C o t i n g a 1 1

Notes on the of Isla Popa, w estern Bocas del Toro, Panam a Daniel S. C ooper

C o t i n g a 11 (1999): 23–26

En Febrero y Marzo de 1997, se muestraron aves en la Isla de Popa, una isla selvática a las afueras de la Costa Noroeste de Panamá, la cual alberga tres áreas con aves endémicas y es la unión biogeográfica entre Centro y Sudamérica. De las 173 especies registradas, varias son poco conocidas en Panamá, incluyendo aquellas que han invadido la frontera de Costa Rica y Panamá recientemente, luego del desarrollo agrícola. La presencia de varias especies en los bordes de su rango territorial es de ayuda para definir los límites biogeográficos de la región. Se espera que estas observaciones ayuden a aquellos que estudian la dinámica biogeográfica de la región de Bocas del Toro, y atraigan la atención por asuntos relacionados con la conservación de aves nativas.

Introduction topography is rugged, with deep ravines and sev­ During the late 1980s, the Smithsonian Institution eral small, permanent streams. During 1 sponsored an expedition to a poorly known area of February–6 March 1997, I conducted near-daily north-west Panama, the Almirante Bay archipelago visual and audial surveys within a private 200-ha in western Bocas del Toro province3. Until then, the forest reserve in the south-east of the island, utilis­ region had received little attention from ornitholo­ ing trails that crisscross the property. Although the gists, and it remains a remote and rarely visited vegetation is dominated by humid evergreen forest corner of the Neotropics. In early 1997,1 conducted (there is virtually no dry season here), several other a survey on a large, forested island in the ar­ distinct vegetation communities are present, includ­ chipelago —Isla Popa — to characterise its bird ing mangrove swamp, grass-covered (Paspalum sp.) community and to assess its suitability for hills and freshwater sedge marsh. Extensive thick­ ecotourism. The results of the survey provide a snap­ ets of Isertia (Rubiaceae) cover the forest edge and shot of the current status of species in the region small banana and plantain gardens tended by local and help define the biogeographical boundaries of islanders dot the island (all plants were identified this complex region. In addition, these observations using Gentry2). should assist in developing a birdlist for Bastimientos National Marine Park, which includes Significant bird observations several islands in the archipelago. Only one of several distinctive taxa of the western Although excluded from a recent major synthe­ Bocas del Toro endemic area described by Olson3 sis of global Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) (see maps was found during this study: Stub-tailed Spadebill in Stattersfield et al.5), Isla Popa supports at least Platyrinchus cancrominus. A pair was heard and two bird species endemic to Central America. Its observed along a cleared property boundary in tall avifauna includes representatives from three EBAs, Jacaranda–Inga forest. Neither the Golden-collared two identified by Stattersfield et al.5, the Central M anakins Manacus vitellinus or Green American Caribbean slope and the Costa Rica and Honeycreepers Chlorophanes spiza observed dur­ Panama highlands, and a third, the poorly known ing the study appeared to resemble the distinct western Bocas del Toro endemic area described by western Bocas del Toro forms found by Olson3 on Olson3. In addition to supporting endemics, the re­ neighbouring islands in the archipelago. Small gion straddles a biogeographical transition zone flocks of Red-fronted Parrotlet Touit costaricensis, between the avifauna of Central America and that a Costa Rica and Panama highlands endemic, were of Panama and northern South America, with sev­ observed on two occasions during the study, as were eral species replacements occurring along the shore several Snowy nitidus, a Cen­ of Almirante Bay3. With the recent construction of tral American Caribbean slope endemic. a new highway connecting lowland Bocas del Toro Central American birds appeared to outnumber province with the Pacific slope, and continued con­ Panamanian forms on Isla Popa, with Scarlet- version of forest to banana plantations along the rumped Tanager Ramphocelus passerinii and Costa Rica-Panama border, these biogeographical Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis boundaries are likely to fluctuate in the future. seen daily and their southern congeners (C. melanoleucos and R. flammigerus) present on the Study area and methods mainland immediately to the south and east4. Other Isla Popa is a relatively large island on the eastern birds observed on Popa at the southern limit of their edge of the Almirante Bay archipelago, less than ranges (although without southern congeners) in­ 200 m from the mainland. Although most of the is­ cluded Chestnut-coloured Woodpecker Celeus land is low-lying — below 100 m elevation — the castaneus — one pair, Brown-capped Tyrannulet

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Ornithion brunneicapillum — up to four daily, Olive- collecting may demonstrate that Popa actually sup­ crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis semiflava — at ports more western Bocas del Toro endemics than least 10 pairs, and Black-cowled Oriole Icterus just the spadebill, as well as additional endemics dominicensis — two individuals. from the other two EBAs. Just two taxa recorded on Popa during this study are at the northern edge of their ranges in the re­ Acknowledgements gion, and are not found in Costa Rica4. I wish to thank Scott Doggett, Richard Traversi and Golden-collared Manakin was abundant in the study Robert Traversi for funding this study, and boat- area. Specimen evidence is required to confirm that man/tour guide Cesar Smith for successfully the numerous Plain-coloured Tanagers Tangara negotiating the perils of sea travel in Bocas del Toro. inornata on Popa resembled Panamanian birds in Storrs Olson kindly sent me unpublished material that they showed a whitish ventral region and from his research in the region, and George Angehr, undertail-coverts, rather than the buffy coloration Victor Emanuel and Robert Ridgely provided ad­ found in Costa Rican birds (see Olson3 for descrip­ vice and encouragement before, during and tions). following the study. Thomas A. Scott reviewed early Three open-country species recorded were prac­ versions of the manuscript. tically unknown in Panama a decade ago4, and may have invaded from the west as forest on the Costa R e f e r e n c e s Rican border has been converted to extensive ba­ 1. Collar, N. J., Gonzaga, L. P ., Krabbe, N., Madroño nana plantations. Multiple Olive-throated Parakeet Nieto, A., Naranjo, L. G., Parker, T. A. & Wege, Aratinga nana and Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia D. C. (1992) Threatened birds of the Americas: flavogaster sightings were made on Popa, and a sin­ the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. Cambridge, gle White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus was seen. It UK: International Council for Bird Preserva­ is likely that this trend of open-country species in­ tion. vasions will continue in western Bocas del Toro, 2. Gentry, A. H. (1993) A field guide to the families particularly with the recent completion of a high­ and genera of woody plants of northwest South way connecting the Almirante Bay town of Chiriquí America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru), with sup­ Grande with the city of David on the Pacific coast. plementary notes on herbaceous taxa. Chicago: Several poorly known species observed during University of Chicago Press. this study deserve mention due to their rarity in 3. Olson, S. L. (1993) Contributions to avian bio­ southern Central America. Grey-breasted Crake geography from the archipelago and lowlands Laterallus exilis and Ruby-throated Hummingbird of Bocas del Toro, Panamá. Auk 110: 100-108. Archilochus colubris may represent first records for 4. Ridgely , R. S. & Gwynne, J. A. (1989) A guide to Bocas del Toro province. Several crakes were seen the birds of Panama. Princeton: Princeton and heard in the freshwater sedge marsh and adja­ University Press. cent grassy slopes, and the hummingbird was 5. Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long, A. J. & represented by an adult male feeding at a small Inga Wege, D. C. (1998 ) Endemic Bird Areas of the at the edge of the marsh. A pair of Semiplumbeous world: priorities for biodiversity conservation. Hawk Leucopternis semiplumbeus was found on the Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International (Con­ property; this species is considered globally near- servation Series 7). threatened1. Other regionally uncommon species observed on Popa include Uniform Crake Daniel S. Cooper Amaurolimnas concolor, Parasitic Jaeger Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cali­ Stercorarius parasiticus — immature off Crawl Key fornia, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. E-mail: following a storm, a mango Anthracothorax sp., [email protected]. Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina, Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia and small groups of Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis, Purple Martin A p p e n d ix . Annotated list of the birds of Traversi–Doggett Progne subis and Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Property, south-east Isla Popa, Bocas del Toro, Panama. which are assumed to have been migrating. Frequency of observation: Isla Popa’s size and proximity to the mainland C = common; recorded daily may account for both its high species diversity (see U = uncommon; seen more than once but not recorded Appendix) and the persistence of terrestrial taxa daily such as two tinamous (Tinamidae), Crested Guan R = recorded once Penelope purpurascens and several antbirds (Formicariidae). However, this does not explain the Total estimate for property or daily high counts, where paucity of western Bocas del Toro endemics on Popa, applicable, are given in parentheses after the frequency as several are known from the mainland as well as code. Dates are given for migratory species if they were not detected throughout the period. Total species list = from other offshore islands in the region3. Additional 173.

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Great Tinamou Tinamus major C (three) Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis U (20) First Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui C (tw o ) recorded 19 February, then nightly Brow n Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis C (five) Paura q u e Nyctidromus albicollis C (eight) Anhinga Anhinga anhinga R (one) White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris U (90 on 4 and 6 Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnifícens C (five) M arch) Great Egret Ardea alba U (one) Grey-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris U (30) 19 February onwards Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea C (tw o ) Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis R (one pair Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis C (three) 2 March) Green Ibis Mesembrinibis cayennensis C (at least two Bronzy Hermit Glaucis aenea R (one territory) roosted on property) Band-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes ruckeri U (four territories) Black Vulture Coragyps atratus C (40) Long-tailed Hermit Phaethornis superciliosus U (4 -5 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura C (generally five, but 1750 territories) in tw o kettles 5 March) Little Hermit P. longuemareus C (15 in lek) O sprey Pandion haliaetus C (tw o ) White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora C (three) Grey-headed Kite Leptodon cayennensis U (one) Green-breasted? Mango Anthracothorax sp. — prevostii ? U (1– 2 Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus R (single I March) females) White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus U (single immature from Crowned Woodnymph Thalurania colombica C (five) 22 February) Blue-chested Hummingbird Amazilia amabilis U (10) Double-toothed Kite Harpagus bidentatus U (adult and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird A. tzacatl C (10) im m ature) Semiplumbeous Hawk Leucopternis semiplumbeus U (one Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothryx barroti R (one) pair) Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris U (1– 2) White Hawk L. albicollis U (one) Black-throated Trogon Trogon rufus U (three pairs) Common Black-hawk Buteogallus anthracinus C (one pair) Slaty-tailed Trogon T. massena R (a fam ily group) Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris C (four) Rufous Motmot Baryphthengus m artii U (two pairs) Broad-winged Hawk B. platypterus R (single 27 February) Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquata R (one) Swainson’s Hawk B. swainsoni U (84 in kettle 5 March) Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana R (one) Zone-tailed Hawk B. albonotatus U (1– 2 birds) Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus R (2– 3) Black H aw k-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus R (one) Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus C (10) Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans C (one pair) Chestnut-mandibled Toucan R. swainsonii C (10) M erlin Falco columbarius R S (single 22 February) Black-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes pucherani C (three) Bat Falcon F. rufigularis U (one) Chestnut-coloured Woodpecker Celeus castaneus R (one pair) Grey-headed Chachalaca Ortalis cinereiceps R (five) Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens U (2–3 pairs) Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus C (tw o ) White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis C (10) Pale-billed W oodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis (tw o ) Grey-breasted Crake L. exilis C (10) Plain Xenops Xenops minutus U (tw o ) Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa C (tw o ) Grey-necked W ood-Rail Aramides cajonea C (tw o ) Uniform Crake Amaurolimnas concolor C (12) Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus C (tw o ) Buff-throated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus guttatus C (five) Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinico C (five) Streak-headed W oodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetii R N o rth e rn Jacana Jacana spinosa U (one pair) (one) Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia U (one) Slaty A ntshrike Thamnophilus punctatus C (10 pairs) W him brel Numenius phaeopus R (tw o ) Checker-throated Antwren Myrmotherula fulviventris C (five Pale-vented Pigeon Columba cayennensis C (40) pairs) Scaled Pigeon C. speciosa U (tw o ) White-flanked Antwren M. axillaris U (one pair) Short-billed Pigeon C. nigrirostris C (20) Dot-winged Antwren Microrhopias quixensis U (one pair) Blue Ground Dove Claravis pretiosa C (tw o ) Chestnut-backed Antbird Myrmeciza exsul C (two pairs) Grey-chested Dove Leptotila cassinii C (five) Brown-capped Tyrannulet Ornithion brunneicapillum C (four) Crimson-fronted Parakeet Aratinga finschi C (80) Y ellow -bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster C (three) Olive-throated Parakeet A. nana U (30) Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleaginea C (three Red-fronted Parrotlet Touit costaricensis U (30) territories) Brown-hooded Parrot Pionopsitta haematotis R (one) Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum U (one pair) Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus C (50) Stub-tailed Spadebill Platyrinchus cancrominus R (one pair) Red-lored Parrot Amazona autumnalis C (50) Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher Terenotriccus erythrurus U (tw o ) Mealy Parrot Amazona farinosa R (pair) Eastern W ood-Pewee Contopus virens C (one) Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana U (one) Tropical Pewee C. cinereus U First noted 19 February; Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris C (20) three per day after 27 February Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata C (one pair)

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Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens U (two birds 6 Chestnut-sided W arbler D. pensylvanica C (five) February and 4 March) Magnolia W arbler D. magnolia U (two different birds land Long-tailed Tyrant Colonia colonus R (one 2 March) 4 March) Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus U (single 17 February Bay-breasted W arbler D. castanea C (one) on w a rd Black-and-white W arbler M niotilta varia U (tw o ) Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer U (tw o ) Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis C (five Great-crested Flycatcher M. crinitus R (single 5 March) territories) Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus C (three) Kentucky W arbler Oporornis formosus R (single 28 Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua C (10) February) Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis C ( 10) Mourning Warbler O. Philadelphia R (single 1 March) Grey-capped Flycatcher A l granadensis C (three) Olive-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis semiflava C (12 Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus R (single 27 pairs) February) Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina U (single female Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus C (12) throughout period) Eastern Kingbird T. tyrannus R (one 2 March) Bananaquit Coereba flaveola C (10) White-winged Becard Pachyramphus polychopterus R (single Plain-coloured Tanager Tangara inornata C (four) 2 1 February) Golden-hooded Tanager T. larvata C (five) Masked Tityra semifasciata U (one pair) Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana U (tw o ) Carpodectes nitidus U (tw o ) Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza U (tw o ) Purple-throated Fruitcrow Querula purpurata U (eight in Shining Honeycreeper Cyanerpes lucidus U (eight) flock) Yellow-crowned Euphonia Euphonia luteicapilla C (four) Golden-collared Manakin Manacus vitellinus C (15) Olive-backed Euphonia E. gouldi C (10) Red-capped Manakin Pipra mentalis C (3-4 leks) Blue-grey Tanager Thraupis episcopus C (10) Purple Martin Progne subis U (30 1 March onward and 10– Palm Tanager T. palmarum C (four) 20 Progne sp. 20 February Tawny-crested Tanager Tachyphonus delatrii C (20) Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor R (seven 3 March) White-lined Tanager T. rufus C (three pairs Mangrove Swallow T. albilinea R (one 21 February) Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda C (10) Bank Swallow Riparia riparia R (three 3 March) Summer Tanager Piranga rubra C (one) Cliff Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota U (20 20 February and 1 Scarlet-rumped Tanager Ramphocelus passerinii C (50 pairs) M arch) Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus C ( 10) Barn Swallow H. rustica (50 27 February onward) Slate-coloured Grosbeak S. grossus U (2-3 pairs) Bay W re n Thryothorus nigricapillus C (four pairs) Blue-black Grosbeak Cyanocompsa cyanoides C (four) House Wren Troglodytes aedon C (one pair by wooden Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea First recorded 6 February shed) (one); six per day after 27 February Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus C (eight) Black-striped Sparrow Arremonops conirostris C (four) Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea C (2–3 pairs) Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia j acarina C (70 birds) Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina R (two birds 5 March) Variable Seedeater Sporophila americana C (100 birds) Clay-coloured Thrush Turdus grayi C (20) W hite-collared Seedeater S. torqueola C (40 birds) Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis U (15) Thick-billed Seed-Finch Oryzoborus angolensis C (three pairs) Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons U (one) Giant Cowbird Scaphidura oryzivora U (eight) Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus C (four) Black-cowled Oriole Icterus dominicensis R (tw o ) Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera R (single 1 Orchard Oriole I. spurius First recorded 6 February (pair); M arch) 10 per day after 27 February Tennessee W arbler V. peregrina C (four) Baltimore Oriole I. galbula R (single 2 March) Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia aestiva U (two 27 Scarlet-rumped Cacique Cacicus uropygialis U (five) February onward) Montezuma Oropendola Psarocolius montezuma C (10) Mangrove Warbler D. petechia erithachorides U (two singing)

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