For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE.
See this triplist in printable PDF format with media only on page 1.

Black-breasted Puffbird beside the Tower (Photo by guide John Rowlett)
A tour to the Canopy Tower is simply a great introduction to Middle American birds, especially when it can simultaneously serve as an escape from the frozen north. (And don't forget to see the triplist for our extension to the Canopy Lodge, too!) Our trip was especially rewarding in that it combined some thrilling avian encounters with a great group of participants whose affability and relaxed approach to birding contributed enormously to a whole score of memorable events.
Notable highlights included, in phylogenetic order: a roosting Great Tinamou beside the road on our night drive; five Masked Ducks; an intricately patterned, immature Rufescent Tiger-Heron; a fancy Capped Heron and four nesting Boat-billed Herons; an eleven-raptor day (without Roadside, Broad-wing, or Short-tailed!), including a surprising Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle high above Ammo Dump that plummeted about 100 feet in a playful stoop to pull out of it overhead for better views; a cool rufous morph Tiny Hawk that seemed on territory as it circled, settled, circled, and settled, all the while vocalizing insistently; scope studies of a Double-toothed Kite carefully monitoring the activity of an unruly group of capuchins; a most demonstrative Pheasant Cuckoo; scope views of a Common Potoo likely on a nest; a range of hummers, including Band-tailed Barbthroat and Rufous-crested Coquette; some showy trogons and motmots; an American Pygmy-Kingfisher; all four puffbirds occurring in the Canal Zone; a pair of nesting Crimson-crested Woodpeckers; at least one enormous army ant swarm with the usual attendants, including Spotted and, though spread out, Ocellated antbirds; a pair of striking Black-striped Woodcreepers; a first-winter Willow Flycatcher, our most noteworthy boreal migrant; four species of colorful manakins; a responsive Rufous-winged Schiffornis that displayed back and forth before us; great studies of a family of Song Wrens; and flashy Yellow-tailed as well as Yellow-backed orioles. If I've overlooked one of your highlights, I hope you'll at least find it annotated in the triplist.
The only disappointments--besides not having more time!--were encountering zero owls and no Great Potoo on our night drive (although we were strong on mammals, including a wooly opossum, two-toed sloths, and an Olingo) and being fogged in on our morning at the Discovery Center tower. This cost us some early morning excitement, no doubt, including, Blue Cotinga, only one male of which we saw--and that at a great distance as the fog was lifting.
This tour was a special treat for me to do, and I thank all of you for making it so enjoyable. Our trip was unusual in that I had previously birded with but one of you, so it was gratifying to meet seven new friends while renewing the pleasure of birding with Kevin. A big thanks to Danny, of course, for producing all the lovely videos included in the on-line triplist. I wish also to thank my friend Alexis for his sharp eye, attentive guiding, and keen local knowledge. I hope to see each of you on another birding tour somewhere, sometime.
--John
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Tinamidae (Tinamous)
GREAT TINAMOU (Tinamus major)
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors) [b]
MASKED DUCK (Nomonyx dominicus)
Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows)
GRAY-HEADED CHACHALACA (Ortalis cinereiceps)
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
MARBLED WOOD-QUAIL (Odontophorus gujanensis) [*]
Fregatidae (Frigatebirds)

Immature Rufescent Tiger-Heron seemingly oblivious to our presence (Photo by guide John Rowlett)
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata magnificens) Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma lineatum)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea)
TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) [b]
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata)
CAPPED HERON (Pilherodius pileatus)
BOAT-BILLED HERON (SOUTHERN) (Cochlearius cochlearius panamensis) [N]
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
KING VULTURE (Sarcoramphus papa)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) [b]
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GRAY-HEADED KITE (Leptodon cayanensis)
BLACK HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus tyrannus) [*]
ORNATE HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus ornatus) [*]
BLACK-AND-WHITE HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus melanoleucus)
DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE (Harpagus bidentatus)
Gray-headed Kite on alert (Video by participant Danny Shelton)
PLUMBEOUS KITE (Ictinia plumbea) [a] TINY HAWK (Accipiter superciliosus)
COMMON BLACK HAWK (MANGROVE) (Buteogallus anthracinus bangsi)
GREAT BLACK HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga urubitinga)
WHITE HAWK (Pseudastur albicollis)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus) [b]
GRAY-LINED HAWK (Buteo nitidus) [*]
SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Buteo brachyurus)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-THROATED CRAKE (Laterallus albigularis) [*]
PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinicus)
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla)
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica)
ROYAL TERN (Thalasseus maximus)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
Our Pheasant Cuckoo (Video by participant Danny Shelton)
PALE-VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis) SCALED PIGEON (Patagioenas speciosa)
SHORT-BILLED PIGEON (Patagioenas nigrirostris)
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti)
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana)
PHEASANT CUCKOO (Dromococcyx phasianellus)
GREATER ANI (Crotophaga major)
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani)
Strigidae (Owls)
MOTTLED OWL (Ciccaba virgata) [*]
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis)
Nyctibiidae (Potoos)
COMMON POTOO (Nyctibius griseus)
Apodidae (Swifts)
SHORT-TAILED SWIFT (Chaetura brachyura)
BAND-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura spinicaudus)
LESSER SWALLOW-TAILED SWIFT (Panyptila cayennensis)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN (Florisuga mellivora)

Band-tailed Barbthroat showing its barbs! (Photo by guide John Rowlett)
BAND-TAILED BARBTHROAT (Threnetes ruckeri) LONG-BILLED HERMIT (Phaethornis longirostris)
STRIPE-THROATED HERMIT (Phaethornis striigularis)
BLACK-THROATED MANGO (Anthracothorax nigricollis) [N]
RUFOUS-CRESTED COQUETTE (Lophornis delattrei)
WHITE-VENTED PLUMELETEER (Chalybura buffonii)
BLUE-CHESTED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia amabilis)
SNOWY-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia edward edward) [E]
RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia tzacatl)
VIOLET-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Damophila julie)
Trogonidae (Trogons)
SLATY-TAILED TROGON (Trogon massena)
BLACK-TAILED TROGON (Trogon melanurus)
GARTERED TROGON (Trogon caligatus)
BLACK-THROATED TROGON (Trogon rufus)
Momotidae (Motmots)
Male Slaty-tailed Trogon (Video by participant Danny Shelton)
WHOOPING MOTMOT (WHOOPING) (Momotus subrufescens conexus) RUFOUS MOTMOT (Baryphthengus martii)
BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT (Electron platyrhynchum)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata)
GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana)
AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle aenea)
Bucconidae (Puffbirds)
WHITE-NECKED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus hyperrhynchus)
BLACK-BREASTED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus pectoralis)
PIED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus tectus)
WHITE-WHISKERED PUFFBIRD (Malacoptila panamensis)
Galbulidae (Jacamars)
GREAT JACAMAR (Jacamerops aureus) [*]
Ramphastidae (Toucans)
Crimson-crested Woodpecker at nest hole, with Bicolored Antbirds vocalizing (Video by participant Danny Shelton)
COLLARED ARACARI (Pteroglossus torquatus) KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN (Ramphastos sulfuratus)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
RED-CROWNED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes rubricapillus)
CINNAMON WOODPECKER (Celeus loricatus)
CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Campephilus melanoleucos)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
SLATY-BACKED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur mirandollei) [*]
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (Milvago chimachima)
Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots)
ORANGE-CHINNED PARAKEET (Brotogeris jugularis)
BROWN-HOODED PARROT (Pyrilia haematotis)
BLUE-HEADED PARROT (Pionus menstruus)
RED-LORED PARROT (Amazona autumnalis)
MEALY PARROT (Amazona farinosa)
Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)
Red-lored Parrot carefully working over fruit (video by participant Danny Shelton)
FASCIATED ANTSHRIKE (Cymbilaimus lineatus) BARRED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus doliatus)
BLACK-CROWNED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus atrinucha)
SPOT-CROWNED ANTVIREO (Dysithamnus puncticeps)
CHECKER-THROATED ANTWREN (Epinecrophylla fulviventris)
WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula axillaris)
DOT-WINGED ANTWREN (Microrhopias quixensis)
DUSKY ANTBIRD (Cercomacra tyrannina)
WHITE-BELLIED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza longipes)
CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza exsul)
BICOLORED ANTBIRD (Gymnopithys bicolor bicolor)
SPOTTED ANTBIRD (Hylophylax naevioides)
OCELLATED ANTBIRD (Phaenostictus mcleannani)
Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (GRAYISH) (Sittasomus griseicapillus sylvioides)
RUDDY WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla homochroa)
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla fuliginosa)
NORTHERN BARRED-WOODCREEPER (Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae)
COCOA WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus susurrans)
BLACK-STRIPED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus)
PLAIN XENOPS (Xenops minutus)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

Bicolored Antbird (Photo by participant Danny Shelton)
BROWN-CAPPED TYRANNULET (Ornithion brunneicapillus) SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum)
YELLOW TYRANNULET (Capsiempis flaveola) [*]
YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET (Tyrannulus elatus) [*]
FOREST ELAENIA (Myiopagis gaimardii)
GRAY ELAENIA (Myiopagis caniceps absita)
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA (Elaenia flavogaster)
OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Mionectes oleagineus)
PALTRY TYRANNULET (Zimmerius vilissimus)
BLACK-CAPPED PYGMY-TYRANT (Myiornis atricapillus)
SOUTHERN BENTBILL (Oncostoma olivaceum)
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum cinereum)
BLACK-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum nigriceps)
BROWNISH TWISTWING (Cnipodectes subbrunneus) [*]
OLIVACEOUS FLATBILL (Rhynchocyclus olivaceus)
YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER (YELLOW-OLIVE) (Tolmomyias sulphurescens flavoolivaceus)
YELLOW-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (YELLOW-MARGINED) (Tolmomyias assimilis flavotectus)
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPADEBILL (Platyrinchus coronatus) [*]
RUDDY-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Terenotriccus erythrurus)
WILLOW FLYCATCHER (Empidonax traillii) [b]
BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA (Attila spadiceus) [*]
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
PANAMA FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus panamensis)
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus crinitus) [b*]
Lesser Kiskadee (Video by participant Danny Shelton)
LESSER KISKADEE (Pitangus lictor) GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus) [N]
BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER (Megarynchus pitangua)
RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes cayanensis) [N]
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes similis)
STREAKED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes maculatus)
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana)
Cotingidae (Cotingas)
PURPLE-THROATED FRUITCROW (Querula purpurata)
BLUE COTINGA (Cotinga nattererii)
Pipridae (Manakins)
LANCE-TAILED MANAKIN (Chiroxiphia lanceolata)
BLUE-CROWNED MANAKIN (VELVETY) (Lepidothrix coronata minuscula)
GOLDEN-COLLARED MANAKIN (Manacus vitellinus)
RED-CAPPED MANAKIN (Ceratopipra mentalis)
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA (Tityra inquisitor)
MASKED TITYRA (Tityra semifasciata)
RUSSET-WINGED SCHIFFORNIS (Schiffornis stenorhyncha panamensis)
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
Male Red-capped Manakin drinking (Video by participant Danny Shelton)
RED-EYED VIREO (Vireo olivaceus) [b*] GOLDEN-FRONTED GREENLET (Hylophilus aurantiifrons)
LESSER GREENLET (Hylophilus decurtatus)
GREEN SHRIKE-VIREO (Vireolanius pulchellus)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
BLACK-CHESTED JAY (Cyanocorax affinis)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea)
MANGROVE SWALLOW (Tachycineta albilinea)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
BLACK-BELLIED WREN (Pheugopedius fasciatoventris) [*]
RUFOUS-BREASTED WREN (Pheugopedius rutilus)
PLAIN WREN (Cantorchilus modestus) [*]
BAY WREN (Cantorchilus nigricapillus) [*]
BUFF-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus leucotis) [*]
WHITE-BREASTED WOOD-WREN (Henicorhina leucosticta)
SONG WREN (Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
LONG-BILLED GNATWREN (Ramphocaenus melanurus) [*]
TROPICAL GNATCATCHER (Polioptila plumbea)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
CLAY-COLORED THRUSH (Turdus grayi)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus gilvus)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
Male White-shouldered Tanager (Video by participant Danny Shelton)
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis) [b] GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora chrysoptera) [b]
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia) [b]
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (Protonotaria citrea) [b]
TENNESSEE WARBLER (Oreothlypis peregrina) [b]
BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (Setophaga castanea) [b]
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia) [b]
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Setophaga pensylvanica) [b]
Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
GRAY-HEADED TANAGER (GRAY-CRESTED) (Eucometis penicillata cristata)
WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER (Tachyphonus luctuosus)
CRIMSON-BACKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus dimidiatus)
FLAME-RUMPED TANAGER (LEMON-RUMPED) (Ramphocelus flammigerus icteronotus)
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus)
PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)
GOLDEN-HOODED TANAGER (Tangara larvata)
PLAIN-COLORED TANAGER (Tangara inornata)
BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana)
SHINING HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes lucidus)
RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes cyaneus)
GREEN HONEYCREEPER (Chlorophanes spiza)
VARIABLE SEEDEATER (VARIABLE) (Sporophila corvina hoffmannii)
YELLOW-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila nigricollis)
ROSY THRUSH-TANAGER (Rhodinocichla rosea) [*]
BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR (Saltator maximus)
SLATE-COLORED GROSBEAK (Saltator grossus) [*]
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
Yellow-tailed Oriole (Video by participant Danny Shelton)
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra) [b] RED-THROATED ANT-TANAGER (Habia fuscicauda) [*]
BLUE-BLACK GROSBEAK (Cyanocompsa cyanoides) [*]
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
YELLOW-BACKED ORIOLE (Icterus chrysater)
YELLOW-TAILED ORIOLE (Icterus mesomelas)
BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icterus galbula) [b]
SCARLET-RUMPED CACIQUE (SCARLET-RUMPED) (Cacicus uropygialis microrhynchus)
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus cela)
CHESTNUT-HEADED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius wagleri)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
YELLOW-CROWNED EUPHONIA (Euphonia luteicapilla)
THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA (Euphonia laniirostris)
FULVOUS-VENTED EUPHONIA (Euphonia fulvicrissa)

Three-toed Sloth in action beside the tower (photo by guide John Rowlett)
COMMON OPOSSUM (Didelphis marsupialis) CENTRAL AMERICAN WOOLY OPOSSUM (Caluromys derbianus)
GRAY-BELLIED NIGHT MONKEY (Aotus lemurinus)
MANTLED HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta palliata)
WHITE-THROATED CAPUCHIN (Cebus capucinus)
HOFFMANN'S TWO-TOED SLOTH (Choloepus hoffmanni)
BROWN-THROATED THREE-TOED SLOTH (Bradypus variegatus)
NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO (Dasypus novemcinctus)
RED-TAILED SQUIRREL (Sciurus granatensis)
CENTRAL AMERICAN AGOUTI (Dasyprocta punctata)
WHITE-NOSED COATI (Nasua narica)
ALLEN'S OLINGO (Bassaricyon alleni)
Totals for the tour: 213 bird taxa and 12 mammal taxa