METOPOLITAN NATIONAL PARK
PANAMA
LOCALE
| Area (ha): | 265 |
| # Species: | 420 |
| # Excl Vagrants: | 420 |
| # Endemics: | 2 |
| # Near Endemics: | 5 |
| Species/100 ha: | 158.5 |
| Habitat: Tropical dry forest | |
ABOUT THE BIRDING
Metropolitan Nature Park is the only urban park in tropical Latin America containing a natural forest. It encompasses about 265 hectares of forest, 192 of which is dry lowland Pacific rainforest. The park has 3 main trails, all well maintained and easy walking. Lookouts on top of 150 meter tall hills provide a view of the city, bay, and Panama Canal, including a spectacular view from Cerro Mono Titi. They also allow better viewing of canopy birds downslope. Birding in the park is excellent and virtually every guided birding tour includes it on the itinerary. Very few mammals are likely to be seen due to the proximity of human activity.
Several prized birds are regularly seen in the park, namely the endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet and the secretive Rosy Thrush-Tanager. Other birds of special interest in the park include the locally distributed Olivaceous Woodcreeper and the near endemic Yellow-crowned Euphonia.
LOCATION OF SITE
Metropolitan Nature Park is situated just outside downtown Panama City near the junction of Amistad Road and Juan Pablo II Avenue. It's about 15 minutes from downtown.