Puffbirds

We saw four of the six puffbirds in Panama.  Photos start with the two seen on the last day of our trip.  The White-necked was seen on the third day in Parque Natural Metropolitano.  The White-whiskered Puffbird was seen on our first day.  Why is this important?  It's not, except the White-whiskered was found on our own - I was with Cookie and Lisa - and offered such cooperative, fantastic and fun photographing at nearly eye level and in beautiful lighting.  

Above and below:  Black-breasted Puffbird (Notharchus pectoralis)

Above and below:  Pied Puffbird (Notharchus tectus)

Above and below:  White-necked Puffbird (Notharchus hyperrhynchus) 

Below my favorite:  White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) 

After taking a dozen or more photos of our White-whiskered Puffbird, I thought we would need to leave this perfectly perched bird, but it finally flew off allowing us to walk away very satisfied with our experience.  It is seldom that a bird offers such photographic opportunities - at least not with a group, and was certainly unexpected in the Panama rainforest.  Gorgeous little bird!

On the first day of our official tour start, another cooperative White-whiskered Puffbird was found in the late afternoon along Plantation Road for everyone in the group to see and photograph.