Blue-fronted Parrotlet is a rare find in eastern Panama, where it is found occasionally as far west as Cerro Azul.
It is quite similar in appearance to Red-fronted Parrotlet Touit costaricensis, and some authorities consider the birds
conspecific. Red-fronted Parrotlet has been found as far east as El Copé in western Coclé Province, and is certainly a candidate for future discovery
around El Valle. Reports of either species outside of their known range would be of extreme interest, and photos should be collected if at all possible. The two forms are
not known to interbreed, and any evidence that an intergrade zone exists would go a long way to resolving the taxonomic status of these psittacids.
I birded the Cerro Azul area in January of 2007 with Panamanian birder Rafael Montilla, and we heard and (briefly) observed what seemed to be a trio
of Blue-fronted Parrotlets at Calle Maipo. Cerro Azul is a regualr spot for this species, but it seems to be in decline, so any observation is noteworthy, and I feel lucky to have
found this rare bird.
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