Gray-Waisted Skimmer

Gray-Waisted Skimmer

Cannaphila insularis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Bastimentos Island National Marine Park

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

20 Verified sightings at Bastimentos Island National Marine Park From 2019 to 2026
191 In all 8 parks
January Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Gray-Waisted Skimmer

Cannaphila insularis, the gray-waisted skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the family Libellulidae. It is found in the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. The IUCN conservation status of Cannaphila insularis is "LC", least concern, with no immediate threat to the species' survival. The population is stable.

These two subspecies belong to the species Cannaphila insularis. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
2 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
3 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
4 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
5 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
6 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
7 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
8 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Austin 🇺🇸 United States
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Gray-Waisted Skimmer in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Gray-Waisted Skimmer sighting in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park on a given day, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 9th most-seen of the 52 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Gray-Waisted Skimmer in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

January

In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Gray-Waisted Skimmer in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park on a given day, against under 5% in July–September and November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Gray-Waisted Skimmer?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Gray-Waisted Skimmer sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Bastimentos Island National Marine Park the best place to see a Gray-Waisted Skimmer?

Yes

Of the 8 parks where we can rate Gray-Waisted Skimmer sightings, Bastimentos Island National Marine Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Tortuguero National Park (Costa Rica, about 20%) and Braulio Carrillo National Park (Costa Rica, about 20%).

Which relatives of the Gray-Waisted Skimmer live in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

Same family: Libellulidae

The closest relatives of the Gray-Waisted Skimmer that you can see in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park (family Libellulidae, Skimmers) are Carmine Skimmer (about 20%), Tropical Woodskimmer (about 20%) and Red-Faced Dragonlet (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Gray-Waisted Skimmer sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Gray-Waisted Skimmer is recorded against all the insects logged in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park (20 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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