Chronicles of a Birders Life List
Over the past 40 years I have had the good fortune to photographically document 85% of the bird species added to my “Life List.” This blog series showcases the images and anecdotal accounts that document those “Lifer” sightings and a little about the environment and culture of the area. This Lifer blog series begins with the first LIFER outside of the US, Lifer #624 and proceeds chronologically forward from there.
A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
*This is a Two-For Post featuring Red-crowned and Red-throated, Ant-Tanagers. They were initially seen at the same time at the same Army Ant swarm at the Cobá Ruins in Quintana Roo, MX.
Red-throated Ant-Tanager (Habia fuscicauda) & Red-crowned Ant-Tanager (Habia rubica) > Cardinalidae > Passeriformes
IDENTIFICATION – (BOTH) Fairly common in the understory of lowland tropical forest and woodland; also ranges into adjacent secondary growth. Usually in small groups, mainly comprising female-plumaged birds. Both species associate readily with each other when attending army ant swarms. These two species are best told by voice.
Red-throated Ant-Tanager details: low rasping calls. Male Red-throated has a small dark mask between the eye and the bill, and female has a contrasting buff throat.
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager details: low rasping calls. Its plumage is slightly paler and plainer than Red-throated, without a contrasting dark mask (male) or buffy throat (female).
FIRST “LIFER” OBSERVATION:
Birding with: My wife Maria
Date: 06 Dec 2021 @ Cobá Archeological Ruins, Quintana Roo, MX
Zona Arqueológica Cobá | MX-ROO
SPECIES GLOBAL eBIRD DISTRIBUTION MAP
Yellow Star indications the location of my Lifer sighting
DETAILS ABOUT SIGHTING: Maria and I were walking along the trail to the Grupo Nohoch Mul ruins absolutely enjoying the shade and nice road. My attention was grabbed by a small flock of Yucatan Jays that seemed to be mobbing something. And then I noticed at first one woodcreeper and then more Suddenly we were surrounded by lots of birds flying back and forth to the ground and back up to the trees. Then I noticed the SWARM! A huge swarm of Army Ants was making its was along the side of the road. I discovered 5 LIFER bird species working around this ant swarm.
4th and 5th Cobá Ant Swarm Lifers
Lifer #667 Red-throated Ant-Tanager: Using the Merlin App, this was the first Ant-Tanager species identified. Maria and I saw several of them moving about. The app kept flashing for Red-throated, along with the jays and woodcreepers.
Lifer #668 Red-crowned Ant-Tanager: Suddenly in-between all of the flashing of Red-throated, Red-crowned popped up on the app. Instead of the low, raspy call of the Red-throated, this call was high and squeaky. We only saw and heard at the same time one Red-crowned Ant-Tanager.
PHOTOS TAKEN:
Red-crowned images were captured at the Cobá Archeological Zone. Only one bird of this species was identified by call and photographed. The Red-throated Ant-Tanager images were taken at the Cobá Ruins and at the Camino Faro Vigía Chico road in Quintana Roo.
The bird directly above was seen at Pook’s Hill in Belize and was identified as a Red-throated Ant-Tanager, but to me has more of the look of a Red-crowned. The more diffuse black mask, thinner bill and more diffuse red bib point to Red-crowned.
Previous 3 posts in my LIFER Blog Series.
Reflections of the Natural World 