Tanagers of Panama. It’s like having a closet full of shoes.
When telling friends I was going to Panama to go birding, most of them thought Steve and I were going to be chasing down exotic birds like Toucans and Parrots. Of course, I always love to see those in the wild, but something that Panama (along with the other countries in Central America) has is Tanagers. Best kept secret, I tell you. (Well, that and the fact that cell phone service is crazy cheap there.)
The thing I love about Tanagers is that it’s like all the shoes in my closet. I’ve got loads of them and they are essentially the same thing–shoes–but they all look totally different. They each have their own style. So finding all these Tanagers was a bit like shoe shopping for me. (Don’t tell Steve. I can just see his eyes rolling now.) There are the Cherrie’s Tanager, the Blue-gray Tanager, Summer Tanager, and the Red-legged Honeycreeper, which of course doesn’t have the Tanager name, but Steve tells me is in the Tanager family. And loads more, natch.
Blue-gray Tanager
I live in Utah and so I don’t see Tanagers that often–I’m lucky if the Western Tanager visits our feeders. It’s like being stuck owning one pair of shoes. A lovely pair of shoes, but only one pair. Sigh. But I still have hope that a Western Tanager will visit when I’m actually home. (I suspect they wait until I’m at work and visit.) But in Panama we saw a whole bevy of Tanagers and I couldn’t get enough of them.
My all-time favorite Tanager is the Blue-gray Tanager. Every time I see this guy he’s always posing and pulls some of the most interesting expressions.
Oh, and by the way, Panama City just happens to have a Jimmy Choo store. Now that makes this girl happy and it’s official–we can totally retire here.
Check out the gallery of Tanagers I have here. Some shots are better than others. Sadly, I’m still a novice at taking photos. I’m getting a little better each time, but I need to spend more time out in the field.
Question out there for all of you. Which Tanager is your favorite? You don’t need to choose from my gallery here. Just wondering if any of you have a favorite Tanager you like to see.
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- Blue-gray Tanager
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- Blue-gray Tanager
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- Cherrie’s Tanager
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- Crimson-backed Tanager
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- Flame-colored Tanager
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- Flame-colored Tanager (immature male)
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- Flame-rumped Tanager (immature)
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- Golden-hooded Tanager
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- Gray-headed Tanager (I have to say, I adore this photo.)
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- Green Honeycreeper (female) Totally not a good photo, but she’s very striking.
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- Jimmy Choo and I have a history. Glad to see it here in Panama City.
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- Palm Tanager
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- Red-legged Honeycreeper (LOVE this guy! Looks kind of grumpy.)
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- Silver-throated Tanager
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- Speckled Tanager (Steve’s favorite Tanager on this trip.)
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- Summer Tanager
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- White-shouldered Tanager
these are really beautiful!!!
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Thank you very much! Or rather, the birds should thank you. They’re the ones who are beautiful. Happy to have you following. Welcome to my blog!
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Its a pleasure Lisa! I’ve just posted a blog too on Birds of Uganda. Be sure to have a look! Cheers
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These are fantastic – I have never heard of a Tanager.
Love what you say about shoes – great analogy!
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Like they say about shoes, you can’t have too many. (Well, unless you’re my husband and he thinks you can have too many.) And I don’t even think we saw half of the Tanagers that are in Panama. I think there are around 50 species. I need to count in my Birds of Panama book.
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Your pictures make me want to jump on a plane to Panama tomorrow! Thanks.
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Do it! Jump now! 🙂
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Pingback: Another Panama Bird Report. “Will it ever end?” you ask. « The Accidental Birder
Wow I would love to see these birds and take tons of their photos!
Wish my husband and I could be in Panama right now!
When do you think it’s a good time to go, without too much rain or humidity?
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Lynn,
We went in Spring and saw great raptor/hawk migrations. But I believe Fall (October is the best time for hawk migration). You will see THOUSANDS! I can’t promise not too much humidity. You’ll really feel it in Gamboa, which is why you’ll want the Radisson and it’s two pools. The Chiriqui is in the cloud forest so much cooler. I say Spring or Fall are your best bets.
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