This is the strangest bird I have ever seen! It has been sitting here on the side of this same tree, without moving, since it was discovered several weeks ago. It has a look similar to a lizard, but the work crew that first noticed it threw rocks until one hit it, causing it to fly (it didn't move, even if the rocks hit the tree right beside it, until one actually hit it). For a few weeks, it apparently turned pure white, but is now turning darker again, like the bark of the tree upon which it lives. None of the local people (my usual source of information on the local flora and fauna) have ever seen a bird like it before. If anyone has any idea what it is, please let us know!!
(Added later) The mystery has been solved!! Jason Berry of the Guatemalan Birding Resource Center, this is a Great Potoo. On his advice, I googled the bird, and sure enough, there is no further doubt about it. According to Wikipedia, the Great Potoo is the largest member of the nightjar order, and is normally described as "uncommon", but occurs with strong frequency in ares of less disturbed forests. The clearing of forest is the only conservation threat known to this bird. The place we found it is located just beside the main highway, in an area that Eduardo has been reforesting ... it seems like a pretty "disturbed" area ... but it has been there for some time, and seems perfectly comfortable.
1 comment:
The bird is a Tawny Frogmouth, nocturnal by nature, harmless of course, except to mice etc. On Summer nights in Queensland E, Australia you can hear his cry "Mopoke ! or sometimes described as "More pork" in Winter he travels North as far as New Guinea. Often a viitor to my garden, only disturbed by the clamouring of other birds. Nightjar Family
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