There is a funny story about these photographs of a Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea). I was with a small group of people, including my sister, taking a nature hike to explore Barro Colorado Island in the middle of Gatún Lake, which is part of the Panama Canal. We were standing on a trail discussing wildlife, I think in fact birds found on the island. My sister, who is not really a birder but does like wildlife, points up and asks if that is a bird and what is it. We all look up to a tree limb just a few feet above us and to the side of us. The first photo below is what I initially saw. I didn’t think it was even a bird. It just looked like a snowball siting on the limb. I thought is was a insect or spider web or something. Then the bird moved his head to get a better look at us. Evidently, it too was interested in the wildlife (or humans) found on the island. It just sat up there watching us. It was a mutual fascination society for a short time until we moved on and let it be. One more note, due to the color of the bird’s beak, I think this is a juvenile.
Plumbeous kite, Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal, Panama, January 16, 2009
Plumbeous kite, Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal, Panama, January 16, 2009
Plumbeous kite, Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal, Panama, January 16, 2009
Cool encounter! But the bird in your photos is not a plumbeous kite (Icitnia plumbea) but an Accipiter -not sure which since I’m not familiar with all Panama birds, but that should narrow it down for you. Plumbeous kite has a ash-gray chest and head, red eyes and long, pointed wings that would surpass the tail. Also, you’d be hard pressed to find a plumbeous kite perched on a low branch in the understory as these hawks hunt on the wing and tend to perch on exposed branches (same for Mississippi and swallow-tailed kites).