BIRDS OF THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE 



found more often in the palm trees. Here 

 one may also catch an occasional glimpse of 

 the gorgeous crimson and black of the "Sangre 

 de Toro" (Ramphocelus dimidiatus isthmicus) 

 but this species is more at home in the seclu- 

 sion of the gardens or farther afield in the 

 second growth or on the edge of the jungle. 

 Of the small tanagers or Euphonias, those 

 that might be seen in or near the towns are 

 the steel-blue and yellow, thick-billed "Pico 

 Gordo" (Tanagra crassirostris} and the Mrs. 

 Wilson's Tanager (Tangara larvata centralis) 

 of variegated black, blue, white and golden- 

 buff plumage. Other strikingly colored tan- 

 agers may be seen not far from the roads in 

 the Zone and near Panama City in the taller 

 trees. Among these are the Yellow-rumped 

 Tanager (Ramphocelus icteronotus) and the 

 White-shouldered Tanager (Tachyphonus lucr 

 tuosus panamensis) . Thicket and brush- 

 haunting species are the Ant Tanager (Phaeni- 

 cothraupis fuscicauda) and the Gray-crested 

 Tanager (Eucometis cristata). In the spring 

 months the lovely notes of the male Panama 

 Thrush Tanager (KhodinociMarosea eximia), 

 ringing from out the jungle, proclaim its 

 presence there and may lead the fortunate 

 observer to a glimpse of its rose-red breast. 

 The finches do not form as important a 

 group of the bird fauna in Panama as in 

 North America, though there are a number 

 of common species. Along roadsides and 

 in the open places, as well as in gardens, the 

 busy little seedeaters, especially Hick's Seed- 

 eater (Sporophila aurita) and the Blue-black 

 Grassquit ( Volatinia jacarini splendens) that 



