Panama is a geographical dividing line where the ranges of many Central American birds end and the ranges of many South American birds begin. Nearly 200 species of birds found in Panama are not present in Costa Rica. The ranges of additional species extend only into southern Costa Rica and are missed on typical Costa Rica birding tours. For this reason Panama has become a popular destination for birding tours.
The preferred places to visit on typical birding tours to Panama are the Canal Zone and the western highlands of Chiriqui province. Some birding tours also visit the Darien of eastern Panama, but these are more rugged tours because of the lack of facilities and the substantial hiking entailed on these tours. It is possible to see some of the Darien endemics by visiting the more accessible San Blas foothills near Kuna Indian lands east of Panama City.
With over 960 bird species recorded, Panama has the highest diversity of birds in all of Central America. Many South American species barely extend into Panama, and the same is true for many Central American species. This is clearly evidenced by the 9 endemic species present in Panama, of which 2 are found only in the Chiriqui Highlands of western Panama and 6 are found only in the Darien Province east of the canal toward the Columbia border. Similarly, all "near endemics" are found either in the Chiriqui Highlands and southeastern Costa Rica or in the Darien and northwestern Columbia. The reason for this circumstance is both historical and geographical. Historically, Panama was once below sea level and the ocean waters formed a natural barrier between South and Central America. Geographically, the truly tropical rainforests of South America do not extend much beyond the Darien, especially in recent times of agricultural activity, while the highlands of western Panama form a natural barrier preventing many species from extending beyond Costa Rica into Panama. The result is a truly transitional avifauna, a unique mix of Central and South American species that awaits exploration by the avid birder.
Endemic and specialty species in both Chiriqui Province near the Costa Rica border and in the remote eastern Darien Province are of special interest. A wide variety of South American species not found in adjoining Costa Rica can readily be found in Panama. Parks and gardens offer excellent birding, while lowland rainforest environments along Pipeline Road paralleling the canal are more readily accessible than anywhere else in Central America. The western highlands of Chiriqui Province, which extend into southern Costa Rica, offer a variety of near endemic and specialty birds. The remote Darien Province of eastern Costa Rica is home to a number of endemics found nowhere else plus many South America species not found further north. The Canal Zone also has its attractions including the most accessible rainforests in Central America. A tour that combines several days of birding in the western highlands along with several days birding in the Canal Zone offers the greatest opportunity for maximizing the species count while on tour. The great diversity of birding opportunities along with the fascinating Panama Canal make Panama a great place to visit even for seasoned travelers who have already toured other Central American countries. TOP
