Panama Birdwatching Expedition Report

2026/2/10

This is the first report from our Panama birdwatching expedition, conducted in the first half of January.

Upon arrival, we first headed to the highland region in western Panama. At an elevation of around 700 meters, this area offers opportunities to observe several bird species that are otherwise difficult to find within the country.

One of the main target species was the Rufous-crested Coquette (Lophornis delattrei). As this species rarely visits feeders, we searched for territorial males while walking through the forest. On several occasions, we were fortunate enough to observe individuals visiting flowers to feed on nectar.

The Northern Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus) is another species that is relatively easy to observe in this region. In addition to fruits and berries, it is also known to prey on small birds such as hummingbirds. Because these toucanets tend to roost in the same area each evening, we searched for them toward dusk.

Northern Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus)

We also observed the Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus). In this species, males with a mate possess noticeably longer tail feathers, while unmated males have shorter tails—making their “popularity” immediately apparent from their appearance alone.

**Long-tailed Tyrant (*Colonia colonus*)** with mate

**Long-tailed Tyrant (*Colonia colonus*)** without mate

Another highlight was the Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris). The local population in this area is known for having a more orange-toned belly compared to individuals from other regions, resulting in particularly striking coloration.

Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris)

We also encountered the world’s smallest motmot, the Tody Motmot (Hylomanes momotula). Although its body shape differs from that of typical motmots, the characteristic tail-wagging behavior is unmistakably motmot-like.

Tody Motmot (Hylomanes momotula)

The Tropical Screech Owl (Megascops choliba) was observed resting during the daytime, perched side by side as a pair. While remaining close to one another, they were frequently seen preening, and their calm, intimate behavior left a particularly strong impression.

Tropical Screech Owl (Megascops choliba)

In addition to these species, we observed a wide variety of other birds, including numerous members of the tanager family, making for a highly rewarding birdwatching experience.