birdwatching in Panama

Text and photos by Canadian wildlife photographers M.-F. and D. Rivard.

In November 2019, we had a stop-over in Panama en route to Colombia for a short birdwatching tour. We flew from Montreal to Panama City and then went by car to Canopy Lodge located at El Valle de Antón in Coclé Province. We found that this is a good to way to break a trip to South America, as Panama City is a central hub for flights connecting incoming flights from North America to many South American cities. With close to 1000 species of birds, Panama has much to offer to the birdwatchers. This was our third visit to Panama for birdwatching.

From the lodge, we visited a number of birdwatching locations with a local guide, including Cara Iguana, Tranquilla, Carretera a Juan Hombrón, Camino a Las Minas, Camino Mata Ahogados - Altos del María, Rio Indio and Jordanal. It was our second stay at this lodge and we were not disappointed as a rich variety of bird species can be found at close proximity. Over a period of four days, we saw 190 species of birds and were able to photograph a number of them. An account of our other trips to Panama is provided in "Birdwatching in Panama During the Wet Season" and "Birds of the Darien Province, Panama".

Lance-tailed manakin - Manakin lancéolé. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Lance-tailed manakin - Manakin lancéolé

Golden-collared manakin - Manakin à col d'or. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Golden-collared manakin - Manakin à col d'or

Spot-crowned barbet - Cabézon à calotte tachetée. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Spot-crowned barbet - Cabézon à calotte tachetée

Buff-throated saltator - Saltator des grands-bois. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Buff-throated saltator - Saltator des grands-bois

Bay wren - Troglodyte à calotte noire. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Bay wren - Troglodyte à calotte noire

Bright-rumped attila - Attila à croupion jaune. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Bright-rumped attila - Attila à croupion jaune

Rufous-browed peppershrike - Sourciroux mélodieux. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Rufous-browed peppershrike - Sourciroux mélodieux

Barred puffbird - Tamatia barré. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Barred puffbird - Tamatia barré

Tawny-capped Euphonia - Organiste à couronne rousse. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Tawny-capped Euphonia - Organiste à couronne rousse

Dusky-capped flycatcher - Tyran olivâtre. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Dusky-capped flycatcher - Tyran olivâtre

Common tody-flycatcher - Todirostre familier. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Common tody-flycatcher - Todirostre familier

Rose-throated becard - Bécarde à gorge rose. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Rose-throated becard - Bécarde à gorge rose

Cinnamon becard - Bécarde cannelle. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Cinnamon becard - Bécarde cannelle

Black-chested jay - Geai à poitrine noire. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Black-chested jay - Geai à poitrine noire

Broad-billed motmot - Motmot à bec large. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Broad-billed motmot - Motmot à bec large

Gray-cowled wood-rail - Râle de Cayenne. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Gray-cowled wood-rail - Râle de Cayenne

Green honeycreeper - Tangara émeraude. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Green honeycreeper - Tangara émeraude

Blue-gray tanager - Tangara évêque. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Blue-gray tanager - Tangara évêque

Summer tanager - Piranga vermillon. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Summer tanager - Piranga vermillon

Rufous-capped warbler - Paruline à calotte rousse. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Rufous-capped warbler - Paruline à calotte rousse

Snowy-bellied hummingbird - Ariane d'Edward. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Snowy-bellied hummingbird - Ariane d'Edward

Bat falcon - Faucon des chauves-souris. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard from Manotick, Ontario.

Bat falcon - Faucon des chauves-souris

References

Angehr George r. and Robert Dean. 2010. The birds of Panama - A field guide. Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London. 456 pp.