Torrent Tyrannulet (Serpophaga cinerea grisea)
29 January 2009, Savegre Mountain Hotel, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica
They are said to be common in appropriate habitat, but we only saw one pair
on our visit. I decided to wait patiently for this bird to return to one of
its favorite perches. It took a while, but eventually I was rewarded with
this photo.
This tiny, kinglet-sized flycatcher lives only along rushing highland
streams and rivers where they like to perch on wet boulders. They are
nondescript but full of personality, often pumping their tails and
restlessly active.
Two subspecies are recognized. This is S. c. grisea which is confined to
the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama. It is quite a bit smaller and
paler than the nominate race which ranges in South America south to
Bolivia.
Panasonic DMC-LZ5 / Nikon FieldScope 3 / 30X WA hand-held (no adapter)