Spangled Cheek Tanager +++

[Ely Teehankee]

The 3 + signs are for the three other birds in this thread which would make the title too long if I were to put the names of the birds on it. Birding with Alex the bird guide from Myriam's Quetzal I was able to see some interesting birds. The Spangled Cheek Tanager was a desired bird when we first saw it but it sure gave us a hard time because it would be flying off to the opposite side of where we were. When we moved to the other side it would be block by leaves and taking off again. It was busy constructing a nest but we had to give up as there was no opening to get a clear shot. In the afternoon, we chance upon the same bird on a fruiting tree. What a wonderful feeling to be able to see this unusual bird and being able to photograph its beauty.



Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 300mm
f/2.8L IS USM with Canon Extender 2X II.
Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light.



The Common Bush-tanager (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus) is one of the many kinds of Tanagers that one would see in Costa Rica. They are usually about 6 inches in length but comes in different color combinations. This is one of the birds that makes it such a delight to be taking bird pictures.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




This Collared Redstart (Myioborus torquatus) was a pleasant surprise for me. The color combination plus the rufous crest makes it an attractive looking bird.
1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




I cannot figure out why this Spot-crowned Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes affinis) has its foot sticking out of its back. The next pictures clearly shows that there is no third foot. I am still puzzled why the foot is in such a position. This bird is endemic to Costa Rica & Northern Panama.
1/1250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




This is a subsequent picture of the Spot-crowned Woodcreeper and the foot seen earlier is no longer sticking out of its back. LOL.
1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




Another endemic bird to Costa Rica & Western Panama is the Spangle-cheeked Tanager (Tangara dowii). The tanagers must be the most varied specie in Costa Rica. I am really glad that I had the opportunity to take some pictures of this beautiful bird.
1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/1000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




1/1250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Nice set, Ely.

The Woodcreeper might have been scratching its head.

[steve pryor]

Hi Ely,
Where precisely was the Bush-Tanager shot?

It will be reclassified. C. ophthalmicus has proven to be a junior synonym to C. flavopectus. It will wind up being C. flavopectus as soon as the SACC pronounces on it. The species is doubtless overlumped and may be split soon. Two races range in CR, regionalis, and novicius. This is probably regionalis judging from the coloration of the head.

[tina mallari]

wow so many nice looking birds !!!!

[Ely Teehankee]

May 18, 2012 4:19:30 GMT Ramon Quisumbing said:

Nice set, Ely.

The Woodcreeper might have been scratching its head.

Thank you Ramon. It could be scratching its head but what puzzles me is the angle of the leg from its back. It seems like a very unusual position. It is a creeper and they must be some kind of an acrobat to position his feet that way.

[Ely Teehankee]

May 18, 2012 6:21:50 GMT steve pryor said:

Hi Ely,
Where precisely was the Bush-Tanager shot?

It will be reclassified. C. ophthalmicus has proven to be a junior synonym to C. flavopectus. It will wind up being C. flavopectus as soon as the SACC pronounces on it. The species is doubtless overlumped and may be split soon. Two races range in CR, regionalis, and novicius. This is probably regionalis judging from the coloration of the head.

I took the picture at the Parque Nacional de Quetzal of San Gerardo de Dota. I am not surprise with the delayed announcement as this is usually the case when something is to be changed. They have to be very careful about it. I don't know how many years it took before they finally announce the Collared Kingfisher as an endemic. What does SACC stand for, I supposed it is an international body of experts on birds who are capable of making big decisions. Thank you Steve for your advance information.

[Ely Teehankee]

May 18, 2012 8:52:49 GMT tina mallari said:

wow so many nice looking birds !!!!

Thank you Tina. There are over 850 species of birds in Costa Rica. There are places where there are feeders and you can easily see a variety of birds. But to see the special birds like the Resplendent Quetzal, Toucans, Trogons, etc. there has to be a lot of walking. This pictures that I posted is part of a whole day trip of walking up and down the mountain. The less you walk the less you see. The more you walk the better the chances of seeing more birds but no definite assurance.

[steve pryor]

May 18, 2012 10:58:14 GMT Ely Teehankee said:

May 18, 2012 6:21:50 GMT steve pryor said:

Hi Ely,
Where precisely was the Bush-Tanager shot?

It will be reclassified. C. ophthalmicus has proven to be a junior synonym to C. flavopectus. It will wind up being C. flavopectus as soon as the SACC pronounces on it. The species is doubtless overlumped and may be split soon. Two races range in CR, regionalis, and novicius. This is probably regionalis judging from the coloration of the head.

I took the picture at the Parque Nacional de Quetzal of San Gerardo de Dota. I am not surprise with the delayed announcement as this is usually the case when something is to be changed. They have to be very careful about it. I don't know how many years it took before they finally announce the Collared Kingfisher as an endemic. What does SACC stand for, I supposed it is an international body of experts on birds who are capable of making big decisions. Thank you Steve for your advance information.

SACC stands for South American Checklist Committee: www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.html

Here is the relative proposal: www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop521.html

[Ely Teehankee]

May 18, 2012 17:41:25 GMT steve pryor said:

May 18, 2012 10:58:14 GMT Ely Teehankee said:

I took the picture at the Parque Nacional de Quetzal of San Gerardo de Dota. I am not surprise with the delayed announcement as this is usually the case when something is to be changed. They have to be very careful about it. I don't know how many years it took before they finally announce the Collared Kingfisher as an endemic. What does SACC stand for, I supposed it is an international body of experts on birds who are capable of making big decisions. Thank you Steve for your advance information.

SACC stands for South American Checklist Committee: www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.html

Here is the relative proposal: www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop521.html

Thank you Steve for your reply. I probably will not remember the name but I am getting a better picture of how this things come about.
It is amazing that you can remember so much about so many birds.

[Ariel Matias]

Wow! First time for me to see a picture of this elusive Spangled-cheek tanager! I don't even know where to find it and I'm glad Alex showed you the way. I have therefore another reason to go back there. Regards!

[Ely Teehankee]

May 20, 2012 0:40:29 GMT Ariel Matias said:

Wow! First time for me to see a picture of this elusive Spangled-cheek tanager! I don't even know where to find it and I'm glad Alex showed you the way. I have therefore another reason to go back there. Regards!

We spent almost an hour trying to photograph this bird until I decided to give up and look for other birds. Later we came across the Spangled-cheek Tanager on a fruiting tree and as usual it was very skittish. I was very happy to have been able to take a picture of this bird. This was taken in the surrounding forest of where the Resplendent Quetzal was nesting. Alex knows the area quite well and we did see a lot of birds.