Photo of the Month

January 2010

Blue Manakin

Photo: © Lee Dingain

The beautiful Blue Manakin, Chiroxiphia caudata (sometimes called Swallow-tailed Manakin) is a common endemic of the Atlantic Forest. It is present in good numbers at REGUA, most often below 1,500 m, and can be found in the forest interior, forest edge, around the wetland and even along roadside verges. The display of the males is a real spectacle and is quite often seen at REGUA. Typically three males, one dominant and two subordinate, perform a 'cartwheel' display together in front of a female, with each male hovering briefly in front of her while calling, then landing at the end of the line to wait to take his turn again. The display gets faster until the dominant male - the ringleader - gives a sharp call. The others fly off and the ringleader mates with the female. This type of co-operation is unusual amongst birds but the subordinate males benefit from helping because they are each inline to become the ringleader themselves eventually.

To see more of Lee's photos please visit his blog at http://leedingain.blogspot.com/.

December 2009

Chestnut-backed Antshrike

Photo: © Leonardo Pimentel

The striking Chestnut-backed Antshrike Thamnophilus palliatus has two disjunct populations - one ranging from the east Andean slope of Bolivia and Peru, across southern Amazonia to the north-east coast of Brazil, and another in the Atlantic Forest of south-east Brazil. In the later they are a lowland species found up to 800 m, but they appear to be most numerous below 400 m at REGUA, where they are fairly common. The wetland and adjacent trails is the best place to look, but they also frequent the lodge garden. They appear to favour the borders of secondary and regenerating forest with open scrub, where they inhabit both the understory and canopy, and they are often found in pairs. This bird is a male and easily distinguished from the female by its black crown (the female has a chestnut crown). Chestnut-backed Antshrike was previously considered conspecific with Lined Antshrike Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus, but the two have adjoining ranges and show no evidence of interbreeding, so are now treated as separate species.

For more of Leonardo's photos please visit his website.

November 2009

Grey-hooded Attila

Photo: © Peter Brash

Like all attilas, Grey-hooded Attila Attila rufus was once considered a member of the cotinga family, but they are now classified as a member of the Tyrannidae or tyrant flycatcher family. Grey-hooded Attila is endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest where they inhabit the interior and borders of humid and montane forest. They appear to be more numerous at lower altitudes but can be found up to 1500 m. They are a fairly common bird at REGUA, especially on the Waterfall Trail and are usually seen singly or in pairs. They are very vocal birds - their loud calls and distinctive song often giving away their presence. Click here to listen.

 

 

 

 

October 2009

Rufous-sided Crake

Photo: © William Price

Rufous-sided Crake Laterallus melanophaius is widespread throughout South America from south-east Columbia and Venezuela in the north, to northern Argentina in the south. They inhabit freshwater marshes and are fairly common birds at the REGUA wetland where they can often be heard calling from dense reeds. However, they are generally very secretive and so seeing one is easier said than done and William has done extremely well to capture this amazing shot! They are most often seen singly or in pairs and are best tried for in the early morning or evening.

For more amazing photos taken at REGUA, visit William's website at http://www.pbase.com/tereksandpiper/se_brazil_2007.