When we think of top birding places in Panama, Cerro Azul often comes up. It is nestled in the foothills of Chagres National Park. At an elevation of around 900 meters, Cerro Azul is home to a diverse suite of fantastic Neotropical birds and several specialties difficult to find elsewhere. Los Altos de Cerro Azul is a gated community with a labyrinth of quiet streets lined with dense forest and Caribbean Pines. Several notable trails intermingle among the wooded streets. Tranquil lakes are dispersed throughout the landscape. Adjacent to Cerro Azul, the Cerro Jefe ridge (1,007 masl) is covered with dwarfed trees and spread-out pines covered in epiphytes. It is known for its high plant endemism, providing excellent habitat for our avian friends. As you can imagine, picking the top 5 birds of Cerro Azul is not an easy task.
Here we seek out mixed feeding flocks that can impress, led by Russet and Black-crowned antshrikes, and a band of manakins, trogons, forest flycatchers, honeycreepers, tanagers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and so much more. In the skies above, we can see King Vulture, Swallow-tailed Kite, and Black Hawk-Eagle soaring overhead. Even Harpy Eagle and Orange-breasted Falcon are seen on occasion. But several species really stand out, and spotting them always makes for a top day of birding! Here they are in no particular order:
1. Yellow-eared Toucanet
The Yellow-eared Toucanet (Selenidera spectabilis) is a dark-plumaged, mid-sized member of the toucan family (Ramphastidae). They have rather striking plumage and colors. Males have stark black plumage with bright yellow ear tufts, an olive back and wings, and bright orange feathers on their flanks. Females are similar in appearance but have a dark chestnut crown and lack the yellow ear tufts. Yellow-eared Toucanets can be found from Honduras to northwestern Colombia. However, this species can be quite localized and difficult to find! They are rather elusive, preferring to remain in the forest canopy. Yellow-eared Toucanets are best detected by their odd, grating call, which travels through the forest understory. Finding one calling is a treat, as it not only calls, but cocks its tail and bobs up and down with each call! They are often found in pairs or small family groups.
As we walk along the quiet streets and trails in Cerro Azul, we listen for the grating calls of the Yellow-eared Toucanet. Cerro Azul is a reliable place in Panama to find this beautiful toucan. It is often a favorite sighting on a birding day in Cerro Azul.
2. Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker
Panama is a small country at the crossroads of the Americas, forming a bridge between North and South America. Though the territory is small, Panama’s biodiversity is impressive, as it is home to both North and South American flora and fauna. Since Panama has close neighbors, Costa Rica and Colombia, and shares most of its species with these other countries, the list of endemic species here is short. However, in Central Panama, there are a couple of national endemics that stand out, and one of them is the Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker (Piculus callopterus). The Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker is a rather scarce, small woodpecker of the forests of eastern Panama. It is green overall in appearance with spotting and barring below, a red crown, and a notable yellow stripe under the eye. Females lack the full red crown and red malar stripe of the male, but are otherwise similar in appearance.
Stripe-cheeked Woodpeckers can be found throughout Cerro Azul in the middle and upper levels of the forest. They are often found by listening for their loud, single-note, repeated calls. They are rather active birds, creeping up tree trunks and along branches in search of insects under the bark. Stripe-cheeked Woodpeckers always capture our attention with their lovely plumage and movements. They are always a memorable sighting!
3. Violet-capped Hummingbird
Panama is home to over 60 species of hummingbirds. The Violet-capped Hummingbird (Goldmania violiceps) is found in isolated populations along the eastern Caribbean slope of Panama. It also has a small range in extreme northwestern Colombia. Near-endemic to Panama, Cerro Azul is by far the most accessible place to see this range-restricted species. It is a clear choice for one of the top 5 birds of Cerro Azul.
The male Violet-capped Hummingbird is characterized by its iridescent green body, a beautiful deep purple cap, and a dark magenta-colored tail. A striking hummingbird indeed! Females are whitish below with green spotting on their sides. We encounter Violet-capped Hummingbirds feeding at flowers along the roadside edges on occasion throughout Los Altos de Cerro Azul. Cerro Jefe is a great place to find this attractive hummingbird, feeding along the low-lying vegetation along the road. Since this lovely hummingbird has such a restricted range, along with its dazzling plumage, makes it a favorite for many when we visit Cerro Azul.
4. Rufous-winged Tanager
Tanagers are widespread and eye-catching, and Panama has no shortage of spectacular tanagers to enjoy. Their stunningly bright colors attract the attention of just about anyone, birder or not! Speckling the treetops with a rainbow of colors, tanagers (including honeycreepers, dacnis) are particularly abundant throughout Panama, from the lowlands to the highland forests. Among them, the Rufous-winged Tanager stands out in mixed feeding flocks in Cerro Azul.
This lovely green-and-red tanager is similar in appearance to the more widespread Bay-headed Tanager (also found in Cerro Azul!), but lacks the extensive blue on its underside. The male’s wings show flashes of brick red, and contrast with its bright yellow back. Females are more subdued in coloration; the bright red head is replaced by an olive wash, but still shows the rufous wing patch. The Rufous-winged Tanager ranges from Honduras to northwestern Ecuador. In Panama, Cerro Azul is the most reliable place to find this lovely tanager, not only in Panama but through its entire range.
5. Blue Cotinga
Number 5 on our top 5 birds of Cerro Azul is the Blue Cotinga. On a visit to Cerro Azul, we stroll along the quiet streets in the treed neighborhood, our eyes on the fruiting trees for mixed feeding flocks of tanagers, honeycreepers, trogons, and more. Then we spot it, the bright, electric blue plumage of a male Blue Cotinga, standing out in the dense green canopy. This stunning bird is usually on any birder’s most wanted list when they come to Panama. The Blue Cotinga is a canopy species. To to find one, we scan the treetops, particularly in fruiting trees, for a speck of bright blue.
Often, making our way up to canopy level on a tower (such as the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center observation tower) is a good vantage point to scan for Blue Cotingas. Cerro Azul doesn’t have a tower. However, the area has abundant fruiting trees with lower canopies, and they are popular hangouts and feeding spots for cotingas. The Blue Cotinga ranges from Panama to northwestern Ecuador. Central and eastern Panama in particular is one of the best places to see it throughout its range. Females lack the bright blue coloration of the males and are a speckled, light brown color. On occasion, we find young males with their mixed plumage, brown with bright blue feathers peeking through!
Visiting Cerro Azul
Join us for a full-day guided birding tour to Cerro Azul! Only just over an hour from downtown Panama City, Cerro Azul brings us to a beautiful mountainous landscape. Forests of Caribbean Pines and fruiting trees attract so many fabulous birds to keep us busy all day. Our all-inclusive day tours include private transportation, entrance fees, drinking water, snacks, and a light picnic lunch to enjoy in the field, and the guidance of an expert bird guide experienced in the area.
On a day of birding in Cerro Azul, we search for all of these top birds. But there are so many others to see. Russet Antshrike, Rufous-crested Coquette, Green Thorntail, Speckled Tanager, Carmiol’s Tanager, Shining Honeycreeper, Swallow-tailed Kite, Scaled Pigeon, King Vulture, are just a few. With an eBird list of over 400 species found here, it is truly a must-visit place for birding in Panama. Contact us to arrange a day tour to Cerro Azul and discover what your top 5 birds of Cerro Azul will be.
