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Birding in Panama, Central America
By Matt Landau
Panama is a birder’s paradise. From walking the trails of its numerous jungle canopies, to exploring the paths of Metropolitan Park (located within Panama City limits), to even simply meandering around Panama City itself, you are bound to be impressed by the country’s aviary array.
Sitting on the rooftop deck of a popular hotel in Panama City, I saw what appeared to be two bullets, whiz past my head. I ducked and shouted that someone had a gun, but after asking the experienced birder beside me they were, we investigated and discovered them to be masked tityras: velvet red heads and a light gray wash on their backs. I couldn’t believe these kinds of tropical species were hanging out, like me, at the downtown hotel pool deck!
This was not the first time I had seen a rare bird on the roof deck before. As almost every time I’m up there, a new and colorful flying friend appears in what seems like some sort of show. They’ll sit on a palm tree branch, chirp a little bit as if to call my name, then fly off with the same swiftness they arrived. I’ve seen a gamut of birds up there this way: Blue-crowned Manakins, Green Shrike-Vireos, Rosy Thrush-Tanagers, Slate-colored Grosbeaks. They’re all there, just hanging out waiting for their day to unfold.
I was up in the mountainous region of Boquete last weekend when I saw three quetzals. The Trifectors I called them. I had never before seen a quetzal, including all my time in Costa Rica where you’re supposed to be able to see them left and right. These three quetzals though were just hanging out, doing this absurdly acrobatic reach that they’re known for. They were so close that I felt like I could reach up and touch them: you know, tap them on the back and ask why they’re such Machiavellian little creatures. I snapped several photos and left with a little tingle in my heart.
I have lots of birding friends who come to visit all the time and they agree: Panama is an unknown and unexpected birders paradise. My favorite place to catch views is at The Canopy Tower: this beautiful structure reaching up from dense jungle. The views are outrageous and it was there that I saw my first Crested Owl, a bird that I have the utmost respect for. Kingbirds float around this place all the time, as do various other rare birds that you’d never expect to be fluttering so close to cosmopolitan Panama City.
Because tourism in Panama is not fully booming, you can still find tremendous deals and if you’re like me, you’ll appreciate being one of the only birders in the area. Regions like Boquete, Volcan, El Valle, and various other mountainous regions can offer tremendous birding experiences not yet exploited by development or loud foreigners. Try it out, and you may see me there too, with binoculars around my neck and a guide wedged beneath my belt. Simply enjoying the scene.
Matt Landau is a strong individual, his weekends spent bending spoons and boards. He is on a permanent Panama vacation and he lives on Panama Land
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