Soberanía National Park

National Park · Panama

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Photo © Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Chagres River cuts through lowland tropical forest mere kilometres from Panama City's skyline, one of Central America's most biodiverse reserves sprawls across 714 square kilometres of primordial wilderness. The terrain undulates between dense rainforest canopy and riverine corridors, with elevation climbing to modest heights that create distinct microclimates. These humid lowlands support a tapestry of habitats—from swamp forests to terra firme jungle—that harbour roughly half of Panama's vertebrate species. The park's ecological pulse quickens along the Chagres itself, a vital artery where water and wildlife converge, and where the forest's layered architecture reaches its most complex expression.

Birdwatchers and wildlife photographers converge here for one compelling reason: accessibility married to extraordinary diversity. Harpy eagles patrol the canopy, howler monkeys command dawn choruses, and poison dart frogs jewel the forest floor. The park's proximity to the capital means reliable infrastructure and year-round visitation, though the rainy season delivers dramatic lighting and peak activity. Pipeline Road, a legendary hiking trail threading through primary forest, offers unrivalled encounters with tropical birds and mammals within hours of departure.

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Colibrí nuquiblanco

Bicolored Antbird

Gymnopithys bicolor

Hormiguero Bicolor

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Mielerito Patirrojo

Jacana Sudamericana

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Yellow-headed Caracara

Daptrius chimachima

Caracara Chimachima

Rufescent Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma lineatum

Avetigre Colorada

Keel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos sulfuratus

Tucán piquiverde

Crimson-backed Tanager

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

Tangara Dorsirroja

Broad-billed Motmot

Electron platyrhynchum

Momoto Picoancho

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Caracolero común

Black-crowned Antshrike

Thamnophilus atrinucha

Batará pizarroso occidental

Thraupis palmarum

Tangara Palmera

Blue-chested Hummingbird

Polyerata amabilis

Amazilia Amable

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina

Semillero Corvino

Coragyps atratus

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Calamoncillo Americano

Violet-bellied Hummingbird

Chlorestes julie

Colibrí de Julia

Spotted Antbird

Hylophylax naevioides

Hormiguero Moteado

Northern Black-throated Trogon

Trogon tenellus

Trogón Amarillo Norteño

White-whiskered Puffbird

Malacoptila panamensis

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Tangara Azuleja

Clay-colored Thrush

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Melanerpes rubricapillus

Carpintero Coronirrojo

Long-billed Hermit

Phaethornis longirostris

Ermitaño piquilargo

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Amazona Frentirroja

Grey-headed Chachalaca

Ortalis cinereiceps

Chachalaca cabecigrís

Grey-headed Tanager

Eucometis penicillata

Tangara cabecigrís

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Collared Aracari

Pteroglossus torquatus

Arasarí acollarado

Baryphthengus martii

Momoto yeruvá occidental

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Bienteveo Sociable

Red-capped Manakin

Ceratopipra mentalis

Saltarín cabecirrojo norteño

Crotophaga major

Garrapatero Mayor

Gartered Trogon

Trogon caligatus

Trogón violáceo

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

cacique lomiescarlata

White-shouldered Tanager

Loriotus luctuosus

Tangara Luctuosa

Yellow-throated Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Tucán pechigualdo

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Suirirí piquirrojo

Fasciated Antshrike

Cymbilaimus lineatus

Batará lineado

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Picamaderos Barbinegro

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Bienteveo alicastaño

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Eufonia Piquigruesa

Velvety Manakin

Lepidothrix velutina

Saltarín Aterciopelado

Cinnamon Woodpecker

Celeus loricatus

Carpintero Canelo

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

Tangara Cabecidorada

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Trepatroncos Fuliginoso

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Titirijí común

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Columbina Colorada

White-tailed Trogon

Trogon chionurus

Trogón coliblanco

Plain-colored Tanager

Tangara inornata

Tangara Cenicienta

Golden-collared Manakin

Manacus vitellinus

Saltarín cuellidorado

Smooth-billed Ani

Garrapatero aní

Butorides virescens

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Cuco ardilla común

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Chochín Ratón

Anhinga anhinga

Anhinga Americana

Flame-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus flammigerus

Tangara flamígera

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Querula purpurata

Cotinga quérula

Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus

Cucarachero Canoro

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Semillero Volatinero

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Pepitero Gorjicanelo

Chestnut-backed Antbird

Poliocrania exsul

Hormiguero dorsicastaño

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Picamaderos Listado

Butorides striata

Garcilla Azulada

Nyctibius grandis

Nictibio Grande

Amazona farinosa

Amazona harinosa sureña

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Terenotriccus erythrurus

Mosquerito Colirrojo

Black-tailed Trogon

Trogon melanurus

Trogón colinegro común

Cercomacroides tyrannina

Hormiguero Tirano

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

carancho meridional

Black-striped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus

Trepatroncos Pinto

Streak-chested Antpitta

Hylopezus perspicillatus

Tororoí de anteojos

Yellow-tailed Oriole

Icterus mesomelas

Turpial Coliamarillo

White-flanked Antwren

Myrmotherula axillaris

Hormiguerito Flanquialbo

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Martín pescador enano

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Martín gigante neotropical

White-necked Puffbird

Notharchus hyperrhynchus

Buco picogordo occidental

Western Olivaceous Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus aequinoctialis

Picoplano Equinoccial

White-vented Plumeleteer

Chalybura buffonii

Colibrí de Buffon

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Gallineta Americana

Black-breasted Puffbird

Notharchus pectoralis

Buco Pechinegro

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Atila Polimorfo

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Pitangus sulphuratus

Bienteveo común

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus susurrans

Trepatroncos Cacao

Lesser Kiskadee

Philohydor lictor

Bienteveo Chico

Tityra semifasciata

Titira Enmascarado

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Mielerito Verde

Red-throated Ant Tanager

Driophlox fuscicauda

Habia Gorjirroja

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes pucherani

Carpintero Centroamericano

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Amazilia Tzacatl

Tinamú oliváceo

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Paloma Colorada

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Rabihorcado magnífico

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Paloma montaraz común

Green Shrike-Vireo

Vireolanius pulchellus

Vireón esmeralda

Southern Bentbill

Oncostoma olivaceum

Mosquerito piquicurvo sureño

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Loro Cabeciazul

Passer domesticus

Gorrión común

Tropical Gnatcatcher

Polioptila plumbea

Perlita Tropical

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Copetón capirotado

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Mosquerito Coronado

Brown-capped Tyrannulet

Ornithion brunneicapillus

Mosquerito Coronipardo

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Tirano melancólico

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Reinita castaña

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Golondrina Gorjirrufa

Mangrove Swallow

Tachycineta albilinea

Golondrina de manglar

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Golondrina pechigrís

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Reinita de manglar

Whooping Motmot

Momotus subrufescens

Northern Plain Xenops

Xenops mexicanus

Picolezna Liso Mexicano

Cotinga nattererii

Tropical Mockingbird

Sinsonte Tropical

Dot-winged Antwren

Microrhopias quixensis

Hormiguerito del Quijos

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Bienteveo rayado septentrional

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Batará barrado

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Cacique Lomiamarillo

Ocellated Antbird

Phaenostictus mcleannani

Hormiguero Ocelado

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Panama Flycatcher

Myiarchus panamensis

Copetón panameño

Checker-throated Stipplethroat

Epinecrophylla fulviventris

Hormiguerito Leonado

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae

Trepatroncos barrado occidental

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Mosquero Pirata

Short-tailed Swift

Chaetura brachyura

Hirundo rustica

Golondrina común

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

Geoffroy's Tamarin

Saguinus geoffroyi

White-nosed Coati

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

Perezoso de tres dedos

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus hoffmanni

Perezoso de dos dedos

Northern Tamandua

Tamandua mexicana

Tamandúa norteño

Lesser Capybara

Hydrochoerus isthmius

Red-tailed Squirrel

Sciurus granatensis

Ardilla de cola roja

Panamanian Night Monkey

Mico De Noche Chocoano

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

Ardilla centroamericana

Northern Black-eared Opossum

Didelphis marsupialis

Tlacuache sureño

Derby's Woolly Opossum

Caluromys derbianus

Quichua Porcupine

Coendou quichua

Puercoespín andino

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Venado de cola blanca

Mexican Red Brocket

Dark Four-eyed Opossum

Philander melanurus

Zarigüeya gris de cola oscura

Northern Raccoon

White-faced Capuchin

Cebus capucinus

Central American Tapeti

Sylvilagus gabbi

Conejo de Centroamérica

Alouatta palliata

Saraguato de manto

Central American Spider Monkey

Ateles geoffroyi

Mono Araña Centroamericano

Tomes's Spiny-rat

Proechimys semispinosus

Western Lowland Olingo

Bassaricyon medius

Olingo del Chocó

Leopardus pardalis

Central American Rufous Tree-rat

Diplomys labilis

Conocono Centroamericano

Crab-eating Fox

Cerdocyon thous

Hoplomys gymnurus

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