BIRDS OF THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE 



are mentioned elsewhere in this book. The 

 little Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularid) 

 is not a rare sight along the shores in winter 

 and always may be identified at some dis- 

 tance by its habit of teetering on its legs with 

 tail tilting up and down. 



Sea birds are likewise vastly more numer- 

 ous on the Pacific side and breed in immense 

 numbers on the islands of the Bay, though the 

 species represented are rather few. The 

 endless streams of cormorants flying in forma- 

 tion down the coast in the afternoons toward 

 Old Panama are a striking spectacle. 



Laughing Gulls are abundant about Pan- 

 ama Harbor and common along the Canal; 

 occasional Royal Terns visit the harbor of 

 Panama. Brown Pelicans and frigate birds 

 are usually about the harbor and along the 

 shore, but are much more numerous farther 

 out, where are also to be seen numbers of 

 several species of gannets (Sulidce] . 



In giving this account of the birds, it must 

 be remembered that, with few exceptions, 

 only those have been named that can hardly 

 fail to be seen by the observer who keeps his 

 eyes open for them. Whether he notices and 

 recognizes them or whether they are just 

 birds to him, will depend on his interest in 

 and knowledge of ornithology. If he covers 

 much ground, he will be sure to see at least 

 as many additional species without going far 

 out of the beaten tracks of tourists or resi- 

 dents; while, if he has the opportunity and 

 energy to explore the jungles and forests, or 

 to visit Barro Colorado Island, his list of 

 species observed will be greatly lengthened. 



14 



