Volcán Barú National Park

🇵🇦 Panama

🐦 Quetzals and Solitaires on Volcán Barú
🌍 #173 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #29 in Central America #80 in Tropical Forest
Chiriquí Highlands, Panama 1047 spp. recorded

Volcán Barú National Park protects Panama's highest peak (3,475 m) and the cloud forests that blanket its slopes. The park is one of the best places in Central America to see the Resplendent Quetzal, especially along the Quetzal Trail (Sendero Los Quetzales) connecting Boquete to Cerro Punta.

8.803° N   82.534° 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

Resplendent Quetzal ★
NT Endemic

Resplendent Quetzal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pharomachrus mocinno

40–50% · Likely
White-throated Mountain-gem ★
LC

White-throated Mountain-gem

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lampornis castaneoventris

70–80% · Very likely
White-nosed Coati ★
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible
Black-faced Solitaire ★
LC

Black-faced Solitaire

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myadestes melanops

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren
LC

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Henicorhina leucophrys

60–70% · Likely
Rufous-collared Sparrow
LC Endemic

Rufous-collared Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia capensis

60–70% · Likely
Slaty Flowerpiercer
LC

Slaty Flowerpiercer

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Diglossa plumbea

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-thighed Finch

Yellow-thighed Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Atlapetes tibialis

60–70% · Likely
Mountain Thrush
LC

Mountain Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus plebejus

60–70% · Likely
Collared Redstart
LC

Collared Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myioborus torquatus

60–70% · Likely
Flame-throated Warbler
LC

Flame-throated Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oreothlypis gutturalis

50–60% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely
Black-cheeked Warbler
LC

Black-cheeked Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Basileuterus melanogenys

50–60% · Likely
Talamanca Hummingbird
LC

Talamanca Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eugenes spectabilis

50–60% · Likely
Lesser Violetear

Lesser Violetear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colibri cyanotus

50–60% · Likely
Wilson's Warbler
LC

Wilson's Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardellina pusilla

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

White-nosed Coati ★
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Red-tailed Squirrel
LC

Red-tailed Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus granatensis

30–40% · Possible
Mantled Howler Monkey
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

20–30% · Possible
Cacomistle
LC

Cacomistle

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Bassariscus sumichrasti

20–30% · Possible
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
LC

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Choloepus hoffmanni

10–20% · With luck
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Sphiggurus mexicanus

Insufficient data
Central American Red Brocket

Central American Red Brocket

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mazama temama

Insufficient data
Chiriqui Olingo
LC

Chiriqui Olingo

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Bassaricyon gabbii

Insufficient data
Common Opossum
LC

Common Opossum

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Didelphis marsupialis

Insufficient data
Central American Squirrel Monkey
EN

Central American Squirrel Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saimiri oerstedii

Insufficient data
Tayra
LC

Tayra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eira barbara

Insufficient data
Great Fruit-eating Bat
LC

Great Fruit-eating Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Artibeus lituratus

Insufficient data
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Resplendent Quetzal ★
NT Endemic

Resplendent Quetzal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pharomachrus mocinno

40–50% · Likely
White-throated Mountain-gem ★
LC

White-throated Mountain-gem

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lampornis castaneoventris

70–80% · Very likely
Black-faced Solitaire ★
LC

Black-faced Solitaire

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myadestes melanops

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren
LC

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Henicorhina leucophrys

60–70% · Likely
Rufous-collared Sparrow
LC Endemic

Rufous-collared Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia capensis

60–70% · Likely
Slaty Flowerpiercer
LC

Slaty Flowerpiercer

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Diglossa plumbea

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-thighed Finch

Yellow-thighed Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Atlapetes tibialis

60–70% · Likely
Mountain Thrush
LC

Mountain Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus plebejus

60–70% · Likely
Collared Redstart
LC

Collared Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myioborus torquatus

60–70% · Likely
Flame-throated Warbler
LC

Flame-throated Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oreothlypis gutturalis

50–60% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely
Black-cheeked Warbler
LC

Black-cheeked Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Basileuterus melanogenys

50–60% · Likely
Talamanca Hummingbird
LC

Talamanca Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eugenes spectabilis

50–60% · Likely
Lesser Violetear

Lesser Violetear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colibri cyanotus

50–60% · Likely
Wilson's Warbler
LC

Wilson's Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardellina pusilla

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Emerald Swift
LC

Emerald Swift

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus malachiticus

40–50% · Likely
Black-speckled Palm Pit Viper

Black-speckled Palm Pit Viper

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bothriechis nigroviridis

20–30% · Possible
🦎 No photo available
LC

South American Milksnake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lampropeltis micropholis

20–30% · With luck
Thick Graceful Brown Snake
LC

Thick Graceful Brown Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Rhadinaea calligaster

Insufficient data
Kempton's Anole
LC

Kempton's Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis kemptoni

Insufficient data
Side-striped palm pit viper
LC

Side-striped palm pit viper

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Bothriechis lateralis

Insufficient data
Montane Alligator Lizard

Montane Alligator Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Abronia monticola

Insufficient data
Humble Anole
LC

Humble Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis humilis

Insufficient data
White-throated Gecko
LC Endemic

White-throated Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gonatodes albogularis

Insufficient data
Green Iguana
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

Insufficient data
Costa Rica Montane Pitviper

Costa Rica Montane Pitviper

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Cerrophidion sasai

Insufficient data
Common Mussurana
LC

Common Mussurana

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Clelia clelia

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

Insufficient data
Dunn's Robber Frog
EN Endemic

Dunn's Robber Frog

Amphibian

Craugastor monnichorum

Insufficient data
Guayaquil Dwarf Frog
LC

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Engystomops pustulosus

Insufficient data
Magnificent Web-Footed Salamander
EN Endemic

Magnificent Web-Footed Salamander

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Bolitoglossa magnifica

Insufficient data
Golden-groined Robber Frog
LC

Golden-groined Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pristimantis cruentus

Insufficient data
Cerro Utyum Robber Frog
LC

Cerro Utyum Robber Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Craugastor podiciferus

Insufficient data
Banded-thighed Rain Frog
LC

Banded-thighed Rain Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Craugastor melanostictus

Insufficient data
Musical Rain Frog
VU

Musical Rain Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pristimantis museosus

Insufficient data
La Loma Robber Frog
LC

La Loma Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pristimantis caryophyllaceus

Insufficient data
American Cinchona Plantation Tree Frog
EN

American Cinchona Plantation Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Isthmohyla rivularis

Insufficient data
Peralta Frog
LC

Peralta Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Lithobates taylori

Insufficient data
Yellow-flecked Glassfrog
LC

Yellow-flecked Glassfrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Sachatamia albomaculata

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦜

Resplendent Quetzal Nesting Season

FebMarAprMay

The Resplendent Quetzal—the male trailing iridescent emerald tail streamers up to a meter long—becomes far easier to find as pairs excavate and defend nest cavities in dead trees along the Los Quetzales Trail. Watch for them darting to wild avocado trees, where they pluck fruit whole and swallow it in mid-flight to feed their chicks.

Resplendent Quetzal
NT Endemic

Resplendent Quetzal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pharomachrus mocinno

40–50% · Likely
🐦

Highland Songbird Chorus

MarAprMayJun

During the breeding season the cloud forest fills with the ethereal, flute-like song of the Black-faced Solitaire, an unassuming grey bird whose voice carries like a slow-ringing bell through the mist. The Mountain Thrush joins in, and their overlapping melodies make the forest easier to hear than to see.

Black-faced Solitaire
LC

Black-faced Solitaire

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myadestes melanops

50–60% · Likely
Mountain Thrush
LC

Mountain Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus plebejus

60–70% · Likely
🐦

Highland Hummingbird Season

NovDecJanFeb

Highland hummingbirds like the White-throated Mountain-gem and the tiny Volcano Hummingbird gather in numbers around flowering shrubs and feeders on Barú's upper slopes, jostling and chasing rivals in glittering aerial skirmishes. It is one of the best chances to watch several montane species compete side by side at a single bloom.

White-throated Mountain-gem
LC

White-throated Mountain-gem

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lampornis castaneoventris

70–80% · Very likely
Volcano Hummingbird
LC

Volcano Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Selasphorus flammula

20–30% · Possible

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
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
Resplendent Quetzal
30–40
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
10–20
10–20
20–30
10–20
20–30
10–20
White-throated Mountain-gem
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
White-nosed Coati
40–50
30–40
20–30
20–30
30–40
5–10
30–40
30–40
40–50
10–20
40–50
30–40
Black-faced Solitaire
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
20–30
30–40
40–50
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
80–90
80–90
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
50–60
Rufous-collared Sparrow
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
70–80
60–70
Slaty Flowerpiercer
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
30–40
70–80
50–60
Yellow-thighed Finch
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
Mountain Thrush
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
Collared Redstart
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
Flame-throated Warbler
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
Clay-colored Thrush
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
70–80
40–50
Black-cheeked Warbler
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
40–50
40–50
Talamanca Hummingbird
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
30–40
60–70
50–60
50–60
30–40
30–40
70–80
40–50
Lesser Violetear
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
20–30
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
60–70
50–60
Wilson's Warbler
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
5–10
5–10
5–10
5–10
50–60
40–50
70–80
70–80
Animal Events
🦜 Resplendent Quetzal Nesting Season
🐦 Highland Songbird Chorus
🐦 Highland Hummingbird 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 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐦 Quetzals and Solitaires on Volcán Barú

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
609
🐒 Mammals
217
🦎 Reptiles
137
🐸 Amphibians
84
1047 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
59 Threatened 71 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
62%
📊
Coverage (185 species at ≥5% of 1047 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
18%
🔀
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
122
🌟
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
5
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
32

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Volcán Barú National Park?

The most likely sightings are White-throated Mountain-gem (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Gray-breasted Wood-Wren (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Rufous-collared Sparrow (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Slaty Flowerpiercer (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Yellow-thighed Finch (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1047 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

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

June 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 Resplendent Quetzal in Volcán Barú National Park?

Yes — about 41% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Volcán Barú National Park, based on 464 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see White-throated Mountain-gem in Volcán Barú National Park?

Yes — about 77% of wildlife watchers report a White-throated Mountain-gem sighting in Volcán Barú National Park, based on 865 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see White-nosed Coati in Volcán Barú National Park?

Yes — about 31% of wildlife watchers report a White-nosed Coati sighting in Volcán Barú National Park, based on 15 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Black-faced Solitaire in Volcán Barú National Park?

Yes — about 55% of wildlife watchers report a Black-faced Solitaire sighting in Volcán Barú National Park, based on 620 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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