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This page lists books about birds and birdwatching in Panama.

The books are arranged by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.

Central America

Central America

For bird books about Central American countries see:

Belize
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama

Also see:

Mexico

Panama Birds: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species

James Kavanagh and Raymond Leung

2016

"This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species and includes a map featuring prominent bird-viewing areas. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by visitors and residents alike."

Una Guía Ornitológica y Cultural a las Aves de Gunayala

An Ornithological and Cultural Guide to the Birds of Gunayala

Mónica Martínez Mauri, George R Angehr, Daniel Buitrago Rosas

Bilingual: Spanish / English

2015

"The book includes ornithological and ethnographical information about the birds that live permanently and temporarily in the western part of the Gunayala reserve. It has been created with the intention of promoting scientific knowledge about birds, as well as tourism activities involving birding that are responsible and sustainable. To facilitate an introduction to the birdlife of Gunayala, this book includes a checklist of the species identified in the comarca, with their scientific and popular names (in Spanish, Dulegaya and English). In addition, this publication includes four stories showing the cultural presence of birds in myths and rituals, the criteria that establish bird ethno-classifications, and the many local uses of bird."

Panama Birds: Western Panama

Rainforest Publications

2014

A laminated fold-out guide that covers over 250 species found in Western Panama.

Panama: Wildlife Guide: Foldout Guide

Rainforest Publications

2011

"Laminated field guide with illustrations of common mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds found in Panama. Species names are given in English, Spanish, and Latin."

The Birds of Panama: A Field Guide

George R. Angehr and Robert Dean

2010

"The isthmus of Panama, where North and South America meet, hosts more bird species than all of North America. More accessible than ever to birdwatchers and other ecotourists, the country has become a premier neotropical birding and nature tourism destination in recent years. The Birds of Panama will be an essential tool for the new generation of birders traveling in search of Panama's spectacular avifauna. This user-friendly, portable, and affordable identification guide features: large color illustrations of more than 900 species; the first range maps published to show the distribution of Panama's birds; concise text that describes field marks for identification, as well as habitat, behavior, and vocalizations; range maps and species accounts face illustration pages for quick, easy reference; the inclusion of North American migrants and seabirds, as well as female and juvenile plumage variations; and an up-to-date species list for the country that reflects recent additions, taxonomic splits, and other changes in classification. Panama's unique geography, small size, and varied habitats make it possible to see a vast diversity of birds within a short time. Its western and central areas harbor representatives of species found in Central America; species characteristic of South America may be found in the east. In the winter, birds from northern climes are commonly found in Panama as migrants. This is the one field guide the novice or experienced birder needs to identify birds in the field in Panama's diverse habitats."

A Bird-Finding Guide to Panama

George R. Angehr, Dodge Engleman and Lorna Engleman

2008

"A Bird-Finding Guide to Panama is an essential tool for anyone traveling in search of Panama's spectacular birds and natural attractions. With more than 970 species and a growing infrastructure of good roads, eco-lodges, and restaurants, Panama is a premier birding and nature tourism destination in the neotropics. The country's unique geography, small size, and varied habitats make it easy to see a vast diversity of birds within a short time. The isthmus is a crossroads for the hemisphere's birdlife - Panama's varied avifauna includes such Central American specialties as the Resplendent Quetzal in its western highlands, while in the east, in San Blas and the Darien, species more characteristic of South America, such as the Blue-and-yellow Macaw, are found. Divided into three geographic sections (Canal Area, Eastern Panama, and Western Panama), this bird-finding guide provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on Panama's best birding sites. Features include detailed site descriptions, directions, road and trail maps, and bird lists, as well as listings of birder-friendly hotels and restaurants. In addition to a comprehensive species list for the country, the book also contains information on where to find more than 360 species of special interest."

Panama Wildlife Guides: Birds

2008

"This 14 panelled concertina style guide contains over 250 bird species that can be seen throughout Panama. It encompasses all the life zones and is accompanied by the English and Spanish common name as well as the scientific name of each individual species."

Panama Birds: Western Panama

2008

"Rainforest Publications' Fold-Out Field Guides are designed to slip into your pocket so that you can easily access our field guides and identify the critters you see while on your walk, hikes, and excursions through Panama. The fold out pocket guides are approximately 24" by 8.75" (61 cm by 22 cm) when spread flat, and contain twelve 9 cm by 22 cm "pages" plus a front and back cover pages. When folded, they are only approx. 3.5" by 8.75" (9 cm by 22 cm) and easily fit into your pocket."

Panama Birds: Central Panama

2008

"Rainforest Publications' Fold-Out Field Guides are designed to slip into your pocket so that you can easily access our field guides and identify the critters you see while on your walk, hikes, and excursions through Panama. The fold out pocket guides are approximately 24" by 8.75" (61 cm by 22 cm) when spread flat, and contain twelve 9 cm by 22 cm "pages" plus a front and back cover pages. When folded, they are only approx. 3.5" by 8.75" (9 cm by 22 cm) and easily fit into your pocket."

The Birds of the Republic of Panama, Part 5: Gazetteer and Bibliography

Storrs L. Olson and Deborah C. Siegel

2008

Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Panama

George R. Angehr

2006

"This is the most up-to-date lists of birds found in the Republic of Panama. It includes abundance and distribution information for 972 species of birds. It includes 33 species newly recorded since the publication of Ridgley and Gwynne's "Guide to the Birds of Panama" (1989). This checklist includes English, Spanish and scientific names, breeding and migrant status, habitat preferences, and the probability of finding each species in ten different regions of Panama."

Where to Find Birds in Panama: A Site Guide for Birders

George R. Angehr, Dodge Engleman and Lorna Engleman

2006

"This is a site guide for birders. It includes maps, directions and bird lists for the best birding spots in the Republic of Panama. More than 970 bird species can be found in Panama, and many of the best birding areas can be reached by good roads. This new guide provides comprehensive information on Panama's best birding sites, including detailed directions, trails, bird lists, hotels and restaurants for each area."

An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds Panama / Guía de Campo Ilustrada de las Aves de Panama

Ernesto Ponce and Giselle Muschett

Bilingual: English/Spanish

2006

A Guide to the Common Birds of Panama City

Jorge Ventocilla

Smithsonian/Panama Audubon Society

2004

Directorio De Areas Importantes Para Aves En Panama / Directory of Important Bird Areas in Panama

George R. Angehr

2003

"This is a comprehensive directory of the most important sites for bird conservation in Panama, based on original investigation and on historical and more recent information on bird distribution."

Watching Wildlife: Central America

Luke Hunter and David Andrew

2002

"Aimed at experts and beginners, this guide covers the wildlife of Belize, Costa Rica and Panama. The colour photographs highlight the region's variety of mammals, birds and reptiles."

Travel and Site Guide to Birds of Costa Rica: With Side Trips to Panama and Nicaragua

Aaron D. Sekerak

1996

Costa Rica and Panama: The Best Birding Locations

Dennis W.Rogers

Cinclus

1996

Panama: Specialities and Less-Visited Sites

Dave Sargeant

A guide to birdwatching sites.

A Guide to the Birds of Panama with Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras

Robert S. Ridgely and John A. Gwynne

2nd edition

1989

"In the second edition, published in 1989, the authors expanded information on the birds of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras: approximately 200 new species were added to the material in the 1976 edition. Over 300 additional species, some of them Panamanian, were illustrated. Sixteen new plates were added, and three of the original plates were replaced by improved versions. Throughout the book changes were made to accommodate the explosion in knowledge of the birds of Panama and nearby areas and of neotropical birds in general. The basic sequence and systematics of the AOU 1983 Check-list were adopted. Also included in the revised edition was expanded and updated information on birdfinding in Panama, prepared with the assistance of two of Panama's best resident birders. The book also contains a special section outlining developments in Panama ornithology and conservation."

The Birds of the Republic of Panama, Part 4: Passeriformes, Suborder Passeres, Hirundinidae (Swallows) to Fringillidae (Finches)

Alexander Wetmore

1984

A Guide to the Birds of Panama with Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras

Robert S. Ridgely and John A. Gwynne

1976

The Birds of the Republic of Panama, Part 3: Passeriformes: Dendrocolaptidae (Woodcreepers) to Oxyruncidae (Sharpbills)

Alexander Wetmore

1972

The Birds of the Republic of Panama, Part 2: Columbidae (Pidgeons) to Picidae (Woodpeckers)

Alexander Wetmore

1969

The Birds of the Republic of Panama, Part 1: Tinamidae (Tinamous) to Rynchopidae (Skimmers)

Alexander Wetmore

1965

The Birds of Isla Escudo de Veraguas, Panama

Alexander Wetmore

Smithsonian Institution

1959

The Birds Of Isla Coiba, Panama

Alexander Wetmore

Smithsonian Institution

1957

My Tropical Air Castle: Nature Studies In Panama

Frank M. Chapman

1929

Field Book of Birds of the Panama Canal Zone

Bertha B. Sturgis

G.P. Putnam's Sons

1928

466 pages with some colour and b/w plates, many line drawings

From the preface:

During a residence of several years in the Canal Zone I became deeply interested in the wonderfully abundant and varied bird life of the region and numberless times felt the want of a convenient book to enable me to recognize and learn the names of the species that are found there. The birds of this region have been the subject of considerable study, but the published information on them is scattered in technical works, more or less expensive and difficult to procure, or in volumes of scientific periodicals. These are inaccessible except to those having the use of a library well provided with scientific books, and the technical language in which much of this literature is written makes it difficult to use without some training in ornithology. This book is an attempt to fill the want as well as the time, knowledge and other resources available to me would permit. It does not assume to be anything approaching a treatise or handbook, but merely an aid to the study of the birds of the region, giving descriptions by which I hope it will be possible to recognize the species observed and enable others to avoid many of the difficulties that I myself experienced. It records also such observations on their habits, calls, songs, etc., as I have been able to make and verify with a sufficient degree of certainty, or which I have collected from other authors. If this book is accepted for what it is intended to be, and is not judged by standards justly applicable to more ambitious undertakings, it may be found a useful aid to those wishing to become familiar with the Canal Zone birds. If it does this, I shall feel that it has accomplished its purpose.

New Birds From Mexico And Panama

Ludlow Griscom

American Museum of Natural History

1928

Opening lines: "The Department of birds has recently received a collection, of some 800 specimens made by Mr. Rex R. Benson during the past summer at Almirante and Boca del Toro on the Chiriqui Lagoon, on the Caribbean slope of western Panama, just south of the Costa Rican border. This collection, in connection with the previous one made by Benson and Gaffney on the Rio Calovevora much farther east, throws important light on previously unknown factors in distribution."

Undescribed Or Little-Known Birds From Panama

Ludlow Griscom

American Museum of Natural History

1927

Opening lines: "After my return from western Panama in the spring of 1924, Mr. Rex R. Benson was left in the field to carry on a carefully planned series of expeditions aiming to cover all the remaining unknown or poorly known sections of the country west of the Isthmus. During the rainy season of that year Mr. Benson collected in the vicinity of Santiago, working southward to the coastal forest at the head of Montijo Gulf. These collections confirmed my impression that the heavy-forest species recorded by Arc6 from Santiago, a region where heavy forest never existed, did not occur there. In the late fall of 1924 and during the winter of 1925 Mr. Benson succeeded in reaching the continental divide in the mountains back of Santa Fe, securing over 1000 specimens from the cloud forest and the strip of heavy tropical forest at the base of the mountains. He more than doubled the number of interesting species obtained by Arc6 sixty years ago."

Descriptions Of New Birds From Panama And Costa Rica

Ludlow Griscom

American Museum of Natural History

1924

Opening lines: "The birds described below represent some of the results of an expedition to western Panama during the spring of 1924, which succeeded in reaching a previously unvisited section of the high mountains of the interior, where most of the novelties were obtained."