Bird Studies in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua: Long-tailed Manakin

Gaia has conducted studies of the birds of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve now several years, during this period more than 225 bird species have been documented and some very interesting trends have been noted. One important finding is that the reserve is an important host for a very special bird, the Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis). This small, reclusive bird is found in the canyons, at low and middle levels of the forest, beneath the cover of canopy.

The adult male Long-taile Manakin is jet-black with a baby-blue back and crimson-red head. Two long tail-covert feathers stream behind the bird. Photo Pier-Oliver Beaudrault. 

 Although this species is uncommon in open areas, it is easily heard in its shaded habitat, with unique calls and songs that let one know where it can be found. Although the adult males are spectacular, with brilliant red head, baby blue back and bright orange legs, it can still be missed because it moves little, often remaining still for long periods, and prefers deep shade.

Juveniles and females are even more difficult to sight, because the base color is olive green. Once the bird is sighted, the legs are often the diagnostic feature, because of the angle of view and limited light where the bird is perched.

An immature male Long-tailed Manakin is just beginning to show blue on the back. Photo Joe Taylor.

We usually think of small birds reaching sexual maturity after one year and perhaps only living two or a few years. The long-tailed Manakin is distinctly long-lived. The males, in fact, only reach sexual maturity after four years, during which their changes in plumage occur in several stages. Two or three males work together to perform a song and dance to attract the females, and the females choose the group with the most accomplished performance. The senior male of the group mates and the others await their turn to move up in the hierarchy. Females build nests and raise young alone.

A male Long-tailed Manakin captured in a mist net. This is among the most commonly captured bird species in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Photo Lukas Betthaueser.

The Gaia mist netting studies of birds in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is finally yielding some useful data, after several years of capturing thousands of birds. The Long-tailed Manakin counts among the most frequently captured bird species, in the most densely forested sites, although its capture numbers are considerably lower where the forest canopy is incomplete and undergrowth is removed. We are just learning which birds are the most important species in the reserve, and definitely, the Long-tailed Manakin ranks highly.

A female Long-tailed Manakin. Photo Joe Taylor.

Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is an interesting location to study this species, as it has a very high population density in some locations, where as many as 20 individuals have been captured in a three-day period. The high population found in our study area is also interesting because of its proximity to the southern range limit of the species, found in northwestern Costa Rica.

An adult male Long-tailed Manakin has lent a few minutes of his time to our scientists for study. Photo Pier-Oliver Beaudrault.

In our next phase of study of this species, we hope to undertake population dynamics and nesting success. If you are interested in participating in bird studies in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, we would love to work with you. This is also a relatively easy bird to find, and we would love to take you on a birdwatching excursion. Please contact us if you would like to volunteer or undertake an internship in the study of this bird or other birds in the area or simply to go birdwatching with one of our expert guides.

Two male Long-tailed Manakins in a courtship ritual. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

Birdwatching in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve III-Land birds

As camera technologies advance, photography continues to become a more interesting option for birdwatching activities. Today, one does not have to be a professional or invest thousands into a hobby to take good pictures of birds. Many of our visitors at Estacion Biologica Laguna de Apoyo come especially for the birds, and some of them even take great photographs. Here, we present the second blog entry highlighting the photography of birdwatchers Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulfuratus) is very common in the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve and throughout wooded areas in the Pacific region of Nicaragua. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

The Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) are always pleasant discoveries here, where they are easier heard than seen. Great photo shots of this species may be difficult, because they prefer forest canopy. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

Long-tailed Manakins (Chiroxiphia linearis) males dance and sing to attract a mate. The senior male dances in tandem with a junior male who requires up to four years to reach sexual maturity. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

The male Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans) makes an unattractive growl but is quite a beauty to see. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

The Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus) is quite common on the north side of Lake Apoyo, where Estacion Biologica is located. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

Our national bird is the Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa). The abundance of steep banks with loose, volcanic soils make Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve ideal habitat for this bird. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

The pendulum-like swing of the tail of the Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) is thought to discourage predators. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

The Clay-colored Thrush (Turdus grayi) acts and even sounds similarly to the American Robin of North America. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

Male Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) make fill our forest with bright color about seven months per year. It accompanies hundreds of other birds in yearly migration, reproducing in North America. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

The red bill and rusty tail distinguish this bird as the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl), much more common in Eastern Nicaragua than in the forests of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

The Great Kiskadee is very common in forest edge throughout the Pacific region of Nicaragua. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

The Chestnut-capped Warbler (Basileuterus delattrii) is the only year-round resident warbler of the reserve. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

Cuckoos such as the Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) have a distinctive smell which may serve to protect them from predation. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

The Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma) nest communally. Males and females divide the work around the nesting site. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James. 

No photo essay on birds in Nicaragua would be complete without the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus), among the most visible of any bird in the country. Photo Jesse Bickley and Anna James.

Jesse and Anna also took some great photos of birds associated with Lake Apoyo, too. If you would like to schedule a birdwatching tour with one of our specialized birdwatching guides, please contact us!

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Laguna de Apoyo Forest Bird Monitoring

Although Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is named for its prominent lake, there are many, diverse, interesting birds in the forest which lines the crater interior. The tropical dry forest ecosystem is alternately exceeedingly dry and wet, by seasons. The forest contains lots of wildlife, although the proximity of human settlements and tourism in the area threatens their populations. In our bird monitoring project, we have learned many things about the bird community of the forest here. Some birds never seen by us or only rarely, have been captured in mist netting, for instance.

The Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus) was captured by our bird monitoring team in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Photo by Wendy van Kooten.

Birds do some amazing things. Some of them don't make nests. The females, once fertilized, place their eggs in the nests of other birds. Cowbirds are famous for this, and some cuckoos. The Giant Cowbird,  Molothrus oryzivorus , is one species which does this. In Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, the Montezuma Oropendola (Psaracolius montezuma) colonies, which number dozens of nests sharing a single tree, are sought by the Giant Cowbirds for nest parasitization. The eggs of nest parasites typically hatch more rapidly than the eggs of the host species, and the chicks are more precocious, that is, they are more vigorous upon hatching and they get fed preferentially, because they have the mouth highest when the parental birds come with food to share.

This female Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) migrated from North America at the end of its mating season. Photo by Wendy van Kooten.

Many birds migrate enormous distances each year, among them, the Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra), which is common in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve during the months September through May. The males are more active than the females and much more visible, flaming red colored. During the month of September, we often see immature Summer Tanagers begging food from mature adults, even after making a migration of more than one thousand kilometers, showing a very special prolonged dependence on the part of the first-year birds.

The Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans) is gorgeous, but it makes a downright nasty sounding call! Photo by Wendy van Kooten.

More than half of the species of birds found in Nicaragua do not undergo extensive, seasonal migrations. Some of those birds have very special diets and other needs for their life and reproduction. Among them are are the trogons. In Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, three trogon species are common-one of them is the spectacularly colored Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans). These birds consume fruit and nest in holes in relatively soft trees where their weak bills can carve or widen previously made holes. The trogons often occupy holes made previously by woodpeckers. The Elegant Trogon is large and gaudy, but not found just anywhere. Fortunately for us, we sometimes capture Elegant Trogons in the mist nets.

We take several measurements of the birds captured during mist netting. Elmer measures the wing of this Blue-throated Goldentail (Hylocharis eliciae). Photo by Wendy van Kooten.

The hummingbirds (Family Trochilidae) are the smallest of birds in the Nicaraguan forests, and Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve boasts several species. We often capture hummingbirds, and having one in the hand is an unforgettable experience. Hummingbirds are even more beautiful at close range than when sighted several meters away. One species, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), alternates between North America and our region, the others are year-round residents in Nicaragua.

Our team eats well during their work! Florian prepares the stew. Photo by Wendy van Kooten. 

Monitoring the bird populations mostly means creating an extensive database in which we learn more and more about the birds present in our forest. We capture birds every month of the year. Some bird species are captured often, others very rarely, and all this information helps us understand which birds are there and what they need to live in these forests which are affected more and more by human activity. We complement mist-netting with observations by sight and hearing, made quantitatively. As one might expect, many conspicuous birds are not caught, and many birds caught are hardly noticed by our observers.

Our team transcribes data and rests between periods of bird measurement. Photo by Wendy van Kooten.

Volunteers manage this project, some of them coming from developed countries. We invite anyone interested in learning about birds to apply for this project. A volunteer or intern can learn about the tropical birds and how to handle them. The opportunity to work in the outdoors, under the canopy of the jungle, with monkeys and other animals always nearby, is unforgettable. To volunteer to work on this project, please write us here.

The most common bird captured in mist netting in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is the Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis). Photo by Wendy van Kooten. 

Among the very special birds in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is the Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis). The males are boldly colored, in crimson red, baby blue and jet black. We capture more of this species than of any other in our monitoring project. We also find it interesting that we catch many more males than females. Males engage in very interesting courtship dances, usually performed by two males in tandem.

The Myiarchus flycatchers are very similar, and difficult to distinguish. Photo by Wendy van Kooten. 

Mesoamerica hosts many species of tyrant flycatchers (Family Tyrannidae). In Nicaragua, several very similar flycatcher species are found of the genus Myiarchus. Our technicians have their work cut out for them when a Myiarchus flycatcher is captured. Some of them are more easily distinguished by voice than by sight.

The Blue-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia cyanura), pictured here, looks very similar to the Steely-vented Hummingbird (Amazilia saucerrottei). Photo by Wendy van Kooten. 

 Several identification issues exist among birds, and in Nicaragua, one of them is found among two hummingbird species: the Blue-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia cyanura), and the Steely-vented Hummingbird (Amazilia saucerrottei). These two species have different, but overlapping, ranges, and both are found in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Our monitoring allows us to gather information about these two species and begin to understand how they interact. It also gives us some incredible opportunities to enrich our birdwatching experiences: now we know how the bird looks in the hand, it makes the bird seem more colorful and alive when perched several meters away.

The Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) is loved by all Nicaraguans. Photo by Wendy van Kooten.

For us, the study of birds is also a study of humans, because the birds we study react in unique ways to the presence of humans. Also, we humans react differently to different species of birds. For instance, the Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) always evokes a thrill from all who get to see it, and moreso when seeing it up close when captured during mist netting. Motmots are truly tropical birds, too, with vibrant colors in fascinating patterns. This species is common in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, especially because it nests in dirt banks which are abundant. Another species, the Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota), is much less common here.

The Ochre-bellied Flycatcher (Mionectes oleaginus) captured here was a big surprise for our team. This bird is found typically in humid forests, but this documentation shows its presence considerably further westward than we expected.

Most of the tyrant flycatchers feed principally on flying insects. An exception is the Ochre-bellied Flycatcher (Mionectes oleaginus) which consumes lots of fruit and seeds. Even its bill is suggestive of, perhaps, a tanager, and not a flycatcher. This species tends to blend in with the colors of the forest interior, where shadows abound, although this bird is common in at least some habitats.

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The birds of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve I: Resident birds

In this photography by our bird monitoring volunteer Joe Taylor, we see that the birds of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve are truly esthetic beings. These photos were taken on mist netted birds while they were being processed by FUNDECI/GAIA staff, prior to returning to the wild. They show some of the wonderful details that we may never appreciate even as birdwatchers. Our technicians gather data on the bird populations by mist netting which is very important for conservation efforts, but we also enjoy the esthetic experience of admiring the birds from near. The birds were photographed in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, where all of them reproduce. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Lesser Ground-Cuckoo (Morococcyx erythropygus) in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua. Photo by Joe Taylor.

Several cuckoo species are found in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, and they are not, at first sight, very similar birds. The Lesser Ground-Cuckoo (Morococcyx erythropygus) occupies degraded areas, and spends most of its time walking through low brush, on the ground. It is heard much more often than seen, giving a sound much like an insistent police whistle repeating. Folks here call it the "pajaro reloj" or the clock bird, because its call is reputed to be given on the hour, every hour. It nests on the ground, and its existence is threatened by domestic cats. Please don't bring cats into natural areas like this one! The Lesser Ground-Cuckoo is nothing short of spectacular when viewed up close.

Olive Sparrow (Arremonops rufivirgatus) in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua. Photo by Joe Taylor.

Dry tropical forest habitats usually have some grasses and other small-seeded annual plants in the many forest breaks, even when the forest is not heavily degraded by human use. Among the seed-eating birds in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is the Olive Sparrow (Arremonops rufivirgatus). The population here is not well-documented, its only reports to date being ours. We have recently spotted a nest with eggs, and two chicks hatched. This is another ground-nesting species, vulnerable to our beloved pet cats. Please keep your cats out of natural areas!


Female Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis). Photo by Joe Taylor.

Immature male Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis). Photo by Joe Taylor.

The Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis) is the most commonly caught of all the bird species in our monitoring program. This is because we are located in prime habitat for them, in a sheltered area with lots of vegetation and food sources (they mostly eat fruit). The location is used for breeding, where males perform, quite literally, a song and dance to attract the females. Males perform the ritual in pairs, and the senior male gets the lady when she chooses the most attractive contestant. Males take up to four years to complete sexual maturity which is reflected in their plumage. We may catch as many as forty of this species in a single three-day period of mist netting.

Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) and Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua. Photo by Joe Taylor.

Among the emblematic birds of Nicaragua is the Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa), which is quite common throughout the Pacific region of the country. The Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) is considerably less common in most of the range. The subspecies found in Nicaragua has a black cap over the blue crown. Both motmot species nest in horizontal holes in dirt banks, and they catch flying insects on the wing as a principal component of their diet. They are both known as Guardabarrancos in Nicaragua, and the former is the national bird.

Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer) in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua. Photo by Joe Taylor.

Lots of species of flycatchers are resident to Mesoamerica, and others migrate here from south or north. The flycatchers have bristly whiskers to help to guide their prey into the mouth. Shades of your aunt with the bristles on her chin, wanting to give you a kiss. It is not easy to distinguish them while birdwatching. Among the most common of flycatchers in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is the Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer). This individual demands the last word, it appears.

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Birdwatching at Estacion Biologica I

The aquatic habitat of the lake combines with the tropical dry forest habitat of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve to give a wide variety of birds to be seen in a birdwatching activity. Here is a list of birds we saw on a morning birdwatching walk around Estacion Biologica this week:

Osprey                                  Pandion heliaetus
Turkey Vulture                      Cathartus aura
Black Vulture                        Coragyps atratrus
Orange-chinned Parakeet      Brotogeris jugularis
Orange-fronted Parakeet       Aratinga canicularis
Turquoise-browed Motmot    Eumomota superciliosa
Northern Oriole                     Icterus galbula
Swainson's Thrush                 Turdus swainsonii
Clay-colored Thrush              Turdus grayi
Hoffmann's Woodpecker       Melanerpes hoffmannii
Yellow Warbler                     Dendroica petechia
Salvin's Emerald                    Chlorostylbon salvini
White-throated Magpie-Jay   Calocitta formosa
Dusky-capped Flycatcher      Myiarchus tuberculifer
Social Flycatcher                   Myiozetetes similis
Inca Dove                              Columbina inca
Red-billed Pigeon                   Patagioenas flavirostris
Tropical Kingbird                   Tyrannus melancholicus
Chestnut-capped Warbler      Basileuterus delattrii 
Melodious Blackbird              Dives dives
Great-tailed Grackle              Quiscalus mexicanus
Black-headed Trogon            Trogon melanocephalus
Banded Wren                        Thryothorus pleurostictus
Montezuma Oropendola        Psaracolius montezuma
Rufous-naped Wren              Campylorhynchus rufinucha
Yellow-bellied Elenia             Elenia flavogaster
Yellow-olive Flycatcher         Tolmomyias sulphurescens
Blue-gray Tanager                 Thraupis episcopus
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher        Tyrannus forficatus

Photo by Jeffrey McCrary.

Twenty-nine species in 90 minutes, all within 100 meters of Estacion Biologica. Not bad! And we didn't go into the forest, nor did we look near the water. Be watching for a coming posting on our mist netting results, for comparison.

We regularly make birdwatching walks at Estacion Biologica, in addition to the research studies, and we are able to see a similar number of birds without going far and returning in time for breakfast. This list was made with the participation of David Santillo who was studying Spanish with us.

Photo by Jeffrey McCrary.

Nicaragua has plenty of great places for birdwatching, among them is our wonderful Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Come and bring your binoculars. Estacion Biologica can arrange a professional guide who knows his or her birds. Four members of our staff are published authors in the scientific literature about birds in Nicaragua. 

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