated, 

 almost barren rocks in Panama Bay, as well 

 as from low trees in park or garden. . The 

 females are brown and much smaller. 



The tanagers form a group of conspicuous 

 birds, in the majority of cases of colorful 

 plumage. The Blue Tanager (Thraupis cana 

 diaconus), a bird about the size of the Sum- 

 mer and Scarlet Tanagers (both of which 

 occur as migrants and winter residents in the 

 Canal Zone), is frequently seen in the parks 

 and gardens, as is the somber-colored Palm 

 Tanager (Thraupis palmarum atripennis), 



