Costa Rica Birds [now] Unconfirmed

[floraphile]

February 2022, Punta Arenas, CR

1.  This recently popped up as "Unconfirmed", though accepted at the time of submission as Violet Sabrewing.

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/417064891

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/417066331

2.  A seedeater sp. instead of Thick-billed Seed Finch?

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/416894771

 

 

[littlechippy]

Number 2 looks like Smooth-billed Anis.

[floraphile]

5 minutes ago, littlechippy said:

Number 2 looks like Smooth-billed Anis.

Thank you!

[aveschapinas]

I'm not familiar with Costa Rican hummers, but that doesn't look quite right for a Violet Sabrewing; the white on the tail looks too extensive in the first photo and too absent on the second one; also it looks blue/black rather than the gorgeous vibrant purple, but it's hard to know from photos (I often find that purple doesn't come out right). That said, the bill size and shape and overall body shape look good. 

I agree that the second bird looks like an Ani, but I only see Groove-Billed here so can't weigh in on the bill.

[floraphile]

2 hours ago, Aveschapines said:

I'm not familiar with Costa Rican hummers, but that doesn't look quite right for a Violet Sabrewing; the white on the tail looks too extensive in the first photo and too absent on the second one; also it looks blue/black rather than the gorgeous vibrant purple, but it's hard to know from photos (I often find that purple doesn't come out right). That said, the bill size and shape and overall body shape look good. 

I agree that the second bird looks like an Ani, but I only see Groove-Billed here so can't weigh in on the bill.

We did see several of the Violet Sabrewings that day and they were stunningly gorgeous.   It was flagged on ebird, but noone has emailed me to give the correct species.

They were Smooth-billed Anis.  I had just placed the image with the wrong species, and didn't notice when I was posting it here.  That's a bit embarrassing to admit.  

[aveschapinas]

56 minutes ago, floraphile said:

We did see several of the Violet Sabrewings that day and they were stunningly gorgeous.   It was flagged on ebird, but noone has emailed me to give the correct species.

They were Smooth-billed Anis.  I had just placed the image with the wrong species, and didn't notice when I was posting it here.  That's a bit embarrassing to admit.  

Yeah, they're incredible and pretty much unmistakeable (here, at least). It's probably just not the best photos!

Don't be embarrassed! These things happen.