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It took quite a bit of effort, but we finally had dynamite views of this Streak-chested Antpitta -- even in the telescope -- along Pipeline Road. Photo by participant Dan Ellison.
A week spent at the Canopy Tower and Canopy Lodge is a wonderful way to comfortably see great tropical birds while escaping the end of winter up north. It is such a treat to be right in the habitat, where birding begins right outside the door or even from the window. We experienced some warmer than usual temperatures, and it was muggy leading up to the onset of the rainy season, but despite some unsettled weather in the areas we birded we were pretty fortunate overall. We had a couple of rains at night and during siestas, but I don't remember umbrellas being opened for more than about ten minutes total during our birding activities.
Both Alexis at the Canopy Tower and Danilo Jr at the Canopy Lodge were exceptional at finding all kinds of things for us. Bird highlights were many and included the Great Tinamou quietly walking through the forest; Crested Bobwhite flushing from the roadside brush; a young Rufescent Tiger-Heron on a nest; a perched Gray-headed Kite across the lake; at least ten Swallow-tailed Kites above the Canopy Lodge; the fabulous view of the close singing Pheasant Cuckoo; a Spectacled Owl perched just above the road; both Great and Common potoos on perches during the day; all those hummingbirds including a White-tipped Sicklebill, a tiny Rufous-crested Coquette, and a perched Long-billed Starthroat; great views of several trogons, motmots, and puffbirds; a close perched American Pygmy Kingfisher; our Emerald Toucanet and colorful and huge Keel-billed Toucans; scope views of a Streak-chested Antpitta; the tiny Brown-capped Tyrannulet feeding young at a nest over the road; a scope view of a Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher from the Tower; male and female Blue Cotingas; Lance-tailed Manakin on our last morning; those large Black-chested Jays; and Orange-billed Sparrow on our first morning -- among others.
In addition to the birds we had great looks at several sloths, Red-naped Tamarins, a cute Gray-bellied Night Monkey peeking out of its tree cavity at us, nearly daily encounters with Mantled Howler Monkeys, agoutis, coatis, and a good number of lizards, and a Spectacled Caiman.
The staff at the Tower and the Lodge took great care of us and prepared wonderful meals at early hours. All of this amounted to a really fun week in Panama. I hope to see you again on another adventure in the future.
--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
BIRDS
Tinamidae (Tinamous)
GREAT TINAMOU (Tinamus major) – We heard these each early-morning and evening at the Canopy Tower and we had a pretty good look at one coming back from the lake at the Discovery Center that Natalia spotted for us along the trail.
LITTLE TINAMOU (Crypturellus soui) – We heard one in the afternoon at Cariguana above the Canopy Lodge. [*]
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis) – We saw a couple of groups fly by along the Panama Canal near the Gamboa Resort.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors) – It was odd seeing three individuals, still in winter plumage at the lake in the Juan Hombron area.
Green Shrike-Vireos are usually difficult to see in the forest canopy, so it was a treat to find this cooperative individual much lower in the forest. Photo by participant Lisa Spellman.
Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows)
GRAY-HEADED CHACHALACA (Ortalis cinereiceps) – We saw a few in the Canal Zone but had great looks at the feeders at the Lodge.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
CRESTED BOBWHITE (Colinus cristatus) – A group of six was heard calling off the roadside in the Pacific lowlands. After a few folks got some glimpses through the vegetation before four of them flew across the road. I circled around to try and herd the last two into view and everyone had a pretty good flight view. I'm still scratching those chiggers.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
Ciconiidae (Storks)
WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana) – We saw several perched in the trees behind the lake in the Juan Hombron area before they took off and magnificently soared against the blue sky. We counted 24 individuals.
Fregatidae (Frigatebirds)
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata magnificens)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – Amazingly we never picked up one of these along the Canal though Dan had one at the hotel the day we all met.
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) – We saw a fair number overall with six seen along the Chagres River one afternoon.
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
LEAST BITTERN (Ixobrychus exilis) – We had one calling at Ammo Pond and Saint got a look at it in the marshy vegetation.
RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma lineatum) – We had a few good views of this nice looking heron including a fair-sized chick in a nest at Ammo Pond.
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) – Several were around the lake at Juan Hombron after a few in the Canal Zone.
TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
BOAT-BILLED HERON (SOUTHERN) (Cochlearius cochlearius panamensis) – it took some looking but we finally found three birds along the back of Summit Pond. They seemed to come out of the thick vegetation more and more as the afternoon progressed.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus)
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) – A couple of individuals were with the White Ibis at the lake at Juan Hombron.
Pheasant Cuckoo can be a hard bird to find until the rainy season begins, and we were fortunate to hear an early singing individual we could track down for a great study. Photo by participant Bruce Palmer.
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura) – We saw good numbers of these moving north on a couple of days near the Canopy Tower.
LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus) – A couple or three individuals passed pretty closely overhead in the Pacific lowlands.
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GRAY-HEADED KITE (Leptodon cayanensis) – We had good views of one perched across the lake at the end of the trail at the Discovery Center. The next day we saw a nest but no one was home.
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) – On La Mesa above the Canopy Lodge, we had about ten individuals soaring about. This is one of the best looking raptors anywhere.
SNAIL KITE (Rostrhamus sociabilis) – We had good views of a perched bird at Ammo Pond. This species was very rare in Panama until the 90's when apple snails were introduced into the Panama Canal and the Snail Kites really took off.
SAVANNA HAWK (Buteogallus meridionalis) – A couple of folks saw one perched along the busy Pan-American Highway but it dropped into the vegetation as we stopped.
ROADSIDE HAWK (Rupornis magnirostris)
GRAY-LINED HAWK (Buteo nitidus) – We saw a few. This is a split from the Gray Hawk that makes it north into the U.S.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus) – A few of these migrant birds on their way back to the eastern U.S. were seen on several days of the trip.
SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Buteo brachyurus)
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) – We had good views of a soaring bird along the Chagres River.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-THROATED CRAKE (Laterallus albigularis) – We could hear several vocalizing at Ammo Pond and again at the Discovery Center but we could not get any to show themselves. [*]
GRAY-COWLED WOOD-RAIL (Aramides cajaneus) – Linde spotted one in the river at the Canopy Lodge just after lunch. It performed well for us. This is a name change from Gray-necked Wood-Rail.
PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinicus) – A few were seen along the Chagres River.
This Rufescent Tiger-Heron must have known he was the star of the show as he perched regally at Ammo Pond. Photo by participant Dan Ellison.
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) – A group of 12 were along the shore at the lake at Juan Hombron.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis) – A fine looking shorebird, our first were at Ammo Pond where I don't remember seeing this species before.
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana) – A good number of dark-bodied adults and lighter immatures were seen at several locations.
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) – One bird was on a patch of mud at Ammo Pond hanging around with a Solitary Sandpiper.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) – One bird was tipping at Ammon Pond.
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla) – This is the only likely gull to encounter in the areas we visited in Panama. We saw several on the Santa Clara beach.
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica) – During our failed search for the Large-billed Tern we saw a couple of these atop distant buoys in the Chagres River.
ROYAL TERN (Thalasseus maximus) – There were about 4-5 individuals with the gulls on the beach in front of our lunch spot at Santa Clara.
SANDWICH TERN (Thalasseus sandvicensis) – A good number, 80+, were scoped on the beach at Santa Clara. This is one of the handsomest of the terns.
ELEGANT TERN (Thalasseus elegans) – We found one bird mixed in with the gulls and other terns on the Santa Clara beach.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
PALE-VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis)
SCALED PIGEON (Patagioenas speciosa) – We saw a few perched birds from the Discovery Center Tower.
SHORT-BILLED PIGEON (Patagioenas nigrirostris) – At least one individual was in the scopes for a brief period at the Discovery Center.
PLAIN-BREASTED GROUND-DOVE (Columbina minuta) – Alexis spotted this small dove perched in a tree along the shore of the lake at Juan Hombron.
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti)
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)
GRAY-CHESTED DOVE (Leptotila cassinii) – This is the dove that several folks saw crossing the trail in the forest near Pipeline Road.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ANI (Crotophaga major) – Sometimes a tough one, we saw this large ani at three different locations in the old Canal Zone area.
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani)
STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia) – It took quite a bit of whistling but we ended up with nice scope views of two individuals in the afternoon at Cariguana above the Canopy Lodge.
PHEASANT CUCKOO (Dromococcyx phasianellus) – One of the trip highlights was hearing this quite uncommonly seen species then approaching it and finding it only 25 feet away perched only five feet off the ground as it sang its quite loud song. This bird is etched on many pixels now.
SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana) – We had a few great looks including a pair at Metro Park that seemed interested in hanky-panky.
Strigidae (Owls)
TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL (Megascops choliba) – Thanks to Moyo, who spotted this small owl on a day roost near the Canopy Lodge. We had tried for it during the windy evening before with no luck so it was a great save. It was tucked into a comfy looking spot in a bromeliad laden tree.
SPECTACLED OWL (Pulsatrix perspicillata) – Alexis spotted a perched bird in the spotlight during our night drive on Semaphore Hill. It was a young bird but had most of its adult plumage.
Nyctibiidae (Potoos)
GREAT POTOO (Nyctibius grandis) – We had nice looks at one that Alexis showed us on a day perch along Pipeline Road. Then we had a better view the next day of another individual near the visitor's center at the Discovery Center that Natalia showed us. always a great bird and what camouflage.
We watched this male Purple-throated Fruitcrow and its mate carrying nesting material into a patch of dense leaves in a large tree near Pipeline Road. Photo by participant Bruce Palmer.
COMMON POTOO (Nyctibius griseus) – This was another individual that Alexis found for us and was probably sitting on a nest on the stump along Pipeline Road.
Apodidae (Swifts)
SHORT-TAILED SWIFT (Chaetura brachyura) – A few were about the Tower and near Ammo Pond.
BAND-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura spinicaudus) – From the Discovery Center Tower we had pretty good views as these birds flew around us showing us their pale rumps.
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN (Florisuga mellivora) – This was the most common hummingbird by far at the Canopy Tower feeders.
WHITE-TIPPED SICKLEBILL (Eutoxeres aquila) – It took some patience, but after a couple of brief appearances at the heliconia flower on La Mesa, this odd hummingbird came in for a good feeding and we even saw it perch on the flowers.
LONG-BILLED HERMIT (Phaethornis longirostris) – This was a regular visitor to the Canopy Tower feeders.
STRIPE-THROATED HERMIT (Phaethornis striigularis)
PURPLE-CROWNED FAIRY (Heliothryx barroti) – We had one hovering along the road behind the resort along the Chagres River.
BLACK-THROATED MANGO (Anthracothorax nigricollis) – We saw a couple or three but the best view was a male at the feeders at the Discovery Center.
VERAGUAN MANGO (Anthracothorax veraguensis) – This species with a very limited range came in to the red flowers in the tree as we were hoping to see the Crested Bobwhite. It gave us good views as it went from flower to flower.
RUFOUS-CRESTED COQUETTE (Lophornis delattrei) – Just above the Canopy Lodge we had a great look at a female, one of the smallest hummingbirds, feeding on verbena flowers.
LONG-BILLED STARTHROAT (Heliomaster longirostris) – We had great looks at one of two perched birds along the road at Cariguana.
GARDEN EMERALD (Chlorostilbon assimilis) – A female made a brief appearance at the big tree where we were hoping to see the pygmy-owl on the way to Santa Clara.
VIOLET-HEADED HUMMINGBIRD (Klais guimeti) – This handsome hummer with the small white spot behind the eye made a couple of appearances in the flowers along the road above the Canopy Lodge.
WHITE-VENTED PLUMELETEER (Chalybura buffonii) – At least one was making infrequent visits to the feeders at the Tower.
BRONZE-TAILED PLUMELETEER (Chalybura urochrysia) – We had a prolonged look at a perched bird in the forest at the Canopy Lodge. We could see the pink feet of this individual.
BLUE-CHESTED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia amabilis) – Also quite numerous at the Tower feeders.
SNOWY-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia edward edward) – Another sharply-marked hummingbird we saw a few here and there in the Canal Zone area.
RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia tzacatl) – These were seen daily around the Lodge.
SAPPHIRE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Lepidopyga coeruleogularis) – A lowland species, we saw 2-3 on our last day of birding while in the Juan Hombron area.
One of the iconic tropical birds, this Keel-billed Toucan showed well from the Canopy Tower. Photo by participant Lisa Spellman.
VIOLET-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Damophila julie)
Trogonidae (Trogons)
SLATY-TAILED TROGON (Trogon massena) – We encountered a few of these large red-bellied trogons in the Canal Zone and at Metro Park.
BLACK-TAILED TROGON (Trogon melanurus) – We had a pair of these behind the Gamboa Resort at the same time two Slaty-tailed were there. This yellow-billed trogon occurs in a lot of habitats including mangroves.
WHITE-TAILED TROGON (Trogon chionurus) – We had good views at two of these yellow-bellied birds along Pipeline Road.
GARTERED TROGON (Trogon caligatus)
BLACK-THROATED TROGON (Trogon rufus) – Along the trail at the Discovery Center we spotted a closely perched individual that afforded a nice photo opportunity.
Momotidae (Motmots)
LESSON'S MOTMOT (Momotus lessonii lessonii) – This recent split from Whooping Motmot was originally part of the Blue-crowned Motmot complex. This species occurs from southern Mexico to Panama west of the Canal Zone. Danilo spotted one along the road on our drive to the Pacific lowlands and we jumped out and got a great look.
WHOOPING MOTMOT (WHOOPING) (Momotus subrufescens conexus) – Our best views were of about three birds at Metro Park before we headed to the Lodge.
RUFOUS MOTMOT (Baryphthengus martii) – This large motmot showed well at both the Canopy Tower and at the Lodge where it came to the feeders.
BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT (Electron platyrhynchum) – Some of us had a close one along the road at Semaphore Hill on our arrival day.
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata) – The largest of the New World kingfishers, we saw a few here and there including one at the small river at the Canopy Lodge.
AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona) – We saw one at Summit Pond after our morning on Pipeline Road.
GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana)
AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle aenea) – Alexis spotted this tiny kingfisher at a small pool along Pipeline Road. A great little bird.
Bucconidae (Puffbirds)
BLACK-BREASTED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus pectoralis) – Two birds were along Semaphore Hill where we first had a back view of one of them before we spotted the second facing us.
PIED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus tectus) – The smallest of the puffbirds we saw, we had a good scope view of this distinctly marked species.
WHITE-WHISKERED PUFFBIRD (Malacoptila panamensis) – A quite inconspicuous bird of the forest, We were fortunate to see them each day in the forest of the Canal Zone.
Galbulidae (Jacamars)
GREAT JACAMAR (Jacamerops aureus) – This quite uncommon species was one of the first birds we saw along Pipeline Road. We heard one call and soon had good views then we spent another 1 1/2 hours looking at everything else that kept turning up there.
Capitonidae (New World Barbets)
SPOT-CROWNED BARBET (Capito maculicoronatus) – Our only sighting was a nicely perched male along the road above the Canopy Lodge. This is an Atlantic slope species that just gets over the foothills into the Canopy Lodge area.
Ramphastidae (Toucans)
EMERALD TOUCANET (BLUE-THROATED) (Aulacorhynchus prasinus caeruleogularis) – We had great looks at this locally uncommon higher elevation species just after we saw our sicklebill.
COLLARED ARACARI (Pteroglossus torquatus)
YELLOW-THROATED TOUCAN (CHESTNUT-MANDIBLED) (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii) – Surprisingly, we never saw one of these large toucans. They were calling in the afternoon when we were leaving Pipeline Road but they were up in the forest canopy. [*]
KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN (Ramphastos sulfuratus) – We had good views of perched individuals from the top of the Canopy Tower on our first morning. We then saw them each day afterward including at the Canopy Lodge. This is a classic tropical bird.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes pucherani) – Our only one was behind the Gamboa Resort.
RED-CROWNED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes rubricapillus)
This young Spectacled Owl was perched right over the road during our night drive on Semaphore Hill. Photo by participant Bruce Palmer.
CINNAMON WOODPECKER (Celeus loricatus) – A pair of these great looking woodpeckers showed well from the top of the Canopy Tower on our first morning. Then we had a few more in the forest along Pipeline Road.
LINEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus lineatus)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
BARRED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur ruficollis) [*]
COLLARED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur semitorquatus) – We heard one calling each morning as we had breakfast in the pre-dawn light. We never got close to one, however.
CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway) – Our only one was near the lake at Juan Hombron.
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (Milvago chimachima) – At least one was seen each day, mostly in open areas such as Ammo Pond on Juan Hombron.
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius) – We saw a male along our roadside stop on the way to the Pacific lowlands.
Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots)
ORANGE-CHINNED PARAKEET (Brotogeris jugularis) – This was the common small parakeet that we saw several times in a variety of open areas throughout the trip.
BROWN-HOODED PARROT (Pyrilia haematotis) – As is often the case, our only ones were fly-bys at the Canopy Lodge. This is a pretty inconspicuous parrot when it lands and is a tough one to find perched.
BLUE-HEADED PARROT (Pionus menstruus)
RED-LORED PARROT (Amazona autumnalis) – We had a few nice scope views of this largish parrot from the Canopy Tower and the Discovery Center tower.
YELLOW-CROWNED PARROT (Amazona ochrocephala) – Three birds flew just above us along the road to Juan Hombron as we walked along.
MEALY PARROT (Amazona farinosa)
BROWN-THROATED PARAKEET (VERAGUAS) (Eupsittula pertinax ocularis) – A local specialty of the Pacific lowlands we saw two of these longer tailed parakeets.
Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)
FASCIATED ANTSHRIKE (Cymbilaimus lineatus) – This was one of our first birds on our morning we walked down the road on Semaphore Hill. Never really conspicuous, we had nice looks in a vine tangle.
Red-naped Tamarins can be quite curious about a curious-looking group of birders below. Photo by participant Bruce Palmer.
BARRED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus doliatus) – We saw both a black and white barred male and a rufous and white barred female in the thick gallery forest along the road to Juan Hombron.
BLACK-CROWNED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus atrinucha) – A rather common species in the forest of the Canal Zone that we saw well. It was also a common voice.
CHECKER-THROATED ANTWREN (Epinecrophylla fulviventris) – We saw a few of these small antbirds with loose flocks in the Pipeline Road area.
MOUSTACHED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula ignota) – One of the smallest of the antbirds, we saw this little guy flitting about overhead before it settled for a pretty nice view.
WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula axillaris)
DOT-WINGED ANTWREN (Microrhopias quixensis) – A quite handsome species, the male is black with white markings on the wings and tail while the female has a pretty rufous underparts.
DUSKY ANTBIRD (Cercomacroides tyrannina) – We saw both a male and a somewhat orangy colored female on our walk down Semaphore Hill.
WHITE-BELLIED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza longipes) – We had a few views of this loud singer before it hopped out on the predicted log in the forest behind the Gamboa Resort.
CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTBIRD (Poliocrania exsul) – We had nice views along Pipeline Road of this forest dweller with the blue skin showing around the eye.
BICOLORED ANTBIRD (Gymnopithys bicolor bicolor) – Often found with antswarms we saw two from the vehicle just off the side of Pipeline Road on our drive back to the Tower. Then we had another along the trail at the Discovery Center the next day. Unfortunately neither were near an antswarm.
SPOTTED ANTBIRD (Hylophylax naevioides) [*]
Grallariidae (Antpittas)
STREAK-CHESTED ANTPITTA (Hylopezus perspicillatus) – On our first day along Pipeline Road we had a quick look at one that drifted back in to the forest. Then the following day, Alexis whistled one in that perched beautifully just off the edge of the road. A really great bird.
Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (GRAYISH) (Sittasomus griseicapillus sylvioides) – One of the smaller woodcreepers, we had a good view at Metro Park.
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla fuliginosa) – Another species that is often associated with army ant swarms, we had a few nice looks.
COCOA WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus susurrans) – By far the most common woodcreeper we encountered both visually and by voice.
BLACK-STRIPED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus) – This beautiful woodcreeper gave us a really nice view along Pipeline Road. The black stripes on the back are very distinctive.
PLAIN XENOPS (Xenops minutus)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
BROWN-CAPPED TYRANNULET (Ornithion brunneicapillus) – We had a great view from the top of the Canopy Tower on our first morning of this tiny flycatcher that is usually a canopy bird and hard to see well from the ground. A bit later in the morning we saw an adult at a nest right over the road where it was feeding two chicks that were singing the adult song.
SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum) – We saw a few but our first was perched on the powerline behind Gamboa Resort.
MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET (NORTHERN) (Phaeomyias murina eremonoma) – A drab colored but interesting flycatcher we had a nice look at two along the road to Juan Hombron in the Pacific lowlands.
We ended up seeing several White-whiskered Puffbirds, a quite inconspicuous forest bird that is a wait-and-watch predator. Photo by participant Lisa Spellman.
YELLOW TYRANNULET (Capsiempis flaveola) – We had better than average views of one in the tall grassy vegetation on our walk to Summit Pond.
YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET (Tyrannulus elatus) – We had nice looks at Ammo Pond of another small flycatcher. This species is much more conspicuous by voice than by sight.
FOREST ELAENIA (Myiopagis gaimardii)
GRAY ELAENIA (CHOCO) (Myiopagis caniceps absita) – We had a calling individual perched overhead in poor light along Pipeline Road.
GREENISH ELAENIA (GREENISH) (Myiopagis viridicata accola) [*]
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA (Elaenia flavogaster)
LESSER ELAENIA (Elaenia chiriquensis) – On our drive to the Pacific lowlands we saw a couple or three of these smaller versions of the above species.
OLIVE-STRIPED FLYCATCHER (Mionectes olivaceus)
PALTRY TYRANNULET (MISTLETOE) (Zimmerius vilissimus parvus) – We saw one coming to a nest in a dried and curled cecropia leaf.
SOUTHERN BENTBILL (Oncostoma olivaceum)
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum cinereum) – This handsome and oddly shaped flycatcher gave us a few good views along roadsides in the second growth areas.
BLACK-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum nigriceps) – This forest species is often difficult to see but we had an amazingly good view, even in the scope, of one perched in a tree top from the Canopy Tower.
BROWNISH TWISTWING (Cnipodectes subbrunneus) [*]
YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER (YELLOW-OLIVE) (Tolmomyias sulphurescens flavoolivaceus)
YELLOW-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (YELLOW-MARGINED) (Tolmomyias assimilis flavotectus) – We saw a few with our best view near the lake on the Discovery Center trail.
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPADEBILL (Platyrinchus coronatus) – This small but proportionately large-headed flycatcher was seen on our first morning along Semaphore Hill.
RUDDY-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Terenotriccus erythrurus) – We had good looks in the drier forest at Metro Park.
SULPHUR-RUMPED FLYCATCHER (Myiobius sulphureipygius)
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax virescens) – Central Panama is the main wintering area for this North American migrant. Surprisingly, we only heard one along Pipeline Road so lets hope the majority had already headed north. [*]
BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA (Attila spadiceus) – Good views were had of this large, always angry looking, flycatcher along Pipeline Road. It's loud and distinctive call gives away its presence from a long way off.
RUFOUS MOURNER (Rhytipterna holerythra) – Plain rich brown overall this unusual species showed well along Pipeline Road.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
PANAMA FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus panamensis) – Two individuals were very responsive long the road behind the Gamboa Resort.
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus crinitus) [*]
LESSER KISKADEE (Pitangus lictor) – Always found near water we had good looks in comparison to the following species at Ammo Pond and again at Summit Pond.
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus) – Fairly conspicuous in a few edge-type habitats we visited.
BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER (Megarynchus pitangua)
RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes cayanensis) – We saw these in close association to the Lesser Kiskadee at Ammo Pond.
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes similis) – Common and widespread.
STREAKED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes maculatus) – We had a few nice looks at this largish flycatcher.
SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris) – A migrant in the area and rather uncommon we had a good view of one along Pipeline Road that showed the distinctive facial stripe.
After a day of seeing a bunch of great birds, we relaxed with a cold drink or glass of wine for our daily bird list session at the Canopy Tower. Photo by participant Lynde Eyster.
PIRATIC FLYCATCHER (Legatus leucophaius)
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus) – Common everyday.
EASTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus tyrannus) – Though it was not included in our checklist session, I believe Bruce saw one on one of our days. This is a species that migrates through from South America and can be quite numerous on some days.
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana) – Always a favorite, this well named species was seen in the Pacific lowlands.
Cotingidae (Cotingas)
PURPLE-THROATED FRUITCROW (Querula purpurata) – We had nice scope views at a pair of this odd species at the Discovery Center. The birds were gathering nesting material and flying into the dense part of larger tree where they were certainly constructing a nest.
BLUE COTINGA (Cotinga nattererii) – Our first was an uncommonly seen female that is essentially mottled gray overall. The we had an electric blue bright male perched in a tree top that we saw from the Discovery Center Tower.
Pipridae (Manakins)
LANCE-TAILED MANAKIN (Chiroxiphia lanceolata) – After we had heard a few we had wonderful looks at an adult male in the roadside trees in the Pacific lowlands.
BLUE-CROWNED MANAKIN (Lepidothrix coronata) – We saw a couple of these but both were greenish colored female plumaged birds.
GOLDEN-COLLARED MANAKIN (Manacus vitellinus) – Our best view was a male along the Las Minas trail above the Canopy Lodge that really showed it bright yellow collar.
RED-CAPPED MANAKIN (Ceratopipra mentalis) – We ended up with good views of one of Dan's sought after species. A gorgeous bird overall.
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA (Tityra inquisitor) – This rather uncommon species popped up about the time we were leaving Metro Park.
MASKED TITYRA (Tityra semifasciata)
CINNAMON BECARD (Pachyramphus cinnamomeus) [*]
WHITE-WINGED BECARD (Pachyramphus polychopterus) – A sharply marked species, we had good views near the Gamboa Resort.
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (NORTHERN) (Cyclarhis gujanensis perrygoi) – A quite local bird in Panama, we stopped along the roadside on our way to the Pacific lowlands where we heard one vocalizing and ended up with nice looks.
SCRUB GREENLET (Hylophilus flavipes) – We could even see the pale eyes but this is not a species that is going to make it into anyones top five.
GREEN SHRIKE-VIREO (Vireolanius pulchellus) – During our first morning on top of the Canopy Tower we saw two of these canopy dwellers. Two days later we had a group of four relatively low in the trees at the Discovery Center.
LESSER GREENLET (Pachysylvia decurtata) – These are quite common in the forest throughout the trip, but many more are heard than seen. We did have nice looks from the Canopy Tower.
GOLDEN-FRONTED GREENLET (Pachysylvia aurantiifrons)
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (Vireo flavifrons) – We only saw a couple of these wintering North American breeders.
YELLOW-GREEN VIREO (Vireo flavoviridis) – In the Pacific lowlands we found these to be more common than they were in the higher forests.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
BLACK-CHESTED JAY (Cyanocorax affinis) – We had a few good views around the Canopy Lodge and at Cariguana.
Panama is, perhaps, the best country for seeing sloths. This Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth was especially acrobatic as it fed in a large tree right outside the windows of the Canopy Tower. Photo by participant Dan Ellison.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea) – There were a fair number flying around the Panama Canal each day we passed.
MANGROVE SWALLOW (Tachycineta albilinea) – Quite a handsome swallow, we saw some perched birds on boats and branches in the Chagres River.
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) – There were a few still flying about the Canopy Tower. Many of them would have headed north already.
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
SCALY-BREASTED WREN (WHISTLING) (Microcerculus marginatus luscinia) [*]
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon) – We heard a good number singing but saw them regularly at the Canopy Lodge.
BLACK-BELLIED WREN (Pheugopedius fasciatoventris) [*]
RUFOUS-BREASTED WREN (Pheugopedius rutilus) – We saw this skulker at both Metro Park and again near the Lodge.
RUFOUS-AND-WHITE WREN (Thryophilus rufalbus) – Alexis spotted a quiet individual working through the vines and shrubs on the hillside at Metro Park and it showed pretty well.
BAY WREN (Cantorchilus nigricapillus) – We had good looks at one of the rio crossings on Pipeline Road.
BUFF-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus leucotis) – We watched an individual that seemed to be constructing a nest in a thick bunch of leaves on the banks of the Chagres River.
WHITE-BREASTED WOOD-WREN (Henicorhina leucosticta)
SONG WREN (Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus) – This unusual wren with a more unusual song gave us a pretty good view along Pipeline Road. This is mostly a ground dwelling species.
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
LONG-BILLED GNATWREN (Ramphocaenus melanurus) – After we had missed seeing a couple of singing birds we had a nice look at Metro Park.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
CLAY-COLORED THRUSH (Turdus grayi) – Quite common throughout but many were seen feeding on the bananas at the Canopy Tower feeders. [E]
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus gilvus) [I]
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis) – A few were seen in the Canal Zone area and again near the Canopy Lodge.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia) – We finally found two in a mixed species flock on La Mesa, hopefully most had headed north early this year.
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (Protonotaria citrea) – Linde got a photo of one on the shore of the larger pond at Summit Pond.
TENNESSEE WARBLER (Oreothlypis peregrina)
Alexis spotted this tiny American Pygmy Kingfisher hunting over a small pool just off of Pipeline Road. Photo by participant Dan Ellison.
MOURNING WARBLER (Geothlypis philadelphia) – Often quite difficult to see on its breeding grounds in the low growth of northern forests, Mourning Warblers on the wintering grounds prefer thick grassy edge vegetation. We saw a couple or three of them here.
AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla) – A female was seen on our last day of birding.
BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (Setophaga castanea) – This is the most common wintering warbler in the forests of Panama.
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Setophaga pensylvanica) – We usually came across one or two each day we birded in the forest.
RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER (CHESTNUT-CAPPED) (Basileuterus rufifrons mesochrysus) – This is quite a common species in the foothills around the Canopy Lodge. We saw five individuals one day and had good looks several times.
BUFF-RUMPED WARBLER (Myiothlypis fulvicauda) – On our first morning at the Canopy Lodge there was a singing individual hopping about on rocks in the river just off the dining room.
CANADA WARBLER (Cardellina canadensis) – A great looking warbler, we had a nice look at one along the forest trails just above the Canopy Lodge.
Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
GRAY-HEADED TANAGER (Eucometis penicillata) – Often seen at army ant swarms, we had a couple of views but there were no ants in tow.
WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER (Tachyphonus luctuosus) – This was a rather common species within forest flocks along Semaphore Hill and Pipeline Road. The males are distinctively black and white while the females are yellowish with gray heads.
FLAME-RUMPED TANAGER (LEMON-RUMPED) (Ramphocelus flammigerus icteronotus) – This brightly colored tanagers, at least the males, were regular visitors to the Canopy Lodge feeders.
CRIMSON-BACKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus dimidiatus)
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus)
PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)
GOLDEN-HOODED TANAGER (Tangara larvata) – A quite pretty tanager we saw a few here and there.
PLAIN-COLORED TANAGER (Tangara inornata) – Very aptly named, our first came to the feeder at the Canopy B&B in Gamboa.
BAY-HEADED TANAGER (Tangara gyrola) – A quite popular species. One was especially photogenic along the road above the Canopy Lodge.
SILVER-THROATED TANAGER (Tangara icterocephala) – We had one bird, with a yellow body, green back and white throat, in a flock at La Mesa.
BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana)
RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes cyaneus) – Good looks of this dazzler were had a few times.
GREEN HONEYCREEPER (Chlorophanes spiza) – One of our first birds on the Canopy Tower on our first morning. The males are especially beautiful.
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT (Volatinia jacarina) – Our first sighting was a male on the fence near the Gamboa Resort where it was doing its distinctive display of calling while leaping up about two feet then returning to the same perch.
THICK-BILLED SEED-FINCH (Sporophila funerea) – We had good views of a female along the edge of Ammo Pond.
VARIABLE SEEDEATER (VARIABLE) (Sporophila corvina hoffmanni) – This species is quite common in edge habitats and roadsides throughout Panama.
YELLOW-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila nigricollis) – Alexis pointed one out at Ammo Pond.
Does this Mantled Howler Monkey have its eye on a particularly tasty-looking piece of fruit? Photo by participant Bruce Palmer.
BANANAQUIT (Coereba flaveola) – We started seeing these when we got to the Canopy Lodge, closer to the Atlantic slope.
YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT (Tiaris olivaceus) – Like the seedeaters, these are quite numerous along roadsides in places near the Canopy Lodge.
DUSKY-FACED TANAGER (Mitrospingus cassinii) – Not one of the prettiest tanagers, we saw a couple of small flocks near the river at the Canopy Lodge.
ROSY THRUSH-TANAGER (Rhodinocichla rosea) – We did a lot of searching for this bird at Metro Park and at Cariguana and finally got one calling back but we could not get it to budge from the forest. [*]
BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR (Saltator maximus) – We saw a few in second growth area at both locations.
STREAKED SALTATOR (Saltator striatipectus)
SLATE-COLORED GROSBEAK (Saltator grossus) [*]
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
BLACK-STRIPED SPARROW (Arremonops conirostris) – This species, more like a towhee than a sparrow, showed well at the roadside stop above Canopy Lodge.
ORANGE-BILLED SPARROW (Arremon aurantiirostris) – On our first morning on Semaphore Hill we heard then got a great look at this brightly colored bird just off the roadside.
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra) – We saw a few of these wintering North American breeders.
RED-CROWNED ANT-TANAGER (Habia rubica)
RED-THROATED ANT-TANAGER (Habia fuscicauda) – A pair of these odd tanagers were making some noise and showed themselves along the trail at the Discovery Center. The male was a dark red color and the female an orange-brown color.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus ludovicianus) – We saw a nice male in the fruiting gumbo limbo tree near Summit Pond.
BLUE-BLACK GROSBEAK (Cyanocompsa cyanoides) [*]
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna) – A few were seen in the cattle pastures in the Pacific lowlands. it looked just like a midwest farm scene with this bird.
This Great Jacamar was one of the first birds we saw on Pipeline Road. We had a wonderful view, then ended up finding many other species in the same locale for the next 90 minutes. Photo by participant Dan Ellison.
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis) – We saw a few of these nest parasites around Ammo Pond and again in the agricultural fields near El Valle.
GIANT COWBIRD (Molothrus oryzivorus) – A nest parasite on oropendolas this very large cowbird was seen well above El Valle.
YELLOW-BACKED ORIOLE (Icterus chrysater) – We heard and saw a few in the forest around Metro Park. They were really singing first thing in the morning.
YELLOW-TAILED ORIOLE (Icterus mesomelas) – We had a good view of a brightly colored individual at Ammo Pond on our first afternoon.
BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icterus galbula) – We saw one in the fruiting gumbo limbo tree near Summit Pond where there were a number of frugivores going at it.
SCARLET-RUMPED CACIQUE (SCARLET-RUMPED) (Cacicus uropygialis microrhynchus) – A few were seen and photographed along Pipeline Road and from the Discovery Center Tower.
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus cela)
CHESTNUT-HEADED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius wagleri) – We saw a few colony trees with the distinct hanging nests of this species. They were regular visitors to the feeders at the Canopy Lodge.
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
YELLOW-CROWNED EUPHONIA (Euphonia luteicapilla) – Our best view was at Metro Park.
THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA (Euphonia laniirostris) – This was the most widespread euphonia we encountered and there were several visiting the feeder at the Canopy Lodge.
FULVOUS-VENTED EUPHONIA (Euphonia fulvicrissa)
TAWNY-CAPPED EUPHONIA (Euphonia anneae) – Quite colorful and handsome we had a few in the area around El Valle.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
MAMMALS
MILLER'S MASTIFF BAT (Molossus pretiosus) – These were the bats that were flying about the windows of the Canopy Tower.
RED-NAPED TAMARIN (Saguinus geoffroyi) – A quite colorful small monkey we had good views of a couple or three watching us from the trees.
GRAY-BELLIED NIGHT MONKEY (Aotus lemurinus) – It was so great to have such a good look at this cute fellow peering at us from his hole in the tree. This species does, indeed, venture out a night to feed.
MANTLED HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta palliata) – Our daily alarm clock at the Canopy Tower, we saw them almost everyday in the Canal Zone area.
WHITE-THROATED CAPUCHIN (Cebus capucinus) – We saw one or two along Pipeline Road.
We saw several species of trogons, but I think the combination of colors on this Black-throated makes it especially attractive. Photo by participant Dan Ellison.
HOFFMANN'S TWO-TOED SLOTH (Choloepus hoffmanni) – We finally found one curled up in a tree at Metro Park.
BROWN-THROATED THREE-TOED SLOTH (Bradypus variegatus) – We had a few great looks at this wonderful creature at both the Canopy Tower and near the Canopy Lodge. One of them frequented a large tree outside the dining room window at the Tower.
NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO (Dasypus novemcinctus) – During our night drive Michael spotted one off the side of the road as it dug around in the leaf litter.
VARIEGATED SQUIRREL (Sciurus variegatoides) – This was the mostly gray-colored squirrel we encountered in a few places.
RED-TAILED SQUIRREL (Sciurus granatensis) – These were quite numerous at the feeders at the Canopy Lodge.
CAPYBARA (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) – The world's largest rodent, we had a good view of one in the marsh at Ammo Pond.
CENTRAL AMERICAN AGOUTI (Dasyprocta punctata) – We saw a few each day either along the roadside at the Tower or at the feeders at the Canopy Lodge.
WHITE-NOSED COATI (Nasua narica) – The first one that was found was on the roof of the shed below the Canopy Tower.
KINKAJOU (Potos flavus) – During our night drive, Michael spotted this odd creature working in a tall tree off the road side. It was a pretty distant view.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 275 bird taxa and 14 mammal taxa