20 



BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA PART 4 



of Puerto Armuelles, Chiriqui, February 11, 1966, had the iris dark 

 brown, bill black, tarsus and toes fuscous-black, and claws black. An- 

 other female, a fully grown bird of the year, collected on the Rio 

 Potrero, near the town of El Potrero, Code, March 7, 1962, had the 

 iris dark brown, bill black, tarsus and toes fuscous-brown, and claws 

 black. 



Measurements. — Males (10 from Chiriqui, Veraguas, Herrera, 

 Code, and Province of Panama), wing 126.9-134.9 (130.1), tail 60.8- 

 65.8 (62.8), culmen from base 14.0-15.3 (14.7), tarsus 14.3-15.4 

 (14.6) mm. 



Females (10 from Chiriqui, Veraguas, Code, Province of Panama, 

 and Darien), wing 124.2-132.2 (128.0), tail 58.8-62.7 (60.8), culmen 

 from base 14.5-15.5 ( 15.0) , tarsus 14.0-15.0 (14.3) mm. 



Resident. Common and widely distributed throughout the main- 

 land of the Republic, from the lowlands to 1500 m. In the Chiriqui 

 highlands it has been recorded at Boquete and the Volcan area. Present 

 regularly on Islas Coiba and Cebaco; less abundant, or casual after the 

 breeding season, on islands in the Gulf of Panama: Isla San Jose 

 (March 6-8, 1947), Brava. (In March 1904, W. W. Brown recorded 

 a colony nesting on the church at San Miguel, Isla del Rey.) 



Possibly there is some seasonal movement among them, as in April, 

 following heavy rains, I have seen hundreds resting on wires in the 

 savanna areas. 



The species is one of wide range from Mexico to southern South 

 America. In Panama it is present regularly in the towns, especially 

 around churches and other buildings in the plazas. In country districts 

 it frequents open pasturelands and fields, where dead trees offer con- 

 venient perches. It is usual to find a few associated in small groups 

 from February to June during the nesting season. Following this, they 

 gather in flocks that in evening come to communal roosts. Where these 

 are located in trees in plazas, they may be a nuisance, and more so when 

 they enter openings in the eaves and roofs of buildings. 



Their warbling calls are heard mainly around their nest sites, espe- 

 cially in the period when they are pairing and building. On the whole, 

 they are far less vociferous in the breeding season than the Purple 

 Martin of North America at the same period. Nests are placed in cavi- 

 ties in trees, frequently in holes made by woodpeckers. This original 

 custom is varied when they settle around buildings, commonly nesting 

 under eaves and hollow roof tiles or in holes in walls, building on beams 

 or in recesses where space may be available. Nests are constructed of 

 twigs, dried grasses, and other vegetable material, with string or bits of 



