Data Zone
Country/territory: Panama
IBA criteria met: A1 (2003)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 89,452 ha
Site description (2003 baseline)
The Gulf of Montijo Wetlands includes mangroves (21,000 ha) and adjacent areas along the San Pablo, San Pedro, Punuga, Suay, Tebario, and Angulo Rivers, and the Caté, San Andrés, Cañazas, and Boca de Trinidad Estuaries. Leones, Papagaro, and Verde Islands in the bay are also included, with the high point (194 m) on Leones. Much of the area is accessible by road or small boat.
Key biodiversity
There has been a recent record of Yellow-billed Cotinga from the area, and a population probably occurs. The Gulf of Montijo is an important wintering area for some species of migratory shorebirds. Although total numbers are not large, it contained 21.7% of national totals of Whimbrel, 10.4% of Short-billed Dowitcher, and 9.9% of Willet on counts in January 1993 (Morrison et al. 1998). Several nationally threatened species are also found, including Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, and Muscovy Duck (Delgado 1985a, Rodríguez 1996).
Non-bird biodiversity: Panamanian Spiny Pocket Mouse, Neotropical River Otter, and American Crocodile occur (Delgado 1985a).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Golfo de Montijo Wetlands (Panama). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/golfo-de-montijo-wetlands-iba-panama on 23/11/2024.