Owling in Panama

About owling

Owling takes some special skills. Owls are most active and easiest to find at dawn and dusk, and a moonlit night can be excellent. Much of the search is done by ear, and knowing where the birds have been seen recently makes all the difference: your guide knows the territories of the owls in the area.

We keep playback to a minimum, so the birds are not stressed or distracted. Owling can be added to the end of a full day, or done as a separate outing.

Owling in the city: Parque Omar

Our city outing is at Parque Omar, the large, tree-filled park in the San Francisco neighborhood of Panama City. Its big old trees hold a surprising number of night birds: in 2026 alone, birders have recorded seven kinds of owl there, from Tropical Screech-Owl and Black-and-white Owl to Spectacled Owl, Striped Owl and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, plus Common Potoo and Common Pauraque. No long drive, so it fits easily into your evening.

On request, we also go owling in the forests at the edge of the city, such as Metropolitan Nature Park and Camino de Cruces, where Mottled Owl, Crested Owl and Great Potoo are possible.

What to expect

Owls are never guaranteed, but with a local guide who knows their territories, your chances are good.

Birds to look for

This list comes from our own tours, plus sightings shared by friends and clients. It changes all the time, so send us your sightings at info@guidedbirdtours.com. For everything else, see the Central Panama bird list.

Recorded at Parque Omar and in the forests around Panama City (eBird records). Ask us which ones are being seen right now.

Main targets

• Tropical Screech-Owl
• Black-and-white Owl
• Spectacled Owl
• Striped Owl
• Common Potoo

Also possible

• Mottled Owl
• Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (often active by day)
• American Barn Owl
• Choco Screech-Owl (rare in the city)
• Crested Owl (rare, forest edge)
• Great Potoo (forest edge)
• Common Pauraque
• Rufous Nightjar (forest edge)
• Lesser Nighthawk
• Common Nighthawk (migrant)

Practical information