I swear that day I arrived in Panama I died and went to heaven. Those four days were some of the best days of my life. I birded a famous birding spot with my grandparents called Pipeline Road, a spot with more bird records than all of Illinois, and Panama itself has more native birds than all of America. In total I saw 133 species (127 positively identified)! This post is dedicated to just the birds.
The first day we birded the resort, getting a total of 36 species. Behind the hotel I saw this COMMON TODY FLYCATCHER.
The first day we birded the resort, getting a total of 36 species. Behind the hotel I saw this COMMON TODY FLYCATCHER.
After birding the backside of the resort, we went out front, where we saw several species. These BLUE GRAY TANAGERS were very common throughout Panama.
The best bird that morning was a nice COCOA TREECREEPER. Creepers cling to the side of trees like woodpeckers and creep upwards, never down the tree.
Later that afternoon we took an aerial tram tour. We had a guide tell us all about the wildlife in the jungle. We went up to a lookout tower, but it was pouring rain which meant that there wasn’t much to see. There was also lots of lightning and we were on at the top of a very tall metal lookout tower, so we came down early. When we got to the parking lot the rain died down a bit. A trogon flew across the road and I tried to locate it. Then I saw a large bird fly into the trees. I thought it was a trogon, but it was a pair of CRIMSON CRESTED WOODPECKERS! This was a lifer for me and my grandparents. These birds were so cool that we soon had about 12 people crowding around.
Part of the tram tour is learning about the orchids and captive poison dart frogs. My grandpa and I found it rather boring and birded instead. We birded along the Rio Charges which flows behind the resort where we found RUDDY GROUND DOVES, WATTLED JACANAS and a GREEN HERON. Here is a shot of the GREEN HERON.
Part of the tram tour is learning about the orchids and captive poison dart frogs. My grandpa and I found it rather boring and birded instead. We birded along the Rio Charges which flows behind the resort where we found RUDDY GROUND DOVES, WATTLED JACANAS and a GREEN HERON. Here is a shot of the GREEN HERON.
The next day I went on a half day birding trip and we got over 70 species! Our guide Jacob picked us up around seven and brought us to a parking lot. I was a bit surprised that that is where he brought us, but it went well and we got around 15 species in the small amount of time we were there. Then he took us to this road where we saw the majority of that day’s birds. Jacob pointed out this BUFF CHEECKED SALTATOR to us shortly after we arrived.
Then we heard a high pitch call coming from the jungle across the street. Jacob is an expert not only on the birds, but on the calls. He is also very good at mimicking them. He called the bird in and it was one of our best birds of the day, a BLACK FACED ANTRUSH. This is a bird slightly smaller than a robin and typically walks on the ground. It is a rusty color, with a black face and a cocked tail. This was a lifer for both my grandparents and me! We walked on, and Jacob called in one of the coolest and most colorful birds I have ever seen, a VIOLACEOUS TROGON! Unfortunately this photo does not show much color at all.
We got to the end of the trail, and Jacob put his finger over his lips, and motioned for me to come forward. He pointed to two awesome SPECTACLED OWLS, sitting in the trees just off the trail.
Here is its evil looking twin.
I saw my first sloth ever along that same trail.
On the way back we spotted some awesome birds. There were two ponds where we spotted three species of kingfishers and three types of herons. It was great! Jacob first pointed out a nice juvenile LITTLE BLUE HERON, as well as a very rare and bizarre CAPPED HERON. I had no idea a heron this cool existed. I didn’t get good shots, but it’s better than nothing.
Soon after Jacob pointed out a BOAT BILLED HERON, a medium sized heron with a bill a few inches thick. Just behind us I spotted our second species of trogon, a SLATY TAILED TROGON, which I believe is the most common trogon in the area. Before coming back to the hotel, we pulled off to the side of the road. The trees along the road were like little treasure troves full of birds, and I got many lifers. Every time I blinked there was another life bird! GREEN HONEYCREEPER, BLUE DACNIS, TROPCAL GNATCATCHER. I could go on and on for several minutes telling you about the awesome lifers I got that day.
The very next day was the most jam packed birding day of my life. Jacob picked us up at seven and we were out on our crazy birding excursion for 10 hours. This is the day I had been waiting for ever since my parents put Panama on the itinerary. Before starting our all day birding trip at Pipeline Road, we stopped at a pond close to the resort and got some amazing birds. Just as we were leaving the resort, we saw this juvenile RUFESCENT TIGER HERON along the side of the road.
The very next day was the most jam packed birding day of my life. Jacob picked us up at seven and we were out on our crazy birding excursion for 10 hours. This is the day I had been waiting for ever since my parents put Panama on the itinerary. Before starting our all day birding trip at Pipeline Road, we stopped at a pond close to the resort and got some amazing birds. Just as we were leaving the resort, we saw this juvenile RUFESCENT TIGER HERON along the side of the road.
When we arrived at the pond we saw an adult Rufescent Tiger Heron…
...as well as a nice STRIATED HERON, our sixth species of heron in Panama.
After a quick stop there we moved on to the Pipeline Road. Just as we got out of the car, Jacob put the scope on a GREAT POTOO, which is an owl-like bird that never moves. I know that this is a mean thing to say, but man, if I were that Great Potoo I would be looking down at the birders and think I’m just wasting my life sitting on this dang branch forever. The bird didn’t even blink, and showed no signs of life just like a statue. But that’s what it likes to do. Which makes me wonder. What do birds do for fun? For that Great Potoo is it as fun for him to sit on that branch as it is for me to bird?
We started walking, and saw so many birds! At the beginning of our walk we saw these baby Agoutis. They are abundant in the area and are one of the largest rodents in the world. Good thing they are friendly.
We started walking, and saw so many birds! At the beginning of our walk we saw these baby Agoutis. They are abundant in the area and are one of the largest rodents in the world. Good thing they are friendly.
Jacob pointed out this WESTERN SLATY ANTSHRIKE female with nesting material in its mouth.
Soon after, we saw this female FASCIATED ANTSHRIKE. This bird prefers lower and middle levels of the forest and is common but sometimes hard to see due to secretive behavior it moves slowly and deliberately through thickets and tangled vines.
We stopped for a quick lunch back at the resort before going back to Pipeline Road hoping for an ant swarm. I don’t know how an ant swarm is created exactly, but I believe it is caused by rain. Many birds feed on ants and if an ant swarm happened there would be a lot more birds out. Jacob said that there is a chance for one since it rained the day before. When we arrived we heard a ruckus coming from the trees. There was a group of SCARLET RUMPED CAQUICES, and they were acting up. Jacob told us they do this when there is a hawk in the area. In a clearing Jacob and my grandparents saw a GRAY HAWK, but I arrived too late. A little further on, Jacob spotted a rare bird, an awesome SLATY BACKED FOREST FALCON. This bird seldom seen because it tends to sit quietly in the dense jungle. Life bird!
Jacob was a fantastic and very experienced guide and it was amazing to bird with him. I learned a lot.
On our last day we tried the aerial tram again and thank goodness it didn’t rain. We went up to the lookout tower. Just as I was walking up, my dad spotted this type of poison dart frog.
At the top we had a good view of the jungle, Charges River, and the Panama Canal. Since we were in the treetops, I got good views of a PALM TANAGER, a common birds here.
When we came back, My grandparents and I birded from the balcony. There is a small tree that gets tons of birds. I saw RED LEGGED HONEYCREEPER, TROPICAL KINGBIRD, TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD, BLUE GRAY TANAGER, COLLARED ARACARI, SOUTHERN ROUGH WINGED SWALLOW, and more. One of the coolest birds I saw in the tree was this GOLDEN HOODED TANAGER.
When we came back, My grandparents and I birded from the balcony. There is a small tree that gets tons of birds. I saw RED LEGGED HONEYCREEPER, TROPICAL KINGBIRD, TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD, BLUE GRAY TANAGER, COLLARED ARACARI, SOUTHERN ROUGH WINGED SWALLOW, and more. One of the coolest birds I saw in the tree was this GOLDEN HOODED TANAGER.
Panama was the best birding I have ever done in my life. Huge thanks to my grandparents for coming all the way here to meet us and taking me on some amazing birding trips. I have to say the best birds were the Capped Heron, the Slaty Backed Forest Falcon, the Boat Billed Heron, the Spectacled Owl, the Keel Billed Toucan, the Great Potoo, and the Black Faced Antbird. I will definitely come back!
*= life bird
**= not seen by me (not counted in life list)
XXX= unidentified
100 lifers total
127 identified species total
Day One
1. Tropical Kingbird *
2. Tropical Mockingbird
3. Great Kiskadee
4. Clay-colored Robin
5. Blue-gray Tanager*
6. Red-throated Ant-Tanager**
7. Red-crowned Woodpecker
8. Scrub Euphonia*
9. Southern Lapwing*
10. Magnificent Frigatebird
11. Gray-headed Chachalaca*
12. Masked Tityra
13. Palm Tanager*
14. Passerini’s Tanager*
15. Streaked Flycatcher*
16. Turkey Vulture
17. Black Vulture
18. Flame-rumped Tanager**
19. Slaty-tailed Trogon*
20. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird*
21. Keel-billed Toucan*
22. Red-lored Parrot*
23. Cocoa Woodcreeper*
24. Orange-chinned Parakeet*
25. Southern Rough-winged Swallow*
26. Common Moorhen*
27. Snowy EgretXXX
28. Green Heron
29. Social Flycatcher
30. House Wren
31. White-collared SeedeaterXXX
32. Red-legged Honeycreeper*
33. Squirrel Cuckoo*
34. Roadside Hawk (Deedee & Dick only)**
35. Blue-crowned Motmot*
36. Black-headed Saltator**
37. Crimson-crested Woodpecker (2) in forest at base of Aerial Tram*
Day Two - May 18, 2015 - With Guide: Jacob Ortega - Summit Ponds, Gamboa Rainforest
38. Collared Aracari*
39. Pale-vented Pigeon*
40. Ruddy-breasted Seedeater*
41. Thick-billed Seed-Finch*
42. Ruddy Ground-Dove*
43. Gray-breasted Martin*
44. Sandwich TernXXX
45. Mangrove Swallow*
46. Amazon Kingfisher*
47. Buff-throated Saltator*
48. Variable Seedeater*
49. Crimson-backed Tanager*
50. Great-tailed Grackle
51. Yellow Tyrannulet (flycatcher)*
52. Black-faced Antthrush*
53. Scrub Greenlet (vireo)*
54. Yellow-headed Caracara*
55. Yellow-margined Flycatcher*
56. Green Kingfisher*
57. Little Blue Heron (juvenile)
58. Violaceous Trogon*
59. Great Ani*
60. Lesser Kiskadee*
61. Golden-fronted Greenbelt (vireo)*
62. White-vented Plumeleteer (hummingbird)*
63. Blue-black Grosbeak*
64. Spectacled Owl*
65. Yellow-backed Oriole*
66. Whited-Shouldered Tanager*
67. Black-tailed Flycatcher*
68. Dot-winged Antwren*
69. Rufous-breasted Wren*
70. Scarlet-rumped Cacique*
71. Fasciated Antshrike*
72. Long-billed Gnatwren*
73. Golden-collared Manakin*
74. Violet-crowned Woodnymph (hummingbird)*
75. Ringed Kingfisher*
76. Capped Heron*
77. Boat-billed Heron*
78. Blue Dacnis*
79. Great Elaenia (flycatcher)XXX
80. Red-capped Manakin*
81. Green Honeycreeper*
82. Tropical Gnatcatcher*
83. Anhinga
84. Yellow-green Vireo*
85. Thick-billed Euphonia*
86. Brown Pelican
87. Black-bellied Whistling Duck*
88. Striated Heron*
Day Three - May 19, 2015 - Full Day with guide Jacob Ortega
Gamboa marsh area and Pipeline Trail - Soberania National Park
89. Rufescent Tiger-Heron*
90. Yellow-bellied Seedeater*
91. Black-striped Sparrow*
92. Barred Antshrike*
93. Yellow-billed Cacique*
94. Rusty-margined Flycatcher*
95. Common Tody-Flycatcher*
96. Wattled Jacana*
97. Buff-throated Wren*
98. Broad-billed Motmot*
99. Great Patoo*
100. Pied Puffbird*
101. Checkered-throated Antwren*
102. Bay Wren**
103. Short-billed Pigeon*
104. Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher*
105. Long-billed Hermit (Hummingbird)XXX
106. Violet-bellied Hummingbird*
107. Streak-chested AntpitaXXX
108. Black-throated Wren**
109. Olivaceous Flatbill (flycatcher)*
110. Black-striped Woodcreeper*
111. Ochre-bellied Flycatcher*
112. Western Slaty Antshrike*
113. Blue-chested Hummingbird*
114. Fasciated Antshrike XXX
115. Rufous Motmot*
116. Blue-crowned Manakin*
117. Cinnamon Woodpecker*
118. Purple-throated Fruitcrow*
119. Thrush-like Schiffornis*
120. Yellow-rumped Cacique*
121. Gray Hawk**
122. Short-tailed Swift*
123. Black-throated Trogon*
124. Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon*
125. Gray-headed Tanager*
126. Black-tailed Trogon*
Day 4 - on our own —Gamboa mudflats, Panama Canal; Panama City
127. Purple Gallinule
128. Mississippi Kite*
129. Chestnut-mandibled Toucan*
130. Rock Pigeon
131. Blue-black Grassquit*
132. Great Egret**
133. House Sparrow
*= life bird
**= not seen by me (not counted in life list)
XXX= unidentified
100 lifers total
127 identified species total
Day One
1. Tropical Kingbird *
2. Tropical Mockingbird
3. Great Kiskadee
4. Clay-colored Robin
5. Blue-gray Tanager*
6. Red-throated Ant-Tanager**
7. Red-crowned Woodpecker
8. Scrub Euphonia*
9. Southern Lapwing*
10. Magnificent Frigatebird
11. Gray-headed Chachalaca*
12. Masked Tityra
13. Palm Tanager*
14. Passerini’s Tanager*
15. Streaked Flycatcher*
16. Turkey Vulture
17. Black Vulture
18. Flame-rumped Tanager**
19. Slaty-tailed Trogon*
20. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird*
21. Keel-billed Toucan*
22. Red-lored Parrot*
23. Cocoa Woodcreeper*
24. Orange-chinned Parakeet*
25. Southern Rough-winged Swallow*
26. Common Moorhen*
27. Snowy EgretXXX
28. Green Heron
29. Social Flycatcher
30. House Wren
31. White-collared SeedeaterXXX
32. Red-legged Honeycreeper*
33. Squirrel Cuckoo*
34. Roadside Hawk (Deedee & Dick only)**
35. Blue-crowned Motmot*
36. Black-headed Saltator**
37. Crimson-crested Woodpecker (2) in forest at base of Aerial Tram*
Day Two - May 18, 2015 - With Guide: Jacob Ortega - Summit Ponds, Gamboa Rainforest
38. Collared Aracari*
39. Pale-vented Pigeon*
40. Ruddy-breasted Seedeater*
41. Thick-billed Seed-Finch*
42. Ruddy Ground-Dove*
43. Gray-breasted Martin*
44. Sandwich TernXXX
45. Mangrove Swallow*
46. Amazon Kingfisher*
47. Buff-throated Saltator*
48. Variable Seedeater*
49. Crimson-backed Tanager*
50. Great-tailed Grackle
51. Yellow Tyrannulet (flycatcher)*
52. Black-faced Antthrush*
53. Scrub Greenlet (vireo)*
54. Yellow-headed Caracara*
55. Yellow-margined Flycatcher*
56. Green Kingfisher*
57. Little Blue Heron (juvenile)
58. Violaceous Trogon*
59. Great Ani*
60. Lesser Kiskadee*
61. Golden-fronted Greenbelt (vireo)*
62. White-vented Plumeleteer (hummingbird)*
63. Blue-black Grosbeak*
64. Spectacled Owl*
65. Yellow-backed Oriole*
66. Whited-Shouldered Tanager*
67. Black-tailed Flycatcher*
68. Dot-winged Antwren*
69. Rufous-breasted Wren*
70. Scarlet-rumped Cacique*
71. Fasciated Antshrike*
72. Long-billed Gnatwren*
73. Golden-collared Manakin*
74. Violet-crowned Woodnymph (hummingbird)*
75. Ringed Kingfisher*
76. Capped Heron*
77. Boat-billed Heron*
78. Blue Dacnis*
79. Great Elaenia (flycatcher)XXX
80. Red-capped Manakin*
81. Green Honeycreeper*
82. Tropical Gnatcatcher*
83. Anhinga
84. Yellow-green Vireo*
85. Thick-billed Euphonia*
86. Brown Pelican
87. Black-bellied Whistling Duck*
88. Striated Heron*
Day Three - May 19, 2015 - Full Day with guide Jacob Ortega
Gamboa marsh area and Pipeline Trail - Soberania National Park
89. Rufescent Tiger-Heron*
90. Yellow-bellied Seedeater*
91. Black-striped Sparrow*
92. Barred Antshrike*
93. Yellow-billed Cacique*
94. Rusty-margined Flycatcher*
95. Common Tody-Flycatcher*
96. Wattled Jacana*
97. Buff-throated Wren*
98. Broad-billed Motmot*
99. Great Patoo*
100. Pied Puffbird*
101. Checkered-throated Antwren*
102. Bay Wren**
103. Short-billed Pigeon*
104. Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher*
105. Long-billed Hermit (Hummingbird)XXX
106. Violet-bellied Hummingbird*
107. Streak-chested AntpitaXXX
108. Black-throated Wren**
109. Olivaceous Flatbill (flycatcher)*
110. Black-striped Woodcreeper*
111. Ochre-bellied Flycatcher*
112. Western Slaty Antshrike*
113. Blue-chested Hummingbird*
114. Fasciated Antshrike XXX
115. Rufous Motmot*
116. Blue-crowned Manakin*
117. Cinnamon Woodpecker*
118. Purple-throated Fruitcrow*
119. Thrush-like Schiffornis*
120. Yellow-rumped Cacique*
121. Gray Hawk**
122. Short-tailed Swift*
123. Black-throated Trogon*
124. Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon*
125. Gray-headed Tanager*
126. Black-tailed Trogon*
Day 4 - on our own —Gamboa mudflats, Panama Canal; Panama City
127. Purple Gallinule
128. Mississippi Kite*
129. Chestnut-mandibled Toucan*
130. Rock Pigeon
131. Blue-black Grassquit*
132. Great Egret**
133. House Sparrow
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