The Canopy Tower is a prime location from which to observe the birds and other wildlife of the forest canopy. Since they are right at eye level, it is usual to get fantastic views of birds you would hardly see otherwise. You don't have to leave the Tower to find birds, you don't even have to leave your bedroom! Tanagers and Tityras can be seen right from your window, and you don't have to worry about the rain. The dining area and the roof of the tower are better for finding elusive canopy birds, as well as Howler Monkeys, Tamarins and other mammals, since you can look in all directions around you. And all this without having to venture away from the Tower. But there are many other places to visit nearby, including the best birding spots in the Panama Canal Area.

 

You can start your explorations of the forests of Central Panama right on the road up Semaphore Hill. This paved road is a little more than a mile long, and passes through some of the forest protected by Soberanía National Park. Here you will get a chance to see birds and mammals that spend their lives closer to the forest floor, like antbirds and Agoutis. You can walk on the road, or use one of our modified observation vehicles, the Rainfomobile and the Birdmobile.

At night, the forest seems to be a completely different world. More than eight species of Owls and Potoos have been seen on this road, and since most mammals are more active at night, it's usual to add a Two-toed Sloth or even a Rothschild's Porcupine to your owling list.

The bird list of Semaphore Hill Road is extensive, and includes birds from the forest interior as well as edge dwellers. Olivaceous Flatbill and White-whiskered Puffbird are common, and Slate-colored Grosbeak, Bay-headed Tanager, and Great Jacamar are seen frequently. Great Tinamou and Marbled Wood-Quail are heard often, but to see them takes a little more work. This road is also great for raptors: White, Tiny and Bicolored Hawks have been seen, and during migation it's easy to see more than 10 species of warblers and migratory songbirds in one morning. Spring migration is especially striking, as birds will be wearing their breeding plumages.

Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have identified and marked 46 species of trees around the Tower and in Semaphore Hill Road. Many of these trees have medicinal value, and most produce food for birds and mammals. We will lend you a booklet with the description of these trees and you can walk down the road, at your own pace, learning a little bit about them and the rich flora of the area. Click for the Canopy Tower Tree List .