|
The summer of 2005 brought a flurry of surprising sightings of
Purple-throated Mountain-Gem, including first records for eastern Coclé (at Cerro Gaital)
and for Panamá Province (multiple sightings at Altos del Maria). Purple-throated Mountain-Gem is considered a bird
of the western highlands, and was truly unexpected in the central region; the previous easternmost record was from El Copé in western Coclé.
There have been few sightings at Altos since that summer, so it is unlikely that a large population exists in the region. The discovery of this species was one the first of a spate
of Chiriquí highland species found to thrive much farther east than expected. Confirmation of breeding would be a desired next step.
|
|
