This is a list of the bird species recorded in Panama. The avifauna of Panama included a total of 1020 species as of July 2023, according to Bird Checklists of the World (Avibase). Three species have been added from other sources. Of the 1021 species, 125 are rare or accidental and six have been introduced by humans. Seven are endemic. An additional accidental species has been added from another source.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
Unless otherwise noted, the species on this list are considered to occur regularly in Panama as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence. The tags and notes of population status are from Bird Checklists of the World.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Panama (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Panama (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Panama as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Screamers Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anhimidae
The screamers are a small family of birds related to the ducks. They are large, bulky birds, with a small downy head, long legs, and large feet which are only partially webbed. They have large spurs on their wings which are used in fights over mates and in territorial disputes.
Northern screamer, Chauna chavaria (A)
Tinamous
Order: TinamiformesFamily: Tinamidae
The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of birds. Although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, they have no close relatives and are classified as a single family, Tinamidae, within their own order, the Tinamiformes. They are distantly related to the ratites (order Struthioniformes) which includes the rheas, emu, and kiwis.
Highland tinamou, Nothocercus bonapartei Great tinamou, Tinamus major (near-threatened) Little tinamou, Crypturellus soui Choco tinamou, Crypturellus kerriae (vulnerable)
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata (A) Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Comb duck, Sarkidiornis sylvicola Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A) Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus
Guans, chachalacas, and curassows
Order: GalliformesFamily: Cracidae
The Cracidae are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments.
Gray-headed chachalaca, Ortalis cinereiceps Baudo guan, Penelope ortoni (A) (endangered) Crested guan, Penelope purpurascens Black guan, Chamaepetes unicolor Great curassow, Crax rubra (vulnerable)
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quail are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
Tawny-faced quail, Rhynchortyx cinctus Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus Marbled wood-quail, Odontophorus gujanensis (near-threatened) Black-eared wood-quail, Odontophorus melanotis Tacarcuna wood-quail, Odontophorus dialeucos (A) (vulnerable) Black-breasted wood-quail, Odontophorus leucolaemus Spotted wood-quail, Odontophorus guttatus
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (A) (vulnerable)
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Pale-vented pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis Scaled pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala (near-threatened) Red-billed pigeon, Patagioenas flavirostris (A) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Plumbeous pigeon, Patagioenas plumbea Ruddy pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea Short-billed pigeon, Patagioenas nigrirostris Dusky pigeon, Patagioenas goodsoni (A) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) (A) Inca dove, Columbina inca (A) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Plain-breasted ground dove, Columbina minuta Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa Maroon-chested ground dove, Paraclaravis mondetoura Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana Violaceous quail-dove, Geotrygon violacea Olive-backed quail-dove, Leptotrygon veraguensis White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi Gray-chested dove, Leptotila cassinii Gray-headed dove, Leptotila plumbeiceps Buff-fronted quail-dove, Zentrygon costaricensis Purplish-backed quail-dove, Zentrygon lawrencii Chiriqui quail-dove, Zentrygon chiriquensis Russet-crowned quail-dove, Zentrygon goldmani (near-threatened) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata (A) Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Greater ani, Crotophaga major Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris Striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia Pheasant cuckoo, Dromococcyx phasianellus Rufous-vented ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus geoffroyi Little cuckoo, Coccycua minuta Dwarf cuckoo, Coccycua pumila (A) Squirrel cuckoo, Piaya cayana Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus (A) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Pearly-breasted cuckoo, Coccyzus euleri Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus Gray-capped cuckoo, Coccyzus lansbergi (A)
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Short-tailed nighthawk, Lurocalis semitorquatus Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis Ocellated poorwill, Nyctiphrynus ocellatus (A) Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (near-threatened) Rufous nightjar, Antrostomus rufus Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (A) (near-threatened) Dusky nightjar, Antrostomus saturatus White-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis cayennensis
Oilbird Order: SteatornithiformesFamily: Steatornithidae
The oilbird is a slim, long-winged bird distantly related to the nightjars. It is nocturnal and a specialist feeder on the fruit of the oil palm.
Oilbird, Steatornis caripensis (A)
Potoos Order: NyctibiiformesFamily: Nyctibiidae
The potoos (sometimes called poor-me-ones) are large near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are nocturnal insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars.
Great potoo, Nyctibius grandis Common potoo, Nyctibius griseus
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger (A) (vulnerable) White-chinned swift, Cypseloides cryptus (A) Spot-fronted swift, Cypseloides cherriei (A) (population data deficient) Chestnut-collared swift, Streptoprocne rutila White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris Gray-rumped swift, Chaetura cinereiventris Band-rumped swift, Chaetura spinicaudus Costa Rican swift, Chaetura fumosa (A) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (vulnerable) Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi Chapman's swift, Chaetura chapmani (A) Sick's swift, Chaetura meridionalis (A) Short-tailed swift, Chaetura brachyura Lesser swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila cayennensis
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
White-necked jacobin, Florisuga mellivora White-tipped sicklebill, Eutoxeres aquila Bronzy hermit, Glaucis aeneus Rufous-breasted hermit, Glaucis hirsutus Band-tailed barbthroat, Threnetes ruckeri White-whiskered hermit, Phaethornis yaruqui (A) (not on the AOS Check-list) Green hermit, Phaethornis guy Long-billed hermit, Phaethornis longirostris Pale-bellied hermit, Phaethornis anthophilus Stripe-throated hermit, Phaethornis striigularis Green-fronted lancebill, Doryfera ludovicae Brown violetear, Colibri delphinae Lesser violetear, Colibri cyanotus Tooth-billed hummingbird, Androdon aequatorialis Purple-crowned fairy, Heliothryx barroti Ruby-topaz hummingbird, Chrysolampis mosquitus (A) Green-breasted mango, Anthracothorax prevostii Black-throated mango, Anthracothorax nigricollis Veraguan mango, Anthracothorax veraguensis Green thorntail, Discosura conversii Rufous-crested coquette, Lophornis delattrei White-crested coquette, Lophornis adorabilis Greenish puffleg, Haplophaedia aureliae Green-crowned brilliant, Heliodoxa jacula Talamanca hummingbird, Eugenes spectabilis Fiery-throated hummingbird, Panterpe insignis Long-billed starthroat, Heliomaster longirostris Plain-capped starthroat, Heliomaster constantii (A) White-bellied mountain-gem, Lampornis hemileucus Purple-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis calolaemus White-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis castaneoventris Magenta-throated woodstar, Philodice bryantae Purple-throated woodstar, Philodice mitchellii Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (A) Volcano hummingbird, Selasphorus flammula Scintillant hummingbird, Selasphorus scintilla Glow-throated hummingbird, Selasphorus ardens (E) (endangered) Garden emerald, Chlorostilbon assimilis Violet-headed hummingbird, Klais guimeti Violet sabrewing, Campylopterus hemileucurus Bronze-tailed plumeleteer, Chalybura urochrysia White-vented plumeleteer, Chalybura buffonii Crowned woodnymph, Thalurania colombica Snowcap, Microchera albocoronata White-tailed emerald, Microchera chionura Violet-capped hummingbird, Goldmania violiceps Pirre hummingbird, Goldmania bella (near-threatened) Stripe-tailed hummingbird, Eupherusa eximia Black-bellied hummingbird, Eupherusa nigriventris Scaly-breasted hummingbird, Phaeochroa cuvierii Snowy-bellied hummingbird, Saucerottia edward Rufous-tailed hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl