La Amistad International Park (Panama)

🇵🇦 Panama

🐸 Poison Dart Frog & Quetzal Cloudforest
🌍 #216 Global · 3.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #37 in Central America #97 in Tropical Forest
Talamanca Highlands, Panama 1664 spp. recorded

La Amistad International Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning the Talamanca mountain range across the Panama-Costa Rica border. The Panamanian sector protects 207,000 hectares of pristine cloud forest and páramo — one of the largest unbroken wilderness areas in Central America.

9.142° N   82.406° 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

10–20% · With luck
Three-wattled Bellbird ★
VU

Three-wattled Bellbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Procnias tricarunculatus

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

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

30–40% · Possible
Mantled Howler Monkey ★
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

50–60% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

40–50% · Likely
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
LC

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Oophaga pumilio

40–50% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

40–50% · Likely
Southern House Wren

Southern House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes musculus

40–50% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

40–50% · Likely
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

40–50% · Likely
Variable Seedeater
LC

Variable Seedeater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sporophila corvina

30–40% · Possible
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Brown-throated Sloth ★
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

30–40% · Possible
Mantled Howler Monkey ★
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
LC

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Choloepus hoffmanni

20–30% · Possible
Central American White-faced Capuchin
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

10–20% · With luck
Red-tailed Squirrel
LC

Red-tailed Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus granatensis

10–20% · With luck
Variegated Squirrel
LC

Variegated Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus variegatoides

10–20% · With luck
White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

10–20% · With luck
Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

10–20% · With luck
Derby's Woolly Opossum
LC

Derby's Woolly Opossum

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Caluromys derbianus

5–10% · With luck
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

5–10% · With luck
Central American Spider Monkey
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

5–10% · With luck
Cacomistle
LC

Cacomistle

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Bassariscus sumichrasti

5–10% · With luck
Panamanian Night Monkey
NT

Panamanian Night Monkey

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Aotus zonalis

5–10% · With luck
Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat
LC

Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Artibeus jamaicensis

5–10% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Resplendent Quetzal ★
NT Endemic

Resplendent Quetzal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pharomachrus mocinno

10–20% · With luck
Three-wattled Bellbird ★
VU

Three-wattled Bellbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Procnias tricarunculatus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

50–60% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

40–50% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

40–50% · Likely
Southern House Wren

Southern House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes musculus

40–50% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

40–50% · Likely
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

40–50% · Likely
Variable Seedeater
LC

Variable Seedeater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sporophila corvina

30–40% · Possible
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

30–40% · Possible
Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Basilisk
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

20–30% · Possible
Common Caiman
LC

Common Caiman

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Caiman crocodilus

20–30% · Possible
Green Iguana
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

20–30% · Possible
Mourning Gecko
LC

Mourning Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Lepidodactylus lugubris

20–30% · Possible
Emerald Swift
LC

Emerald Swift

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus malachiticus

10–20% · With luck
Border Anole
LC

Border Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis limifrons

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

White-throated Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gonatodes albogularis

10–20% · With luck
Central American Boa
LC

Central American Boa

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Boa imperator

10–20% · With luck
Middle American Ameiva
LC

Middle American Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus festivus

10–20% · With luck
Neotropical Green Anole
LC

Neotropical Green Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis biporcatus

10–20% · With luck
Basiisk Verde

Basiisk Verde

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus plumifrons

10–20% · With luck
Fer-de-lance
LC

Fer-de-lance

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Bothrops asper

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
LC

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Oophaga pumilio

40–50% · Likely
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

20–30% · Possible
Green and Black Dart-poison Frog
LC

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates auratus

20–30% · Possible
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

20–30% · Possible
Savage's Thin-toed Frog
LC

Savage's Thin-toed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus savagei

10–20% · With luck
Striped Rocket Frog
LC

Striped Rocket Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Allobates talamancae

10–20% · With luck
Harlequin Treefrog
LC

Harlequin Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus ebraccatus

10–20% · With luck
Masked Tree Frog
LC

Masked Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca phaeota

10–20% · With luck
Green Climbing Toad
LC

Green Climbing Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Incilius coniferus

10–20% · With luck
Warszewitsch's Frog

Warszewitsch's Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lithobates warszewitschii

5–10% · With luck
Golden-groined Robber Frog
LC

Golden-groined Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pristimantis cruentus

5–10% · With luck
Sipurio Snouted Treefrog

Sipurio Snouted Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scinax elaeochroa

5–10% · With luck

Animal Events

🐦

Resplendent Quetzal Nesting Season

FebMarAprMay

During breeding, the Resplendent Quetzal pairs excavate cavities in rotting cloud-forest trees, the emerald male trailing his shimmering meter-long tail streamers as he flashes into the nest hole to feed the chicks. It is the year's best window to spot this legendary bird against the misty canopy.

Resplendent Quetzal
NT Endemic

Resplendent Quetzal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pharomachrus mocinno

10–20% · With luck
🐦

Three-wattled Bellbird Calling Season

MarAprMayJun

In the breeding season, male Three-wattled Bellbirds claim high cloud-forest song perches and hurl out a metallic, ear-splitting BONK that carries across the valleys, the three worm-like wattles dangling from their beaks. Follow the ringing calls uphill and you can watch them duel for the best perch.

Three-wattled Bellbird
VU

Three-wattled Bellbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Procnias tricarunculatus

10–20% · With luck
🐸

Rainy-season Frog Breeding Chorus

MaySepOctNov

When the rains break, Red-eyed Treefrogs and Green-and-black Poison-dart Frogs erupt into an explosive breeding congregation, filling the humid nights with a pulsing chorus around forest pools. Scarlet-eyed treefrogs cling to dripping leaves while the tiny toxic dart frogs call from the wet leaf litter below.

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog
LC

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates auratus

20–30% · Possible
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

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
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
Resplendent Quetzal
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
5–10
10–20
<5
<5
<5
5–10
Three-wattled Bellbird
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
5–10
10–20
10–20
10–20
5–10
<5
5–10
5–10
Brown-throated Sloth
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
20–30
30–40
20–30
20–30
30–40
Mantled Howler Monkey
30–40
20–30
20–30
10–20
20–30
10–20
30–40
20–30
20–30
20–30
10–20
20–30
Black Vulture
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
Clay-colored Thrush
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
Blue-gray Tanager
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
Turkey Vulture
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
20–30
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
Tropical Kingbird
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
Southern House Wren
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
Great Kiskadee
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
Variable Seedeater
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
20–30
Bananaquit
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
Animal Events
🐦 Resplendent Quetzal Nesting Season
🐦 Three-wattled Bellbird Calling Season
🐸 Rainy-season Frog Breeding Chorus

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
🐸 Poison Dart Frog & Quetzal Cloudforest

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
975
🐒 Mammals
284
🦎 Reptiles
210
🐸 Amphibians
195
1664 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
104 Threatened 94 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
47%
📊
Coverage (315 species at ≥5% of 1664 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
19%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 amphibian)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
234
🌟
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
10
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
10

Quick answers

What animals can you see in La Amistad International Park (Panama)?

The most likely sightings are Black Vulture (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Clay-colored Thrush (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Blue-gray Tanager (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Turkey Vulture (seen by 40–50% of wildlife watchers) — among 1664 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit La Amistad International Park (Panama) for wildlife?

May 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 La Amistad International Park (Panama)?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 11% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in La Amistad International Park (Panama), based on 1,242 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

Can you see Three-wattled Bellbird in La Amistad International Park (Panama)?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 11% of wildlife watchers report a Three-wattled Bellbird sighting in La Amistad International Park (Panama), based on 1,191 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

Can you see Brown-throated Sloth in La Amistad International Park (Panama)?

Yes — about 31% of wildlife watchers report a Brown-throated Sloth sighting in La Amistad International Park (Panama), based on 245 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Mantled Howler Monkey in La Amistad International Park (Panama)?

Yes — about 23% of wildlife watchers report a Mantled Howler Monkey sighting in La Amistad International Park (Panama), based on 149 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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