100

SUNBITTERNS (EURYPYGIDAE; 1 SPECIES) Striking and distinctive

neotropical species of wetland habitats; vaguely suggests a large rail, aberrant large sandpiper,

or even a weird heron. Ages/sexes similar.

*NORTHERN SUNBITTERN  Eurypyga [helias] major 44–48cm. Distinctive

bird of fast-flowing streams and rivers in forested foothills, especially with rocky

and stony shorelines, nearby pools; less often swampy woodland. Nothing

similar in Costa Rica, but cf. larger and bulkier Fasciated Tiger Heron (p. 86).

Singles or pairs forage along shorelines, out on rocks in mid-flow; runs easily

and hops among rocks, where gray plumage blends in well. Flies readily;

wingbeats stiff and shallow, gliding short distances on bowed wings. In display

flight, climbs steeply with a few quick flaps and glides down, whistling.

SOUNDS: ‘Song’ a plaintive, drawn-out, semi-metallic whistled scream, wheee’eee,

1.5–2 secs, often inflected upward partway through, repeated every few secs; may suggest a hawk. High

reedy chatter when agitated, 0.5–1 sec. STATUS:  Uncommon on both slopes, mainly 100–1500m.

(Guatemala to S America.)

TINAMOUS (TINAMIDAE; 5 SPECIES) Neotropical family of fat-bodied,

seemingly tail-less terrestrial birds, heard far more often than seen. Most vocal early and late in

day. Ages similar, sexes often differ slightly, females usually brighter than males.

GREAT TINAMOU  Tinamus major 38–46cm. Very large, heavy-bodied tina­

mou of humid forest, especially shady and fairly open lowland rainforest

interior. Typically wary, and runs or freezes when alarmed; flushes explosively

with whistling wings. In some areas, however, has become acclimated and can

be quite confiding, such as in Carara National Park and La Selva. Note large

size, rather plain plumage (varies from browner to grayer overall) with sparse

black bars above, narrow whitish eyering, grayish legs. Crown and face markings

dark grayish on Caribbean slope, rusty on Pacific slope. SOUNDS: Haunting

song mainly early and late in day, also at night: intensifying, measured series of

(usually 2–6) pairs of mournful, quavering whistles with variable introduction of 1–4 shorter notes, whi,

who, who who-hooorr, who-hooorr.…More mournful than Little Tinamou, with different cadence. Flushed

birds make rapid whistling twitter as they fly off. STATUS:  Fairly common (where not hunted) to

uncommon or scarce (where hunted) on both slopes, locally to 1700m on Pacific slope, to 1500m on

Caribbean slope. (Mexico to S America.)

HIGHLAND TINAMOU  Nothocercus bonapartei 35.5–38cm. Only tinamou

in highlands, where it favors elfin forest, humid forest with dense undergrowth,

versus more open habitats typically inhabited by Great Tinamou (ranges may

overlap locally at mid-elevations). Usually singles and rarely seen, although not

especially shy in areas away from disturbance. Note large size, dark slaty-gray

head, richly colored plumage with pale buff spots on wings, sometimes on

rump and back. SOUNDS: Slightly overslurred nasal crowing whaáh, repeated

steadily about 1/sec. At close range suggests a large gull crowing; at a distance,

could easily be mistaken for a frog. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common in

highlands, above 1200m in Northern Mts., mainly above 1000m elsewhere.

(Costa Rica to S America.)