Sendero Cerro Gaitál in the Cerro Gaitál National Park north of El Valle de Antón, Coclé Province, Panama, March 2013
Alternative name: Western Schiffornis
- Schiffornis veraepacis
Identification
17cm: Sexes alike. A brown or olive brown bird with no distinctive features.
Has a distinctive "wide-eyed" look.
Distribution
From southeast Mexico to Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and to western Ecuador.
Taxonomy
Four subspecies recognized:
- S. v. veraepacis in the Gulf-Carribean slope of southeast Mexico to southern Costa Rica
- S. v. dumicola in tropical western Panama (Chiriquí, Veraguas and northern Coclé)
- S. v. acrolophites in eastern Panama (Cerro Mali and Tacarcuna) and adjacent Colombia (Chocó)
- S. v. rosenbergi in tropical western Colombia (Chocó to Nariño) and western Ecuador (south to Loja)
Formerly included in Thrush-like Schiffornis. It has traditionally been placed in the manakin family, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae where now placed by SACC and Opus.
Habitat
Supposedly fairly common in the lower growth of humid forest. Also in shaded secondary growth woodland. Normally seen below 1200m.
Behaviour
Not often seen. Perches quite low, clings to upright stems. Not often seen in mixed flocks.
Does respond to taped calls, differs in their vocalizations from other species of Schiffornis.
References
- SACC proposal to split Thrush-like Schiffornis
- Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Schiffornis and other birds
