Buff-throated Saltator

Meet a quiet but not so secretive resident of Kabalebo: the Buff-throated Saltator.

Resident birds (seen on a daily basis whole year long) are usually overlooked. Mostly because they are not exotic looking birds like for example hummingbirds or large birds of prey. But on the other hand they make sure that your neighborhood doesn't look deserted and also keep you company. And after a while you will  also start to notice and recognize certain behaviours.

The Buff-throated Saltator (Saltator Maximus) is a quiet resident, not seen so quite often as tanagers or flycatchers. But when they are in the neighborhood they have this distinctive sound. Another remarkable note about these birds is their white eyebrow and their buff throat. 

Buff-throated Saltators feel happy alone, but they don't mind company from their own kind and from time to time they also like to join mixed flocks (with tanagers and flycatchers). As seen in the pictures you can clearly see that they like fruits (a lot), but also nectar and insects.

The Buff-throated Saltator is seen (almost) everywhere in Kabalebo: near the lodge, forest edge, but also near the river. Even though they are residents I still haven't managed to 'discover' their nest. For sure a quiet resident.

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