Panama sits where two continents meet, and its mix of coast, lowland rainforest and mountains concentrates a wide variety of birdlife. Short drives from cities often put you on trails, mangroves or shorelines where many species are regularly seen.
There are 48 Birds of Panama, ranging from the American Oystercatcher to the Zone-tailed Hawk. For each species you’ll find Scientific name,Size (length (cm)),Residency & best sites to help with quick ID and trip planning — you’ll find the full list and details below.
Where in Panama should I go to see the most species quickly?
Start with lowland hotspots like Soberanía National Park (Pipeline Road) and the Panama Canal watershed for forest and edge species, then add coastal areas (Gulf of Panama, Bocas del Toro) for shorebirds and seabirds; highland sites such as Boquete pick up montane specialties. Combining a few of these habitats in a few days gives the best species tally.
How do I use the Scientific name, Size (length (cm)), Residency & best sites columns when planning?
Use the scientific name to confirm field guides and recordings, size to compare similar-looking species in the field, and residency/best sites to time visits and choose locations—cross-reference with recent sightings on eBird or local guides for current conditions.
Birds of Panama
| Common name | Scientific name | Size (length (cm)) | Residency & best sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resplendent Quetzal | Pharomachrus mocinno | 36 | resident; Volcán Barú, Boquete, El Valle |
| Harpy Eagle | Harpia harpyja | 89 | rare resident; Darién National Park, Soberanía watershed, Darién lowlands |
| Keel-billed Toucan | Ramphastos sulfuratus | 42 | resident; Soberanía Pipeline Road, Gamboa, Bocas del Toro |
| Collared Aracari | Pteroglossus torquatus | 34 | resident; Pipeline Road, Bocas del Toro, Darién lowlands |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | 11 | resident; Metropolitan Park, El Valle, Pipeline Road |
| Long-billed Hermit | Phaethornis longirostris | 14 | resident; Soberanía, Pipeline Road, Darién |
| Green-crowned Brilliant | Heliodoxa jacula | 15 | resident highlands; Volcán Barú, El Valle, Fortuna |
| Great Tinamou | Tinamus major | 36 | secretive resident; Darién, Soberanía, Barro Colorado Island |
| Great Curassow | Crax rubra | 78 | resident and local; Soberanía, Darién, Canal watershed woodlands |
| Muscovy Duck | Cairina moschata | 66 | resident; Panama Canal wetlands, Bocas del Toro, mangrove areas |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Fregata magnificens | 89 | coastal resident; Bay of Panama, San Blas, Pearl Islands |
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | 100 | coastal resident; Gulf of Panama, Bocas del Toro, Pearl Islands |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | 56 | migrant/wintering; coastal bays, Panama Canal, San Blas |
| Zone-tailed Hawk | Buteo albonotatus | 55 | resident; Soberanía, Pipeline Road, central Pacific lowlands |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | 28 | resident; Summit, Soberanía, urban parks in Panama City |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | 64 | resident; widespread including Pipeline Road, Darien, open country |
| Scarlet Macaw | Ara macao | 85 | resident but local; Darién, Parque Nacional Darién, Soberanía region |
| Red-lored Parrot | Amazona autumnalis | 33 | resident; Soberanía, Caribbean lowlands, Bocas del Toro |
| Boat-billed Heron | Cochlearius cochlearius | 50 | nocturnal resident; Gatun Lake shores, Soberanía, Gulf of Panama mangroves |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | 96 | resident/wintering; Bay of Panama, Panama Canal wetlands, coastal lagoons |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | 61 | resident; intertidal flats, Bay of Panama, San Blas mangroves |
| Striated Heron | Butorides striata | 40 | resident; mangroves and creek edges at Portobelo, Bay of Panama, Bocas del Toro |
| King Vulture | Sarcoramphus papa | 76 | rare resident; Darién, eastern watershed, Soberanía region |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | 15 | resident; El Valle, Boquete, Volcán Barú highland towns |
| Blue-crowned Motmot | Momotus momota | 38 | resident; Pipeline Road, Gamboa, Soberanía lowlands |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | 18 | resident; Pipeline Road, Summit, urban parks |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | 23 | resident; widespread, Pipeline Road edges, city parks, mangroves |
| Rufous-tailed Jacamar | Galbula ruficauda | 22 | resident; forest edges Pipeline Road, Soberanía, Bocas del Toro |
| White-whiskered Puffbird | Malacoptila panamensis | 18 | resident; Soberanía, Pipeline Road understory, Darién lowlands |
| Black-faced Antthrush | Formicarius analis | 22 | resident; Soberanía, Darién, Barro Colorado Island forest floor |
| Great Antshrike | Taraba major | 28 | resident; Soberanía, Pipeline Road, Darien secondary forest |
| Golden-hooded Tanager | Tangara larvata | 13 | resident; Pipeline Road, Gamboa, Bocas del Toro canopy |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | 17 | resident; widespread including Pipeline Road, Panama City parks, Bocas del Toro |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | 16 | resident; canopy hotspots Soberanía, Pipeline Road, Summit |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | 13 | migrant; wintering/stopover Pipeline Road, Summit, Panama City parks |
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | 13 | migrant/wintering; flooded forests, mangroves at Pipeline Road, Soberanía, Bay of Panama |
| Blue-winged Teal | Spatula discors | 38 | seasonal migrant; coastal wetlands and bays, Bay of Panama, Laguna de Chiriquí |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | 18 | resident; Panama Canal, Gatun Lake, Rio Bayano |
| Ringed Kingfisher | Megaceryle torquata | 36 | resident; Panama Canal, Gatun Lake, rivers and coasts |
| American Oystercatcher | Haematopus palliatus | 46 | coastal resident; Gulf of Panama, Caribbean beaches, Bocas del Toro |
| Wilson’s Plover | Charadrius wilsonia | 20 | resident; sandy beaches and estuaries Gulf of Panama, Bocas islands, San Blas |
| Brown Booby | Sula leucogaster | 75 | coastal resident; Pearl Islands, Coiba, Gulf of Panama |
| Sooty Tern | Onychoprion fuscatus | 35 | pelagic breeder/migrant; offshore waters around Coiba, Pearl Islands, Gulf of Panama |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | 46 | resident; Pipeline Road, Soberanía, Bocas del Toro |
| Slaty-tailed Trogon | Trogon massena | 32 | resident; Pipeline Road, Soberanía, Darién mid-elevation forest |
| Plain Chachalaca | Ortalis vetula | 60 | resident; Soberanía, Gamboa, Pacific lowlands scrub and forest edge |
| Limpkin | Aramus guarauna | 66 | resident; freshwater marshes and mangroves at Gatun Lake, Panama Canal, Bay of Panama |
| Yellow-headed Caracara | Milvago chimachima | 35 | resident; open country, Panama Canal, agricultural areas, Pipeline Road edges |
Images and Descriptions
Resplendent Quetzal
A dazzling highland species with emerald body and red belly; males have long tail streamers. Look for it in cloud forest fruiting trees at dawn and dusk, often near trails and forest clearings.
Harpy Eagle
One of the world’s largest raptors with massive talons and bold facial disk. Extremely rare in Panama; best glimpsed in remote lowland forest canopy and large protected tracts in Darién.
Keel-billed Toucan
Iconic brightly billed toucan seen in forest canopy. Social and noisy, often perched conspicuously at forest edge or fruiting trees—easy to spot on Pipeline Road and near Gamboa.
Collared Aracari
Smaller toucan relative with colorful bill and banded chest. Lives in small groups, forages for fruit and insects in forest edges; common in lowland forests and disturbed areas.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
A familiar, medium-sized hummingbird with rufous tail and steady hover. Bold at feeders and forest edges, common in gardens and secondary growth across lowlands and foothills.
Long-billed Hermit
A long-curved bill and subtle brown-green plumage define this lekking hummingbird. Watch for its curved flight path and cluster of males singing from exposed perches in understory.
Green-crowned Brilliant
A large, iridescent green hummingbird of montane forests with a heavy bill and slow wingbeats. Visits flowers and feeders; easy to find at high-elevation gardens and cloud forest trails.
Great Tinamou
Ground-dwelling, cryptic bird heard more often than seen. Brown, mottled plumage blends into leaf litter; best heard at dawn in dense lowland forest.
Great Curassow
Large, turkey-like forest bird with glossy black plumage and distinctive crest. Shy and terrestrial, usually found in mature forests; often flushed from trails rather than seen at close range.
Muscovy Duck
Large, quiet duck with bare facial skin and iridescent plumage. Wild populations frequent lagoons and mangroves; easy to spot around lakes and slow rivers.
Magnificent Frigatebird
Large, fork-tailed seabird famous for aerial piracy and males’ red gular pouch. Soars over coastal waters and roosts on mangrove cays; excellent views from boat trips.
Brown Pelican
Large, plunging seabird often seen diving for fish. Flies in characteristic low lines over the surf and perches on pilings and rocky shores near Panama’s coasts.
Osprey
Fish-eating raptor with white underparts and dark eye stripe. Seasonal visitor that nests irregularly; easy to spot perched on channel markers, docks, or hovering over shallow bays.
Zone-tailed Hawk
Dark, slender hawk that mimics turkey vultures in flight. Often seen soaring over forest canopy or along forest edges hunting small birds and mammals.
White-tipped Dove
Plump, plain dove with subtle facial markings and soft cooing. Common in gardens, secondary growth and forest edges; approachable and often spotted on the ground.
Turkey Vulture
Large scavenger with red head and soaring flight. Ubiquitous in open areas and along roads; useful for finding roadkill but also common over forest canopy.
Scarlet Macaw
Brilliant red, yellow and blue parrot that travels in noisy pairs or flocks. A conservation flagship species best sought in intact lowland forest, especially in Darién.
Red-lored Parrot
Stocky green parrot with red forehead and blue cheeks. Loud and gregarious, frequently visits fruiting trees and nest hollows in old trees within lowland forests.
Boat-billed Heron
Weird, broad bill and owl-like posture. Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular; look for it at dusk along quiet shoreline vegetation and mangrove lagoons.
Great Egret
Tall, stately white heron with S-shaped neck. Feeds in shallow water using slow stalking; common in wetlands, estuaries and flooded fields across Panama.
Snowy Egret
Smaller white heron with black bill and yellow feet. Active feeder in tidal flats and mangroves; elegant breeding plumes make it easy to identify.
Striated Heron
Small, stocky heron often seen alone on roots and rocks. Patient hunter that uses a “stand-and-wait” technique in shaded streams and tidal creeks.
King Vulture
Huge, colorful-faced vulture with striking white and black plumage. Uncommon in Panama, found soaring over large tracts of lowland forest and savanna-forest mosaics.
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Familiar highland sparrow with rufous neck patch and streaked back. Common in open areas, gardens and agricultural edges at higher elevations.
Blue-crowned Motmot
Beautiful rainforest bird with racket-tipped tail and turquoise-blue head. Sits motionless on mid-level perches, then sallies to capture insects and small prey.
Social Flycatcher
Bold, crested flycatcher often seen on exposed perches along forest edge. Calls loudly and feeds on insects, fruit and occasionally small vertebrates.
Tropical Kingbird
Common open-country flycatcher with bright yellow belly and upright posture. Perches on wires and branches, hawking insects from conspicuous perches.
Rufous-tailed Jacamar
Slim, metallic-backed bird with rufous belly and long bill. Perches in pairs or small groups, darting out to snatch large insects midair.
White-whiskered Puffbird
Stout, chunky bird with large head and white facial whiskers. Sits motionless on low branches, snapping up insects and small lizards in the understory.
Black-faced Antthrush
Ground-dwelling antthrush that walks like a small rail. Secretive but often heard with rhythmic territorial whistles in primary forest.
Great Antshrike
Large, hooked-billed antbird with bold patterns. Hunts from low perches, often near ant swarms or gleaning insects from foliage.
Golden-hooded Tanager
Striking small tanager with bright golden hood and blue-black body. Active in mixed flocks in mid- to upper canopy, especially near fruiting trees.
Blue-gray Tanager
Soft blue-gray bird common in gardens and forest edges. Feeds on fruit and insects and is among the most conspicuous tanagers in lowland Panama.
Bay-headed Tanager
Colorful canopy tanager with bay-colored head and green body. Often part of mixed-species flocks; best seen from canopy towers or forest trails.
Black-and-white Warbler
Neat little warbler that creeps up and down trunks like a nuthatch. Common migrant/winter visitor in forested parks and riparian corridors.
Prothonotary Warbler
Vibrant golden-yellow warbler of swampy woods and mangroves. Winters in Panama, often gleaning insects low in flooded tangles.
Blue-winged Teal
Small dabbling duck with distinctive blue wing patch seen during migration and winter. Uses shallow coastal lagoons and estuaries for feeding and roosting.
Green Kingfisher
Compact, green-backed kingfisher that perches quietly over streams and canals. Quick dives reveal small fish; common along slow-moving tropical rivers.
Ringed Kingfisher
Large river kingfisher with chestnut breast and strong bill. Hunts fish from high perches and is conspicuous around lakes and coastal waterways.
American Oystercatcher
Bold black-and-white shorebird with a long, bright orange bill used to pry open shellfish. Found on sandy and rocky shores across both coasts.
Wilson’s Plover
Stocky small plover that inhabits open beaches and sandbars. Keeps to the shoreline feeding on crabs and worms; eye-catching if you walk quietly.
Brown Booby
Large plunging seabird with dark upperparts and white belly. Nests on offshore islands and fishes in nearshore upwellings; often seen in mixed flocks.
Sooty Tern
Pelagic seabird seen offshore in large, noisy flocks. Nests on remote islands and is often encountered on boat trips scanning the open ocean.
Squirrel Cuckoo
Long-tailed, reddish-brown cuckoo that creeps through mid-canopy hunting large insects and small vertebrates. Often visible and vocal along forest edges.
Slaty-tailed Trogon
Colorful trogon with metallic green back and red belly. Prefers shaded forest interior; often sits motionless before darting to capture insects or fruit.
Plain Chachalaca
Noisy, gregarious gamebird found in forest edge and scrub. Calls loudly at dawn; often seen in small groups feeding on fruiting trees.
Limpkin
Long-legged, wading bird that feeds mainly on apple snails. Slow, ringing calls and skulking behavior in marshy vegetation make it a distinctive wetland species.
Yellow-headed Caracara
Small, adaptable falcon-like raptor often seen perched roadside. Feeds on insects, carrion and small vertebrates; common in disturbed habitats.
