PIPMAN

More banding in the park today, which of course means catching mostly Long-billed Hermits. Looking godly after release:


But it's also meant catching Wood Thrush the last two times


And little did we know, a Red-capped Manakin was on this side of the canal. Though I'm sure they can be found in many places on either side of the canal, we had only seen them at a more remote banding site our first week here.

Today we realized that part of the reason pictures of these Manakins can look so fake/surreal/doctored is that base of the red crown feathers are yellow (like the thighs) creating a weird gradient of yellow, orange and red when viewed from any angle but straight on.


Taking a rest before take off.