Chagres National Park

🇵🇦 Panama

🐒 Monkeys & Sloths Rainforest
🌍 #71 Global · 4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #10 in Central America #26 in Tropical Forest
Canal Watershed, Panama 1149 spp. recorded

Chagres National Park protects 129,000 hectares of tropical rainforest in the watershed that feeds the Panama Canal. The park is home to Emberá indigenous communities accessible by dugout canoe, and its old-growth forests shelter harpy eagles, jaguars, and abundant primate troops.

9.378° N   79.426° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Geoffroy’s Tamarin ★

Geoffroy’s Tamarin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saguinus geoffroyi

30–40% · Possible
Mantled Howler Monkey ★
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

10–20% · With luck
Brown-throated Sloth ★
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

40–50% · Likely
Keel-billed Toucan ★
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Crimson-backed Tanager
LC

Crimson-backed Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

70–80% · Very likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

70–80% · Very likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

70–80% · Very likely
Golden-hooded Tanager

Golden-hooded Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stilpnia larvata

60–70% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

60–70% · Likely
Bay-headed Tanager
LC

Bay-headed Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tangara gyrola

60–70% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-faced Grassquit
LC Endemic

Yellow-faced Grassquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tiaris olivaceus

60–70% · Likely
Palm Tanager

Palm Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis palmarum

60–70% · Likely
Hepatic Tanager
LC

Hepatic Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga flava

60–70% · Likely
Southern House Wren

Southern House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes musculus

50–60% · Likely
Snowy-bellied Hummingbird

Snowy-bellied Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Saucerottia edward

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Geoffroy’s Tamarin ★

Geoffroy’s Tamarin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saguinus geoffroyi

30–40% · Possible
Mantled Howler Monkey ★
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

10–20% · With luck
Brown-throated Sloth ★
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Red-tailed Squirrel
LC

Red-tailed Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus granatensis

40–50% · Likely
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

40–50% · Likely
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

40–50% · Likely
Ocelot
LC

Ocelot

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Leopardus pardalis

30–40% · Possible
White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible
Common Opossum
LC

Common Opossum

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Didelphis marsupialis

30–40% · Possible
Tayra
LC

Tayra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eira barbara

30–40% · Possible
Kinkajou
LC

Kinkajou

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Potos flavus

30–40% · Possible
Spotted Paca
LC

Spotted Paca

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Cuniculus paca

30–40% · Possible
Andean Porcupine

Andean Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Coendou quichua

20–30% · Possible
Variegated Squirrel
LC

Variegated Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus variegatoides

20–30% · Possible
Derby's Woolly Opossum
LC

Derby's Woolly Opossum

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Caluromys derbianus

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Keel-billed Toucan ★
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Crimson-backed Tanager
LC

Crimson-backed Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

70–80% · Very likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

70–80% · Very likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

70–80% · Very likely
Golden-hooded Tanager

Golden-hooded Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stilpnia larvata

60–70% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

60–70% · Likely
Bay-headed Tanager
LC

Bay-headed Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tangara gyrola

60–70% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-faced Grassquit
LC Endemic

Yellow-faced Grassquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tiaris olivaceus

60–70% · Likely
Palm Tanager

Palm Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis palmarum

60–70% · Likely
Hepatic Tanager
LC

Hepatic Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga flava

60–70% · Likely
Southern House Wren

Southern House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes musculus

50–60% · Likely
Snowy-bellied Hummingbird

Snowy-bellied Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Saucerottia edward

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Basilisk
LC

Common Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus basiliscus

30–40% · Possible
American Crocodile
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

30–40% · Possible
Helmeted Iguana
LC

Helmeted Iguana

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Corytophanes cristatus

20–30% · Possible
Puffing Snake
LC

Puffing Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynonax poecilonotus

20–30% · With luck
Turniptail Gecko
LC

Turniptail Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Thecadactylus rapicauda

10–20% · With luck
Green Iguana
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

10–20% · With luck
Caribbean Least Gecko
LC

Caribbean Least Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sphaerodactylus homolepis

10–20% · With luck
Blunthead Tree Snake
LC

Blunthead Tree Snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Imantodes cenchoa

10–20% · With luck
Mourning Gecko
LC

Mourning Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Lepidodactylus lugubris

10–20% · With luck
Dusky Giant Ameiva
LC

Dusky Giant Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ameiva praesignis

10–20% · With luck
Rainforest Hog-nosed Viper
LC

Rainforest Hog-nosed Viper

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Porthidium nasutum

10–20% · With luck
White-throated Gecko
LC Endemic

White-throated Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gonatodes albogularis

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

30–40% · Possible
Forest Toad
LC

Forest Toad

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rhinella alata

20–30% · Possible
Masked Tree Frog
LC

Masked Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca phaeota

20–30% · Possible
Leaf Litter Toad
LC

Leaf Litter Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Rhaebo haematiticus

20–30% · Possible
Guayaquil Dwarf Frog
LC

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Engystomops pustulosus

20–30% · Possible
Gaige's Rain Frog
LC

Gaige's Rain Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pristimantis gaigei

10–20% · With luck
Pugnosed Tree Frog
LC

Pugnosed Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca sila

10–20% · With luck
Fitzinger's Robber Frog
LC

Fitzinger's Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Craugastor fitzingeri

10–20% · With luck
Camp Sasardi Salamander
EN Endemic

Camp Sasardi Salamander

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Bolitoglossa cuna

10–20% · With luck
Ghost Glass Frog
LC

Ghost Glass Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Sachatamia ilex

10–20% · With luck
Green Climbing Toad
LC

Green Climbing Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Incilius coniferus

10–20% · With luck
Rosenberg's Gladiator Frog
LC

Rosenberg's Gladiator Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Boana rosenbergi

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦅

Raptor Migration Over the Watershed

OctNov

Migrating vultures and broad-winged hawks funnel over the canal watershed in large flocks.

Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

60–70% · Likely
Broad-winged Hawk
LC

Broad-winged Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo platypterus

20–30% · Possible
🦥

Sloth & Coati Dry-Season Activity

DecJanFebMarApr

Sloths and coatis move visibly through the drier, more open canal-watershed forest.

Brown-throated Sloth
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

40–50% · Likely
White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible
🐸

Poison Dart Frog Breeding Season

AprMayAugSep

Green-and-black poison dart frogs and red-eyed treefrogs breed in the wet-season leaf litter and pools.

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog
LC

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates auratus

10–20% · With luck
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

5–10% · With luck

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
Geoffroy’s Tamarin
40–50
10–20
<5
20–30
5–10
40–50
50–60
5–10
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
Mantled Howler Monkey
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
5–10
5–10
<5
5–10
5–10
10–20
5–10
<5
Brown-throated Sloth
30–40
20–30
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
20–30
5–10
40–50
30–40
50–60
5–10
Keel-billed Toucan
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
40–50
Crimson-backed Tanager
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
50–60
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Blue-gray Tanager
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
Golden-hooded Tanager
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
Clay-colored Thrush
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
Bay-headed Tanager
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
Turkey Vulture
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
Yellow-faced Grassquit
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
Palm Tanager
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
70–80
40–50
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
50–60
Hepatic Tanager
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
Southern House Wren
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
Snowy-bellied Hummingbird
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
Animal Events
🦅 Raptor Migration Over the Watershed
🦥 Sloth & Coati Dry-Season Activity
🐸 Poison Dart Frog Breeding Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐒 Monkeys & Sloths Rainforest

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
686
🐒 Mammals
199
🦎 Reptiles
155
🐸 Amphibians
109
1149 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
36 Threatened 60 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
65%
📊
Coverage (304 species at ≥5% of 1149 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
26%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)
46% Global avg
0%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
186
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
12
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
35

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Chagres National Park?

The most likely sightings are Crimson-backed Tanager (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Blue-gray Tanager (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Golden-hooded Tanager (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Clay-colored Thrush (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1149 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Chagres National Park for wildlife?

September has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Geoffroy’s Tamarin in Chagres National Park?

Yes — about 36% of wildlife watchers report a Geoffroy’s Tamarin sighting in Chagres National Park, based on 28 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Mantled Howler Monkey in Chagres National Park?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 11% of wildlife watchers report a Mantled Howler Monkey sighting in Chagres National Park, based on 18 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

Can you see Brown-throated Sloth in Chagres National Park?

Yes — about 42% of wildlife watchers report a Brown-throated Sloth sighting in Chagres National Park, based on 37 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Keel-billed Toucan in Chagres National Park?

Yes — about 52% of wildlife watchers report a Keel-billed Toucan sighting in Chagres National Park, based on 605 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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