CENTRAL AMERICA 
Although a fairly common transient, Willow Flycatcher has 
only recently been recorded in winter in Belize, and only at 
The Dump, a fallow rice field near Big Falls Village, where 
one to two have wintered annually since 2005. Based on its 
drab plumage, complete lack of eye-ring, and distinctive 
song dialect, this bird, first seen 30 November 2008 (here), 
was believed to be one of the western subspecies. Photo- 
graph by Lee Jones. 
of the Rio Sarapiqui canyon below Virgen del 
Socorro, Alajuela 18 Oct (AD) was an impres- 
sive number for this rare species. Establishing 
the hrst record for the El Real area were sev- 
eral rare Saffron-headed Parrots seen feeding 
on Cecropia fruit 18 Sept at the Pirre Ranger 
Station, Darien (EC, ph. AG, RD). Poorly doc- 
umented in Nicaragua, a Mangrove Cuckoo 
was at Bonanza, R.A.A.N. 23 Nov (JMe). In 
Costa Rica, a very young Rufous-vented 
Ground-Cuckoo, presumed to be a prema- 
turely hedged nestling, was seen to fall to the 
ground from a perch 4 m up in a tree at the 
Rainforest Aerial Tram, Limon 20 Aug (ph. 
ARJG, MV, JS), where it later died (*Museum 
of Zoology, University of Costa Rica). A 
search for the nest was unsuccessful. The 
tram has long been the best spot in the coun- 
try to find this species. 
A Northern Potoo chick reported by guides 
near the n. end of New River Lagoon, Orange 
Walk in Aug was confirmed 21 Aug (RB). Al- 
though the species is an uncommon resident 
of Belize, this chick may constitute the first 
confirmed breeding record. A female Resplen- 
dent Quetzal observed feeding in gardens 
around the Lodge at Pico Bonito, Atlantida 
15-27 Nov (ph. JA) was at about 100 m ele- 
vation. Although Hondurans have reported 
quetzals at low elevations in the past, foreign 
birders and ornithologists have routinely dis- 
missed these reports — until now. 
A female Ruby-topaz Hummingbird seen 
A very rare migrant along the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, this Gray Kingbird 
was found at Cahuita on 17 October 2008. Photograph by Steven Easley. 
feeding at Heliconia flowers 4-7 
Aug at El Real, Darien (EC) was 
only the 2nd reported in Pana- 
ma and North America, the first 
being in 1985 from the same lo- 
cality. What was almost certain- 
ly the same bird was seen again 
21 Sep (ph. AG, RD). The east- 
ernmost record of the s. Central 
American endemic White- 
crested Coquette was estab- 
lished 16 Aug when a male was 
seen at Finca Lerida, Boquete, 
Chiriqiii (KA). A male Blue- 
throated Goldentail at 2400 m 
in Los Tarrales Reserve, Atitlan 
Volcano, Sucliitepequez 22 Oct 
(KE, GL) was at an unusually 
high elevation. Strong-billed Woodcreeper is 
uncommon and patchily distributed in n. Cen- 
tral America, thus one each day 15-16 Aug at 
Rincon Grande, Baja Verapaz (vr. KE, CA) was 
considered noteworthy. 
In Guatemala, at least 2 Belted Flycatchers 
at Laguna Lodge Eco-Resort and Nature Re- 
serve on the n. slope of L. Atitlan 2-4 Aug 
(ph. KE, CA) were at a new site, and an Olive- 
sided Flycatcher at Los Tarrales Reserve 7 
Aug (KE) was a very early migrant. An East- 
ern Wood-Pewee on Caye Caulker 16 Aug 
QB) was also early. A Willow Flycatcher at 
The Dump 30 Nov+ was at a site in s. Belize 
A highlight of a remarkable fall season in Central America 
was this female Northern Wheatear found in Panama near 
the Las Olas Resort southwest of David on 23 October 2008. 
Photograph by Tom Hince. 
where up to 2 have wintered the past four 
years (ph. LJ). Based on its dull olive-gray 
plumage and slowfitz-biew song, it is believed 
to be one of the sw. U.S. subspecies. Three 
Gray Kingbirds, a rarely reported migrant in 
the Region and the first documented from this 
n. Nicaraguan site, was observed moving 
through Bonanza, R.A.A.N. in a migrating 
flock of Easterns 24 Sep OMe). Another at 
Cahuita, Limon 17 Oct (ph. SE, KEa, MS) was 
noteworthy for Costa Rica. 
A male Bare-necked Umbrellabird was seen 
26 Aug on the Rana Trail in Omar Torrijos 
N.P., Code QC, MR). There are few records 
from this locality in Panama at the e. end of 
the species’ limited range. A White-eyed 
Vireo, only the 2nd recorded in El Salvador, 
was seen 27 Nov in El Imposible N.P. (OK, 
NK). The first record came just last spring, 
also from El Imposible N.P A Blue-headed 
Vireo was seen at 1400 m at Los Cedros de 
Montes de Oca on the Pacific slope of the 
Central Valley, San Jose 22 Oct (RMa). In Cos- 
ta Rica, it is a rare winter visitor, with most 
records from Nov through Jan. Another was 
seen 18 Oct in tropical dry forest at Laguna de 
Apoyo, Masaya, and 3 were there 26 Oct 
(both PS). Although the species occurs in 
winter at higher elevations in nw. Nicaragua, 
these were farther s. in atypical habitat at low 
elevation (<500 m). 
SWALLOWS THROUGH WARBLERS 
Two female Purple Martins were closely ob- 
served while perched at Chomes farms 3 Sep 
(KEa, JZ). This species is a rare migrant on the 
Pacific slope of Costa Rica. Bank Swallow is 
fairly common along the coast of Belize in fall 
migration, and Cliff Swallow is common to 
abundant, but because no systematic counts 
of migrating swallows have been made in Be- 
lize away from the coast until this year, the rel- 
ative status of each in the interior was un- 
known. While single Bank Swallows were ob- 
served migrating past M.ER. on 22 Sep and 2 
Oct, 5000+ Cliff Swallows were observed dai- 
ly at the same site between 21 Sep and 2 Oct 
(both RP, CH). Whether or not these numbers 
170 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
