Bird Watching

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Panama is a paradise for bird watching. Due to the country's location between two continents and its narrow girth, more species of birds inhabit Panama than anywhere else in Central America. In this country, many North and South American birds are represented, both native and migratory.

Surprisingly, one of the sites with the most birds in the country, the famed Pipeline Road at National Park Soberanía, is found just 20 minutes from Panama City. A number of organizations and companies, like the Panama Audubon Society with information of activities and news related to Panama, can help assist in planning your bird watching expedition and maximize your chances of seeing the greatest number of bird species.

Another good reference for the lovers of this activity is the book "A Guide to the Birds of Panama", By Robert S. Ridgely and John A. Gwynne. Revised and expanded edition of a field guide to some 1,000 species in this region. More than 800 of the species are illustrated, most on 48 color plates, of which 19 were newly prepared for this edition. This book made bird watching in Panama much easier, and is still considered one of the best field guides of the region. The book contributed to the increase of local bird watchers as well as those from other countries. Now it has a spanish edition too.

One of the most important companies and places for bird watching are: Los Quetzales Lodge & Spa (771-2182/771-2291), Fascinate Adventures (215-9659/264-4048), Servitur Travel Agency (Tel. 264-3014/264-3029) and Panama Explorer Club (Tel. 215-2330/215-2328).