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E-mail: font@focusonnature.com
Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-800-721-9986
 or 302/529-1876; Fax: 302/529-1085

 

 

A Link to upcoming FONT birding & nature tours 
in Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, 
Belize, Honduras, & Mexico

"Alexander Skutch,
a Naturalist in Costa Rica"

by Armas Hill

(with a directory of birds in Dr. Skutch's writings)



Alexander Skutch on his Costa Rican property
 (photograph by Alan Brady)
 

In January 2005, we did a FONT tour in Costa Rica for the first time when Alexander Skutch was no longer alive. When we passed through the southern Costa Rican city of San Isidro de General, it just did not seem the same.
A few kilometers west of that city, we encountered our first Fiery-billed Aracaris of the tour. It reminded me that Alexander Skutch named his homestead, "Los Cosingos", after a local name for that bird (in the photograph below).

Something throughout our January '05 tour that couldn't help but be noticed was the large number of tourists traveling about the country using the book, "A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica", co-authored by Alexander Skutch & F. Gary Stiles.
  
Recently, also in January 2005, Ken Allaire, of New York, NY, USA, contributed some more information to this web-site. 
From his note, we added to the listing below another book: "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and other Neotropical Birds".
Ken also noted that Skutch's was the only treatment of bill-combat behavior among aracaris that he has found (in the publication the "Condor"), a behavior that Ken filmed in Panama. 
(A photograph of the Fiery-billed Aracari is above.)
Thank you, Ken, for your contribution, and if anyone else has something that can be added to this tribute to Dr. Skutch, we'd be appreciative. 

The narrative that follows I wrote in 2004, following the passing of Alexander Skutch:   
  

In May of 2004, Dr. Alexander Skutch died. He was nearly 100 years of age. In 1904, he was born in Baltimore, Maryland.

Back in 1935, he was in Costa Rica. During November of that year, he stepped off a little trolley in San Jose (Costa Rica's principal city), with a knapsack on his shoulder, and headed toward a small airport, with a ticket in his pocket, for a flight to the small southern Costa Rican city of San Isidro de General. It was near that city where he settled in 1941, naming his farm "Los Cosingos". And it was to be there that he would live for so many years, until his death.  

In one of his many books, "A Naturalist on a Tropical Farm", published in 1980, Skutch wrote of the naming of his farm: "After long cogitation, I called my farm "Los Cusingos", for (the birds) the Fiery-billed Aracaris, which are found only on the Pacific side of southern Costa Rica and across the border in Panama. I was not totally satisfied with this choice, but settled for it because certain other birds that I admired more lacked names that my neighbors knew and could pronounce. Now I am convinced it was a good choice; these agile colorful toucans have persisted here, while other, less wary birds have disappeared."

In 2004, Alexander Skutch was buried at his farm "Los Cusingos".

I had the very good fortunate to visit Dr. Skutch at "Los Cusingos" a number of times. 
My first visit there, with him at his property, was in 1983. 
During our FONT Costa Rica tour in 2004, I opted for the first time when with a tour in the area not to visit. When we were in the Costa Rican mountains, during that tour, I met a young lady from Japan, who, with a friend from that country, was enjoying the thrill of seeing a male Resplendent Quetzal. She told me, at the time, that she had just been (as a visiting naturalist herself) at Dr. Skutch's farm, "Los Cusingos". She said, sadly, that he really was quite frail.
 
I remember all of my visits to "Los Cusingos". I always enjoyed the beautiful place and the wonderful birds. 
But I always enjoyed the most my time with Dr. Skutch. It was more fulfilling for me to sit on a rocking chair on his porch, and listen to him speak, as others were running around the grounds looking at the birds. 
And I do remember so well one of those times, when, even though it was mid-day, he excitedly said to look at the bare tree in front of us. A Turquoise Cotinga was perched there.      



 Alexander Skutch in 1983.
 (photo by Alan Brady)

Alexander Skutch really was "A Naturalist in Costa Rica". That was the title of what's probably my favorite of his books in my library. It was published in 1971, and relates of some of his tropical travels prior to "Los Cusingos", and then his settling there in southern Costa Rica. In the book, there are a number of black-and-white photographs.
That book is divided in two parts:

Part I: "A Naturalist's Wanderings", with these chapters:
Into the Wilderness
Homemaking Amid the Forests
A Fragrant Summit
Two Drops of Blood
Backwoods Neighbors
The Mountain of Death
The Snake Eater
In Quest of the Quetzal
Winding Creek
The Hummingbird's Brook



Los Cusingos


 Part II: "A Naturalist's Homestead", with the chapters:
A Farm in the Wilderness
The House
The Garden and Its Birds
The Lives of Some Tropical Flowers
The River
Forest Trails
A Last Home of Mystery
The Coffee Grove
Social Insects, Their Homes and Enemies
Farming Without A Plow
Butterflies and Moths
In the Caribbean Lowlands
Conclusion: Vicissitudes of a Valley

Appendix 1: Birds of Los Cusingos and the Valley of El General
Appendix 2: The Author's Published Writings



(photograph by Alan Brady in 1983)

Alexander Skutch was a prolific writer about nature, particularly about birds and other nature of the Neotropics. Back in 1971, in the appendix, just noted, of "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", 6 previous books were listed (including his renowned "Life Histories of Central American Birds" published in 1954 with the Cooper Ornithological Society), as were an incredible 139 articles that he had written up to that time, beginning in 1926.
I remember when I met with Alexander Skutch in 1999, when he was well into his nineties, his proudly telling me that he was still writing a book about birds. (See the note following the first listing of books below.)  



Alexander Skutch with Mrs. Skutch and Armas Hill of FONT (left) 
at the  Skutch's home "Los Cusingos" in Costa Rica 
during FONT birding tour in March 1999. 

So many of Dr. Skutch's writings about birds (mostly tropical birds) I find to be interesting and informative.

WHAT FOLLOWS HERE, IN THIS FEATURE, IS A LISTING OF PARTICULAR BIRD SPECIES, GROUPS OF BIRDS, AND SOME OTHER WILDLIFE, NOTING AS REFERENCE RELATED WRITINGS BY DR. SKUTCH.
In those writings, there's a wealth of well-written information.

That listing will follow here shortly, but first, here's yet another listing - of books that Alexander Skutch authored, most of them in my library:

"A Naturalist in Costa Rica", 1971, Univ. of Florida Press.
"The Life of the Hummingbird", 1973, by Crown Publishers, Vineyard Books.
"Parent Birds and Their Young", 1976 & 1979, Univ. of Texas Press.
"A Bird Watcher's Adventures in Tropical America", 1977, Univ. of Texas Press.
"A Naturalist on a Tropical Farm", 1980, Univ. of California Press.
"Nature through Tropical Windows", 1983, Univ. of California Press.
"Birds of Tropical America", 1983, Univ. of Texas Press.
"Life of the Woodpecker", 1985, Ibis Publishing Co.
"A Naturalist Amid Tropical Spendor", 1987, Univ. of Iowa Press.
"Antbirds & Ovenbirds", 1996, Univ. of Texas Press.
"Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and other Neotropical Birds", 1999, Texas A&M University Press.

In the preface of the last book noted above, published in 1999, Alexander Skutch wrote:
"In this book, probably the last that I shall write about birds, I have tried to blend entertaining reading with solid natural history, including new observations of little-known Neotropical birds."

His last words in that book, at the end of the epilogue entitled "The Birds I Love", were these:
"In childhood I was strongly attracted to feathered creatures. This has continued into my life's tenth decade. As I review my seventy years of bird study, nearly all in the Neotropics, I am comforted by remembering that I have never intentionally harmed, for science or otherwise, an adult bird or its young, although I was responsible for the deaths of two or three raptors preying upon birds I was studying and/or trying to protect.
In the evening of life, I am distressed by the thought that humankind, as a whole, lacks the generosity to freely share an exceptionally favored planet with even the more compatible of the free creatures that surround us. Earth did not become habitable for the benefit of a single species."  


In many of Dr. Skutch's books, the drawings and the color illustrations were by Dana Gardner. 
The color illustrations in "The Life of the Hummingbird" were by Arthur Singer.   

Known to many is the excellent "Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica", co-authored by Alexander Skutch and F. Gary Stiles, published in 1989, and used by many birders visiting Costa Rica during the years since. 
There are editions in both English and Spanish. The color illustrations are by Dana Gardner. 
Dr. Skutch was surely responsible for much of the good background information in that book relating to the nests and habits of the birds.     


Some other books by Alexander Skutch (not in my library) include:

 "Birds Asleep", illustrated by N. John Scmitt
"The Minds of Birds" 
"Origins of Nature's Beauty"
"Life of the Flycatcher"
"Life of the Tanager"
"Orioles, Blackbirds & their Kin" 


Some notable chapters in Skutch's books noted above include:

 In "A Bird Watcher's Adventures in Tropical America", 1977:

Through Mexico by Train
Birds on a Guatemalan Mountain
Among Ecuadorian Forests
Through Peruvian Amazonia by Gunboat
The Emerald Land
Bird Watching during a Revolution
The Most Hospitable Tree
Birds on a Venezuelan Farm
Birds and Ants
The Dawn Songs of Tropical Birds
Epilogue: The Appreciative Mind



 Some photographs in Costa Rica in 1978,
by Armas Hill




Birds and Other Wildlife 
in the Writings of 
Alexander Skutch


 found during FONT tours in:

 BR: Brazil
BZ: Belize
CR: Costa Rica
GU: Guatemala
HN: Honduras
MX: Mexico
PN: Panama

       Birds:

  1. Great Tinamou:  a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, GU, HN, MX, PN

  2. Little Tinamou: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, HN, PN

  3. Gray-headed Chachalaca: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America", and another chapter about it, entitled "Living with Chachalacas", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ CR, PN

  4. Horned Guan: a chapter about it, entitled "The Endangered Horned Guan", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, & Other Neotropical Birds" ______ GU
    (this species occurs only locally on high mountains in Guatemala & in Chiapas in southern Mexico)
    (photo below, of this, one of the rarest birds seen during FONT tours)



      

  5. Crested Guan: in a chapter, entitled "The Sound of Wings", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, & Other Neotropical Birds" ______ CR, GU, PN
    (photo below)




     

  6. Black Guan: in a chapter, entitled "The Sound of Wings", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, & Other Neotropical Birds" ______ CR
    (this species occurs at high elevations in Costa Rica & western Panama)
     
     

  7. Marbled Wood Quail: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, PN

  8. Black-breasted Wood Quail: a chapter about it, entitled "Glimpses of Wood Quails", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, & Other Neotropical Birds" ______ CR
      

  9. Spotted Wood Quail: referred to in a chapter, entitled "Glimpses of Wood Quails", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, & Other Neotropical Birds" ______ CR, GU

     

  10. Laughing Falcon: a chapter about it, entitled "Snake Eaters in a Garden", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ BR, BZ, CR, GU, HN, MX, PN
    (a local Costa Rican name for this bird is "Guaco") 

     

  11. Swallow-tailed Kite: referred to in a chapter, entitled "Three Flycatching Kites", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds". The material is largely from an article by Skutch in the journal "The Condor' in 1965.   ______  BR, CR, GU

  12. Plumbeous Kite: referred to in a chapter, entitled "Three Flycatching Kites:, in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds". The material is largely from an article by Skutch in the journal "The Condor" in 1947.  ______  BR, CR, GU

  13. Double-toothed Kite: referred to in a chapter, entitled "Three Flycatching Kites", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds". The material is largely from an article by Skutch in the journal "The Condor" in 1965.  _____ CR
      

  14. Gray-necked Wood Rail: a chapter about it in "A Naturalist on a Tropical Farm", entitled "The Singing Wood-Rail" ______ BR, CR, GU, HN, MX, PN
     (photo below)




  15. Scaled Pigeon: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BR, CR, GU, MX, PN

  16. Red-billed Pigeon: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, GU, HN, MX

  17. Short-billed Pigeon: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BZ, CR, GU, HN

  18. Band-tailed Pigeon: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, GU, PN
     (photo below)




  19. White-winged Dove: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BZ, CR, GU, HN, MX
     (photo below)



  20. Ruddy Ground Dove: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BZ, CR, GU, HN, MX, PN 

  21. White-tipped Dove: a chapter about it, entitled "A Valiant Dove" in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" _____ BR, BZ, CR, GU, HN, PN  

  22. "Rufous-naped Dove": referred to in the chapter "A Valiant Dove" in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" ______ CR, PN 
    (this bird is the Pacific race, in southern Costa Rica & adjacent Panama, of the Gray-chested Dove, Leptotila cassini) 

  23. Squirrel Cuckoo: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BZ, CR, GU, HN, PN

  24. Lesser Ground-Cuckoo: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, GU

  25. Striped Cuckoo: a chapter about it, referring to its parasitism, in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ BR, CR
     
     

  26. Groove-billed Ani: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" (particularly interesting) ______ BZ, CR, GU, HN, MX, PN
    (in photo below)















  1. Common Potoo: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BR, CR

  2. Hummingbirds: a chapter in "A Bird Watcher's Adventures in Tropical America", entitled "The Charm of Hummingbirds" ______

  3. the hummingbirds called Hermits: a chapter in "A Naturalist on a Tropical Farm", entitled "Scarlet Passion-flowers and Hermit Hummingbirds" ______  CR

  4. Long-billed Hermit (in Central America; was conspecific with the Long-tailed Hermit of northern South America): a chapter about it in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds". Much of this chapter is from what was in a paper by Skutch in the journal "The Auk" in 1964.  ______ CR 

  5. Stripe-throated (formerly Little) Hermit: a chapter about it in "Nature through Tropical Windows" ______ CR
     (in photo below, at a nest)














  1. Scaly-breasted Hummingbird: a chapter about it in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" (this species is in the genus Campylopterus; all of the others in that genus are called "Sabrewings")   _____ CR, GU, HN, PN

  2. Violet-headed Hummingbird: a chapter about it in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds". This chapter is with more material than what was originally in Skutch's paper about the bird in "The Wilson Bulletin" in 1958.    ______ CR

  3. White-crested Coquette: a chapter about it in "Nature through Tropical Windows" ______ CR

  4. White-eared Hummingbird: a chapter about it, entitled "The Tinkling Hummingbird" in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds". Parts of this chapter were contributed to A. C. Bent's "Life History of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds, and Their Allies", published in 1940.  ______ GU
         (photo below)  

  5. Purple-crowned Fairy: a chapter about it, entitled "A Charming Thief", in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" _____ CR, GU, HN, PN

  6. Long-billed Starthroat: a chapter about it in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" and referred to in a chapter, entitled "A Charming Thief", in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" _____ BR, CR, GU, PN
    (photo below)

      

  7. Broad-tailed Hummingbird: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Sound of Wings", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" _____ 

  8. Costa's Hummingbird: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Sound of Wings", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" _____

  9. Black-headed Trogon: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BZ, CR, GU, HN, MX
    (photo below)




  10. Gartered Trogon (in Central America; was conspecific with the Violaceous Trogon of South America): in a chapter, entitled "Beauty with a Handicap" in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" _____ GU, MX
     

  11. Baird's (or Vermilion-breasted) Trogon: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" (this species nearly endemic to the Pacific side of southern Costa Rica) ______ CR

  12. Mountain (or Mexican) Trogon: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" (a species in the highlands of Guatemala) ______ GU

  13. Black-throated Trogon: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" (this species ranges from Honduras to Argentina) ______ BR

  14. Collared Trogon: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, GU, HN, PN

  15. Orange-bellied Trogon: in the chapter re the Collared Trogon in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR
     (this bird often now considered to be a subspecies of the Collared Trogon) 

  16. Slaty-tailed Trogon: in a chapter, entitled "Beauty with a Handicap", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, & Other Neotropical Birds" ______ CR, GU, PN

  17. Resplendent Quetzal: chapters about it in "Birds of Tropical America" and in "A Naturalist in Costa Rica"; the latter entitled "In Quest of the Quetzal"  (both chapters with a lot of good info) ______ CR, GU, HN, PN 
    (photo below)





  18. Amazon Kingfisher: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BR, BZ, CR, GU, HN, PN

  19. Green Kingfisher: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BR, BZ, CR, GU, HN, PN
     (photo below)




  20. Turquoise-browed Motmot: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, GU, HN, MX
     (photo below)
















  1. Broad-billed Motmot: a chapter about it  in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, PN

  2. Rufous Motmot: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, PN

  3. Blue-crowned (or "Blue-diademed") Motmot: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BR, CR, GU, HN, MX, PN
     (photo below)




  1. Blue-throated (Green) Motmot: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" (species occurs in the mountains of Guatemala & Honduras) ______ GU

  2. Rufous-tailed Jacamar: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BR, CR, GU
    (photo below)




  3. Puffbirds (particularly the White-whiskered Puffbird or Softwing): a chapter about them in "A Naturalist on a Tropical Farm", entitled "The Patient Puffbirds" ______ CR, GU, PN

  4. Black-breasted Puffbird: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" (species occurs in the former Canal Zone in Panama) ______ PN

  5. Prong-billed Barbet: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, PN

  6. Keel-billed (or Rainbow-billed) Toucan: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BZ, CR, GU, HN, PN
     (photo below)




  7. Collared Aracari: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ BZ, CR, GU, HN, PN
     (photo below)




  1. Fiery-billed Aracari (the bird "Los Cusingos"): a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR
     (photo below)




  2. Emerald Toucanet: a chapter about it in the "Birds of Tropical America" ______ CR, GU, PN
     (photo below)




  1. Golden-naped Woodpecker: a chapter about it in "A Naturalist on a Tropical Farm", entitled "Family Life of the Golden-naped Woodpecker" (this species occurs on the Pacific side of southern Costa Rica and adjacent Panama)  
     ______ CR 
    (photo below)


  1. Orange-collared Manakin: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Sound of Wings", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons. and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ CR  

  2. Red-capped Manakin: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Sound of Wings", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ CR 

  3. Cotingas: a chapter in "A Bird Watcher's Adventures in Tropical America", entitled "The Cotingas: A Study in Contrasts" ______

  4. Yellow-billed Cotinga: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Sound of Wings", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" _____ CR

  5. Lovely Cotinga: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Sound of Wings", in "Trogons. Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" _____ HN

  6. Turquoise Cotinga: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Sound of Wings", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" _____ CR    

  7. Rufous Piha: a chapter about it, entitled "When Less Yields More", in "Trogons. Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds". This chapter is from Skutch's account of the species in volume 3 of "Life Histories of Central American Birds" , published by the Cooper Ornithological Society in 1969 and now difficult to obtain. ______ CR  

  8. Piratic Flycatcher: referred to in a chapter, entitled "A Paradoxical Relationship", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ BR, CR, MX

  9. Gray-capped Flycatcher: referred to in a chapter, entitled "A Paradoxical Relationship", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ CR 

  10. Social (or Vermilion-crowned) Flycatcher: referred to in a chapter, entitled "A Paradoxical Relationship", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ BR, CR, MX

     

  11. Boat-billed Flycatcher: a chapter about it in "Nature through Tropical Windows" ______ BR, CR

  12. Great Kiskadee: a chapter about it, entitled "A Versatile Flycatcher", in "Trogons. Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" _____ CR, GU, MX, PN
    (photo below)



     

  13. Eastern Kingbird: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Strenuous Lives of Migratory Birds", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______
     (photo below) 

  14. Bicolored Antbird: a chapter about it in "A Naturalist on a Tropical Farm" ______ CR, PN

  15. Black-faced Antthrush: a chapter about it in "Antbirds & Ovenbirds" ______ CR, PN

  16. Horneros: referred to in a chapter entitled "Castlebuilders" in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" _____ BR
    (photo below of a Rufous Hornero; due to its nest, known as an "Ovenbird")




     

  17. Rufous-breasted Spinetail (or "Rufous-tailed Castlebuilder"): in a chapter entitled "Castlebuilders" in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" _____ GU
    (this species occurs in the lowlands of southern Mexico & northern Central America, south to Honduras & El Salvador)
     
      

  18. Slaty Spinetail (or "Slaty Castlebuilder"): in a chapter entitled "Castlebuilders" in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" ______ CR
    (this species occurs in southern Central America, and south through Colombia to western Ecuador)

     

  19. Pale-breasted Spinetail (or "Pale-breasted Castlebuilder"): referred to in a chapter entitled "Castlebuilders" in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" ______ BR, CR, PN
    (this species is widespread in South America from central Argentina to the Caribbean coast, and north into Central America to the Terraba Valley in southern Costa Rica)
     
      

  20. Rufous-fronted Thornbird: referred to in a chapter entitled "Castlebuilders" in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" ______ BR
    (photo below)





  21. Woodcreepers: a chapter about them in "A Bird Watcher's Adventures in Tropical America", entitled "The Woodcreepers of Tropical America" ______

  22. Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher: a chapter about it, entitled "A Bird of Stormy Heights", in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor"   _____ CR
         (the range of this species is restricted to parts of central & southern Costa Rica and adjacent western Panama) 

  23. Blue-and-white Swallow: a chapter about it in "Nature through Tropical Windows" ______ BR, CR, PN

  24. the House Wren: two chapters about it in "Nature through Tropical Windows", relating respectively to the bird's first-year & second-year ______ BR, BZ, CR, GU, HN, PN

  25. Black-capped Donacobious:  a chapter about it, entitled "A South American Marsh Bird", in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" ______ BR
    (photo below)



     

  26. Blue-and-white Mockingbird: a chapter about it, entitled "A Mockingbird in Blue", in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" ______ GU
      

  27. Euphonias: a chapter about some of them in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor". Those referred to in that chapter are:
    Yellow-throated Euphonia     ______ BZ, CR, GU, HN
    Elegant     (formerly Blue-hooded) Euphonia (formerly Blue-hooded) Euphonia (formerly Blue-hooded) Euphonia ______ CR, GU, PN
    White-vented Euphonia     ______ CR
    Trinidad Euphonia     ______
    Spot-crowned     (or "Tawny-bellied") Euphonia ______ CR, PN
    Olive-backed Euphonia     ______ CR, GU, HN, PN
    Violaceous Euphonia     ______
    Thick-billed Euphonia     ______ CR, PN
    Yellow-crowned Euphonia     ______ CR, PN
    Golden-browed Chlorophonia     ______ CR, PN
    (Euphonias have long been classified as tanagers. In fact, the chapter about them in Skutch's book, "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" is entitled "The Smallest Tanagers". 
    Now, however, these birds have been put into the Finch family. Taxonomically, both the Euphonias & the Chlorophonias are placed there just before the Greenfinches, Siskins, and Goldfinches.)
            

  28. Montezuma Oropendola: a chapter about it, entitled "A Village in a Treetop", in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" _____ CR, GU, HN, PN
    (this Central American species has recently extended its range as far south as the Panama Canal) 
    (photo below)



     

  29. Oriole Blackbird: a chapter about it in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" ______ BR

     

  30. Giant Cowbird: referred to a a chapter, entitled "A Village in a Treetop", in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" _____ BR, CR, GU, HN, PN
       

  31. Bananaquit: a chapter about it in "Nature through Tropical Windows" ______ BR, BZ, CR, MX, PN (also tours in the West Indies) 
    (photo below)  




  32. Black-striped Sparrow: a chapter about it in "Nature through Tropical Windows" ______ CR

  33. Speckled Tanager: a chapter about it in "A Naturalist on a Tropical Farm" ______ CR
    (photo below)




  34. Rosy Thrush-Tanager: a chapter about it, entitled "The Elusive Queo", in "A Naturalist Amid Tropical Splendor" ______ 

  35. Grayish Saltator: a chapter about it, entitled "A Melodious Saltator", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds"  ______ CR, MX


     MAMMALS:

  36. Golden Lion Tamarin, Leontopithecus rosalia: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropial Birds" ______

  37. Silvery Marmoset (& Buffy-tufted Marmoset), Callithrix argentata (& Callithrix aurita): referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ BR (the Buffy-tufted Marmoset)
     (photo below, taken during a FONT tour)

  38. Golden-headed (or Gold-and-Black) Lion Tamarin, Leontopithecus chrysomelas: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______
     (photo below)




  39. Golden-mantled Tamarin, Saguinus tripartitus: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______

  40. Pied Bare-faced Tamarin, Saguinus bicolor: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______

  41. Red-handed (or Golden-handed, or Midas) Tamarin, saguinus midas: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______  

  42. Cotton-top Tamarin, Saguinus oedipus: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Bidlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______

  43. Buffy-headed (formerly Tufted-eared) Marmoset, Callithrix flaviceps: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______

  44. Emperor Tamarin, Saguinus imperator: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______

  45. Saddle-backed Tamarin, Saguinus fuscicollis: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______

  46. Black-chested Moustached Tamarin, Saguinus mystax: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______  

  47. Dusky Titi (now split in various species), in the genus Callicebus: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ BR (the Masked Titi)      

  48. Squirrel Monkeys (now 5 species in Central & South America), in the genus Saimiri: referred to in a chapter, entitled "The Birdlike Monkeys", in "Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other Neotropical Birds" ______ CR (the Central American Squirrel Monkey) 
     (photo below, taken during a FONT tour)  


      


Birds during Previous FONT Tours in Costa Rica

Mammals & some other Wildlife in Central America

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