Birding Factoids

874 species
in 64 families
6 endemics
64 endemics shared
with Panama
16 of the 21 species
endemic to
Central America are
represented here.
11 endangered species

Costa Rica
Hotspots

.........
Check out Richard Garrigues' Costa Rica Bird Photographs
as well as Guiliano Gerro and Silvio Sommazzi's Costa Rican Birds
Cotinga Tours Bird Photo Gallery
Ron Eggert's Costa Rican Bird Gallery
Steve Nanz's Costa Rica Photos
Tom Davis's Images of Costa Rica and his new 2003 Images
or Nick Kontonicolas's Birds of Costa Rica
.....

Costa Rica Specialities
(Pause your cursor on the photo to see the species name...) Clay-colored Robin - Photo by Greg Lasley

Photo copyright Greg Lasley .....
Green-crowned Brilliant - Photo copyright Greg Neise

Photo copyright Greg Neise .....
Purple-Throated Mountain Gem - Photo by Skip Russell

Photo copyright Skip Russell ..
Turquoise Cotinga - ENDANGERED - Photo copyright Richard Garrigues

Photo copyright Richard Garrigues ......
Common Tody-Flycatcher - Photo copyright Jean Coronel

Photo copyright Jean Coronel .....
Double-Striped Thick-Knee - Photo by Skip Russell

Photo copyright Skip Russell .....
Volcano Hummingbird - Photo copyright Richard Garrigues

Photo copyright Richard Garrigues ...
Green Honey-creeper - Photo by Tom Davis

Photo copyright Tom Davis .....
Roadside Hawk - Photo copyright Jean Coronel

Photo copyright Jean Coronel .....
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron - Photo by Skip Russell

Photo copyright Skip Russell .....
Scintillant Hummingbird - Photo copyright Allen Chartier

Photo copyright Allen Chartier .....
Common Potoo - Photo copyright Tom Davis

Photo copyright Tom Davis .....
Lanceolated Monklet - Photo copyright Steve Bird

Photo copyright Steve Bird ...
Sooty Thrush - Photo copyright Skip Russell

Photo copyright Skip Russell .....
Yellow Tyranulet - Photo copyright Jean Coronel

Photo copyright Jean Coronel .....
Jabiru - Photo copyright Allen Chartier

Photo copyright Allen Chartier .....
Great Black-Hawk - Photo copyright Arthur Grosset

Photo copyright Arthur Grosset .....
Grey-capped Flycatcher - Photo copyright Jean Coronel

Photo copyright Jean Coronel .....
Military Macaw - ENDANGERED - Photo copyright Pat Goltz

Photo copyright Pat Goltz ....
Blue-chested Hummingbird - Photo copyright Allen Chartier

Photo copyright Allen Chartier .....
Chestnut-Mandibled Toucan - Photo by Skip Russell

Photo copyright Skip Russell

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.....Costa Rica Birding - by Marc Fenner - This extensively illustrated

site provides information on many excellent birding locations throughout Costa Rica.

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.....Birds of Costa Rica - this tourism site is organized by target bird.

Click on the birds and you get a photo (sometimes), a brief behavioral description, and a list of places where the bird can be found.

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.....Birds of Costa Rica - this tourism site identifies the target species

for each of the different life zones in Costa Rica.

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.....Costa Rica Birding - by Stephen Marks. Scroll part way down this

page to see information on Costa Rica.

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.....Exploring Costa Rica - This site provides brief

site descriptions of:

Braulio Carrillio National Park
Poas Volcano National Park
Corcovado National Park
Tortuguero National Park
Talamanca National Park
The Reventazon River

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.....Birdwatching in Costa Rica - Tropical Science Center and

Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. And for an exciting scientific project in this area, go and watch the QuetzalCam, a specially outfitted camera filming nesting resplendent quetzals!

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.....Gone Birding - a very informative Quarterly Newsletter from Richard

Garrigues about birding in Costa Rica. The second edition reports on the status of some of the endemic birds of the country. The third edition discusses migration and a few site reports. The fourth edition reports on some new bird species reported for Costa Rica. The fifth edition reports on number of birds including: Crested Oropendola,

Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Wattled Jacana, Brown-throated Parakeet,

and Lanceolated Monklet. The sixth edition talks about mystery hummers, south polar skuas, and digiscoping. The seventh newsletter focuses on "Middle-of-the-Road Birding in Braulio". The eighth newsletter brings attention to a great migrant round-up. The ninth newsletter focuses on migration activity and some new birds for Costa Rica. The tenth newsletter provides information on recent sightings of rare birds, as does the eleventh, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth editions.

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.....Harbor of a Thousand Greens - by Michael L. Smith

Among the many natural blessings afforded Costa Rica, one of her most priceless and least visited areas is the lush Caribbean coast, an area of untold natural riches.

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.....Pacific Playground - Many references to birding locations on the

Pacific coast.

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.....Island Hopping Costa Rica - by Michael L. Smith.

Information on seabird habitat on Costa Rican islands.

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.....Manuel Antonio National Park - Just off shore are twelve islands,

most of them without vegetation, but excellent seabird sanctuaries nonetheless. Punta Catedral was an island at one time, an accumulation of the sediments joined to the land with a sandy belt named Tombolo, a prized nesting site for the brown booby.

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.....Costa Rica's National Parks - this web site provides links to all of the

national parks of Costa Rica, most of which address the birds to be found in the park. Parks include:

Arenal National Park
Santa Rosa National Park
Rincón de la Vieja National Park
Guanacaste National Park
Palo Verde National Park
Barra Honda National Park
Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve
Irazu Volcano National Park
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
Tapanti National Park
Poas Volcano National Park
Guayabo National Park
Corcovado National Park
Chirripo National Park and La Amistad International Park
Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve
Cahuita National Park
Coco Island National Park
Caño Island Biological Reserve
Ballena National Marine Park
Tortuguero National Park
Carara Biological Reserve
Manuel Antonio National Park
Cabo Blanco Strict Nature Reserve
Guayabo Island, Negritos Islands, and Pajaros Island Biological Reserves
Ostional National Wildlife Refuge
Barra del Colorado Nadional Wildlife Refuge
Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge

...

See also this site on National Parks.

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.....Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves - This collection of protected

sites borders Panama. The fauna is extremely diverse, with intermigrations from both North and South America. Studies indicate that 15 of the 560 species of birds are endemic to the reserve.

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.....Birdwatching in Costa Rica - includes a checklist of birds seen

at the Playa Cativo Life Preserve and an article on birding on the Rio Esquinas (and an incredible animated photo of birdwatchers).

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.....Birding Costa Rica by Public Buses - by Bob Hansen.

This article is written for those who want to know about the opportunities and problems of a low cost, unguided birding trip to Costa Rica. If you have the money, and want to add the maximum number of birds to your life list in the shortest amount of time, and with the least frustration, the style of travel described in this article is not for you. This is for those who want to eat, sleep, and travel cheaply; and who want to experience the exuberance of finding and identifying exotic birds in exotic lands on their own, and at the least (or at least reasonable) cost.

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.....Costa Rica Trip - by Guido Band. This site covers a tour through

north and west Costa Rica from 23 January to 7 February 2000. This site presents a selection of photographs (clickable thumbnails), organized by location throughout the country. The emphasis of this site is on birds, nature and photography. Hopefully it helps people to select interesting locations for their own trips.

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.....Macaws in Costa Rica - by Harold Armitage. In 1993 my wife and

myself visited Panama and Costa Rica in order, amongst other things, to see what bird life was to be seen, primary interest being macaws. We had heard that the best place to see Macaws was the Corcovado reserve in the S.W. of Costa Rica so this was where we headed first.

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.....Chirripó National Park and La Amistad International Park - see also

this commercial site.

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.....The Seasonal, Freshwater Marsh at Palo Verde National Park -

For decades, the marsh was probably the most important wetland area in Central America for about 60 species of resident and migratory waterbirds. In 1987 research began into the restoration of this marsh to conditions similar to that of 1979.

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.....Cano Negro Reserve - This refuge protects one of the most important

wetland regions in Costa Rica's territory and is considered of international importance because it protects a wide range of migratory species and endangered species. Another site on the reserve.

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.....Costa Rica - Directory of Wetlands of International Importance -

includes information on all Costa Rica's Ramsar designated sites, including:

Palo Verde
Caño Negro

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.....Tom Davis's Costa Rica Journals - these journals, with photos,

cover Tom's annual trips to Costa Rica during 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2000.

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.....Cruise Ship Birding in Costa Rica - by Arlene Ripley

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.....Birding Two Diverse Rain Forests in Costa Rica - December 1999.

By Pamela Conley. Information on the mountain area of Cerro de La Muerte and lowland rain forests of La Selva, passing through Braulio Carillo National Park.

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.....Costa Rica (Northern forests), 25 March - 4 April 1993 -

An excellent birding trip report by John van der Woude

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.....David B. Collinge's Costa Rica Birding Trip Reports - David provides

three different trip reports for Costa Rica. Includes maps and systematic bird lists.

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.....Trip Report: Costa Rica - by Andrew J. Senior. Where could give

me the best chance of building a good list? Ever since I was a lad collecting the "Flags of all Nations" cards from bubble gum packets, Costa Rica has been the one to get. It has always held an allure for me, and since I started birdwatching, it has been my dream destination. When I proposed Costa Rica as the "birthday treat", Isabel didn't demure for a second. Although not a committed birder, my wife has always enjoyed travelling and has developed a taste for warm climes and exotic landscapes. She was more than happy to tolerate my birding for a chance to escape the dreary British winter.

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.....Pura Vida Costa Rica - by Keith Martin. This is an illustrated report

of two well-spent weeks in Costa Rica in April 2000. There are a ridiculous number of species of birds in Costa Rica and we did our best to see at least a few of them.

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.....Birdwatching in Costa Rica March-April 1996, by Erik Mølgaard,

Jesper Meedom & Stig K. Rasmussen. (NOTE: this is a downloadable report in WORD format from the Danish Ornithological Society´s website). In March and April 1996, the excursions committee of the Copenhagen department of the Danish Ornithological Society (DOF) carried out its first tour to Costa Rica. The journey was planned with the purpose to give the participants an insight into the unique birdlife and biodiversity of the country and to visit a number of localities in varied habitats. We concentrated on the well known localities in the central Costa Rica and flew on to two different areas in the southern part of the country. The tour was organised as a 15 days tour with a 7 days extension. Most participants were with us on the entire tour. The number of bird species recorded was satisfactory. We made up a birdlist of 515 species.

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....Costa Rica Trip Report (illustrated) - by Koji Tagi. During May 10-20,

1999, I had an opportunity to visit Costa Rica, a central American country. My mission to the country was for attending the 7th regular meeting for the Contracting Parties of the Ramsar Convention. However, while the country is well-known among birdwatcher, I planned to spend 3 days for birdwatching after the conference. While I had never been to the country and was able to speak little Spanish, I decided to find a professional birdwatcher who was able to guide me there. I contacted Richard Garrigues through his web site "Finding birds in Costa Rica". Before going to the country, I sent my list what I want to see there. So, everything was ready.

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....Trip Report: Costa Rica: February 2000, by J. P. Paris. This trip of 11

days, which practically 10 dedicated to the nature held all its promises. I saw more than 200 species.

.....

....Trip Report: Costa Rica, 19th Jan - 5th Feb 2001. Another superb

Birdseekers tour saw us record 488 species of which 475 were seen, according to our guide this represents the highest ever count for a group, and it must be mentioned that both myself and Kevin saw additional species to this list but as with all Birdseekers tours we do not include any species which are not seen by the group members. To add to our impressive bird list which included lots of rarely seen species we also recorded a very good list of mammals.

.....

....Trip Report: Costa Rica - March 16 - 31, 2001. By Rob and Evelien

Goldbach. As this was our first travel to Costa Rica we chosed an itinerary which brought us in a good variety of habitats: Carara National Park (lowland forest), Palo Verde (in the dry northwest), Monte Verde (highland cloud forests), La Selva (Carribean slope forest), Cerro de la Muerte (high elevation forests and paramo), as well as some places along the Pacific coast (Manuel Antonio). To use our time adequately we rented a car. Roads are generally well maintained but some roads are notorious, such as the unpaved road up to Monte Verde.

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....Trip Report: Costa Rica February 17 - March 3, 2001- by Gavin

Edmondstone. There are many ways to do a birding tour of Costa Rica. This is the story of one of them. It started while standing around looking for a bird that was not going to be seen that day with birding friend Jim Watt. Jim was very excited about his then recent family vacation to Costa Rica. His enthusiasm was contagious and we became infected. Our destinations were chosen to give us a good representation of habitats and on not having to make long drives over poor roads. This eliminated highland destinations such as Monteverde from consideration. The plan that we settled on was of spending the first week birding fairly intensively at two locations on the Caribbean slope and then slowing the pace for the second week at a Pacific coast resort that I had selected.

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....Trip Report: Costa Rica - March 1 - 17, 2001. This pdf format trip

report is available from Birdfinders Holidays.

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....Trip Report: Costa Rica. Frogs, Sweat and Tears – Costa Rica 2003,

8th April to 5th May, by Ian Merrill. Geographically, Costa Rica is a relatively straightforward country to define. Approximately 150 kilometres between Caribbean and Pacific Coasts and 300 kilometres in length, the country is divided by a backbone of volcanic mountain ridges running northwest to southeast. These mountains become progressively larger and higher towards the Panamanian border. The presence of this ridge, in fact a continuation of the mighty Andes

which run the length of South America, has lead to a starkly different avifauna developing on either side of the physical divide. This fact, combined with the great range of elevation (many peaks being well in excess of 3000 metres) provides access to a huge number of bird species within a very limited area. Add to this the fact that almost one third of the country receives some form of conservation related protection and that it also possesses, quite rarely in the region, a stable government and you have the perfect Central American birding destination.

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....Trip Report:Life Birds Tour, Costa Rica 12 – 27th February 2004.

Tour Organizers: Cotinga Tours & Speyside Wildlife. An excellent lengthy report documenting 400+ species.

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....Costa Rica Trip Reports - a number of Costa Rica trip reports are

available from Blake Maybank's "Birding the Americas - Trip Report and Trip Planning Repository".

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....Costa Rica Trip Reports - you can find Costa Rica trip reports on John

Girdley's BirdTours website by following the Caribbean/Costa Rica link from the main page.

Conservation, Biodiversity

and Environment

...

Courtesy of the Loro Parque Fundación

....Great Green Macaw Research and Conservation Project - In Costa

Rica, the Great Green Macaw Research and Conservation Project is committed, since 1994, to the study of the natural history of the species with the aim to apply the collected data to the conservation of this charismatic species and its unique habitat. This endangered species, which is listed in Appendix I of CITES, is in serious danger of disappearing from Costa Rica in the near future. See also the Friends of the Great Green Macaw website.

Tours and Guides

See DISCLAIMER
>>>>

birdingpal.com...>>

A Birding Pal is not a paid guide, but someone who likes to help out of town visitors. You can become a Birding Pal today! Help someone to enjoy your local birding spots and find a pal to help you when you travel. Click here for Costa Rica Birding Pals, or join to be a Birding Pal!

....

White-ringed Flycatcher - Photo copyright Skip Russell

Photo copyright Skip Russell .....
White-collared Manakin - Photo copyright Richard Garrigues

Photo copyright Richard Garrigues ...
White-throated Magpie-Jay - Photo copyright Jean Coronel

Photo copyright Jean Coronel .....
Collared Redstart - Photo copyright Birding Escapes Costa Rica

Photo copyright Birding Escapes Costa Rica

Black-and-white Owl - Photo copyright Steve Metz

Photo copyright Steve Metz ....
Golden-hooded Tanager - Photo by Martin Reid

Photo copyright Martin Reid .....
Crimson-fronteed Parakeet - Photo copyright Guido Band

Photo copyright Guido Band .....
White-bellied Mountain-Gem - Photo copyright Allen Chartier

Photo copyright Allen Chartier .....
Semiplumbeous Hawk - Photo copyright Skip Russell

Photo copyright Skip Russell .....
White-fronted Parrot - Photo copyright Cliff Buckton

Photo copyright Cliff Buckton

Northern Potoo - Photo copyright Allen Chartier

Photo copyright Allen Chartier

**..Finding Birds in Costa Rica, with Richard Garrigues -

Written accounts of where to find birds in particular localities are of aid to newcomers to a region, but are no substitute for an experienced local guide. What Richard offers is an alternative that combines the best of both worlds: the flexibility and freedom of individual travel, and the enriched experience that can only be had in the company of an expert tour leader. His privately guided birding tours provide an itinerary that will give you the best possible chances of seeing what you want to see.

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**..Exotic Birding - Tours for Bird Lovers - Our tours are for people who

want more from a trip than additions to their life lists. Experience tropical birding in Costa Rica with Master Guides who do more than find and identify the birds for you. They explain how they identify the birds we see, sharing their methods and knowledge so participants can enhance their own birding skills while discovering the marvels of birding in the tropics. Tours are organized into week-long segments that can stand alone or be combined with successive weeks or half-weeks to create longer, more varied itineraries of your choosing. Each week we stay at two ecologically different locations, with a single hotel change mid-week, to increase the number of birds seen while affording a more relaxed pace of travel. We then fan out on day trips to discover and explore the best birding areas nearby. Discover our favorite birding spots in Corcovado National Park, Carara Biological Reserve, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, La Selva, the Sarapiqui River Basin, the Tileran Mountains, and the Talamanca Mountains during our spring tours. Or, join us on our summer tours to see giant sea turtles coming ashore to nest at Tortuguero National Park and Playa Ostional combined with terrific birding at Monteverde and the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica. We welcome all skill levels and also non-birding companions. All tours limited to 8 participants..

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**..Costa Rica Guided Expeditions - was created with the aim of

providing exclusive, personalized and private guided travel for independent travelers who prefer to travel on their own rather than with a large group or on a commercial tour. Our clients range from busy professional couples to solo travelers to families (sometimes three generations traveling together). Personalized, privately guided travel affords the traveler with the confidence of a well-planned journey without requiring you to sacrifice independence and flexibility. Each custom itinerary is created especially for you, tailored to match your budget, perfectly suited to your interests and tastes, as structured or unstructured as you would like.

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**..Birding Costa Rica with Amazilia Tours - Costa Rica has become

a favorite destination for birdwatchers. With a passion for birds and the experience acquired through exploring these regions for the past 15 years, Amazilia Tours offers you a trilingual guiding experience, during your birding trip to the Neotropics. Good field knowledge is essential to maximize the number of observed bird species during the bird tour that you have chosen.This small democracy with a land surface approximately twice the size of Wales, one fifteenth the size of Texas supports more than 850 bird species (of which around 600 are permanent residents) and attracts birdwatchers from throughout the world, both those knowledgeable about neotropical species, as well as those who simply wish to observe exotic species in their natural habitat.

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**..Birding Escapes in Costa Rica - with Selva Mar Tours. Some say,

"Birds are where you find them." Certainly there's an element of truth in that statement, otherwise rare bird alert hotlines would not exist. Nonetheless, most birds have specific habitats that they prefer, and if you want to see them, you'd better know where to look. Written accounts of where to find birds in particular localities are of aid to newcomers to a region, but are no substitute for an experienced local guide. This alternative combines the best of both worlds: the flexibility and freedom of individual travel, and the enriched experience that can only be had in the company of an expert tour leader.

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**..Costa Rica Birding with Neotropical Journeys - The tours and

programs offered by Neotropical Journeys are designed to visit destinations with rich avifaunas, outstanding wildlife, wilderness and cultural significance at their seasonal best. Neotropical Journeys is actively involved in regional and local conservation projects and organizes tours aimed to raise funds for bird and nature conservation.

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....Best Adventures Travel - this Costa Rican Tour Operator has

designed five different 10-day all-inclusive packages covering the top birdwatching sites in Costa Rica. These areas are also well known for their natural beauty and abundance of wildlife in general. Customized trips to preferred or specific destinations are also available upon request.

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....Costa Rica with Birdfinders Holidays - March 7-23, 2003. This small

country is as near as possible to the perfect birdwatching destination: it has a stable democratic government, no army (abolished in 1949), friendly people and little crime, a good infrastructure and hotels/lodges, the largest national park system in the world in relation to its size, and enormous diversity of habitat from Caribbean mangrove swamps through cloud forest to sub-alpine Paramo above the tree-line at over 3,400 metres, and from volcanoes down through tropical rainforest to the Pacific coastline.

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....The Rainforest Arial Tram - The only place in the world where

you can fly through the rain forest canopy on an aerial tramway through the treetops. See the most complex community of life on earth! Experience the rain forest up close in comfort and safety. We're located in an extensive private preserve next to Braulio Carrillo National Park. You'll agree that this is one of the most beautiful spots in Costa Rica.

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**..Costa Rica Expeditions - Costa Rica Expeditions was founded

in 1978 to help the sophisticated traveler explore Costa Rica---its flora and fauna, its people and culture, its wild and beautiful places. Experience the adventure of Tortuguero, Corcovado National Parks, and the mystery of the Monteverde Reserve cloud forest. (Each with our own Lodges.) and the thrill of tropical white water rafting.

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**..Tropical Science Center and Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve -

Various options for bird watchers are offered. During the all day tour. More than 80 species can be observed. Or, try the night tour, conducted by a select group of local guides trained in the nocturnal activity of the cloud forest.

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**..Natural History of Costa Rica: Birdwatching, Nature Photography and

RainForest Experiences - with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, Sunday, March 26 - April 13, 2003. While only a very small country, Costa Rica is home to more species of birds and as much habitat variation as found in the continental United States. From Tiskita Lodge near the Panama border with deserted Pacific beaches and wonderful forest to highland Volcan Arenal and Monteverde cloudforest, Costa Rica's wealth of well-protected natural habitats are worth an in-depth visit. We will treat you to Guanacaste's rich riverine corridors and dry forest habitats, Carara National Park on the Pacific Ocean, and the subtropical forest at La Selva and Tortuguero National Park. Leaders: Luis Diego Gomez, Director of the Wilson Botanical Gardens for the

Organization of Tropical Studies (OTS). Luis is a very exceptional Costa Rican leader and teacher. Jim Danzenbaker, who specializes in neotropical birds and seabirding, has led several trip for us in the Americas and in Antarctica.

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**..Grande Costa Rica with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) - For its

small size, Costa Rica may be the richest country in the world for birds, with more than 830 species in an area smaller than West Virginia. It boasts the finest national park system in Latin America, encompassing more than 10 percent of the country and protecting examples of all Costa Rican habitats. There is nowhere else in Central America where such diversity exists and can be reached so comfortably and easily. The four major regions of Costa Rica form distributional boundaries for birds. This tour will visit all of them. A visit to the LaSelva OTS Station is offered as an extension to Grand Costa Rica. La Selva OTS Station lies in the lowlands of the northeast. It features a marvelous system of trails through tall primary forest and restored second-growth.

Grande Costa Rica - March 13 - March 27, 2004 (15.0 days - Limit 14) with leaders Kevin Zimmer & local guide

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**..Best of Costa Rica with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) - With

habitats ranging from lowland rainforest and misty cloud forest to semiarid ranch land and treeless páramo, and with over 830 species of birds in a country the size of West Virginia, there is much to see and do here. This tour is perfect for those who want to experience the best that Costa Rica has to offer, but do not have time for a lengthy trip. The pace is reasonable, though designed to see a remarkable cross section of the avifauna, and the accommodations are comfortable throughout. Best of Costa Rica is an excellent introduction to the joys of Neotropical birding.

Best of Cost Rica - March 20 - April 1, 2004 (13.0 days - Limit 14) with leaders David Wolfe and Mimi Wolfe

...

**..Summer Costa Rica with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) - This

Summer Costa Rica tour was originally conceived to make it possible for teachers to experience this great birding paradise. Although the rainy season begins in May, our tour is designed to take advantage of the two-week veranillo that provides a break in the rainy season in mid-July. Generally, only one brief rainfall occurs each afternoon followed by bird activity almost as good as at dawn. Thus, little birding time is actually lost to rain. Another advantage of this tour is not having to search through Neotropic migrants that are now nesting in North America. When one does find a bird alone or in a flock, it will be a Costa Rican resident–a bird one usually cannot see in North America.

Summer Costa Rica - July 7 - July 20, 2002 (12.0 days - Limit 14) with leaders Jeri Langham & Shawn Hayes

Eco-Lodges

See DISCLAIMER

Yellow-headed Caracara - Photo copyright Arthur Grosset

Photo copyright Arthur Grosset
..... Orange-fronted Parakeet - Photo copyright Jean Coronel

Photo copyright Jean Coronel .....
Green-fronted Lancebill - Photo copyright Neotropical Journeys

Photo copyright Neotropical Journeys ...
Tawny-winged Woodcreeper - Photo copyright Marcus Martin

Photo copyright Marcus Martin

**..Rainbow Adventures - located on Playa Cativo, Golfo Dulce (Sweet

Gulf) on the west coast of southern Costa Rica.The lodge is a scenic and exciting 45 minute boat ride from Golfito. Dolphins often swim alongside your boat. Known as “The Last Frontier of Costa Rica”, the Golfo Dulce region is lush with a multitude of flowering and fruiting plants and trees. The preserve is alive with monkeys, tropical birds and spectacular butterflies. Toucans, parrots, and large iridescent blue Morpho butterflies are favorites seen from your room. Rainbow Adventures Bird List.

**..Lapa Rios - Set in a private nature reserve spread over 1,000 acres of

Central America's last remaining lowland tropical rainforest, Lapa Rios overlooks the pristine point where the Golfo Dulce meets the wild Pacific Ocean, making it the destination that matches every one's idea of paradise. Lapa Rios offers a wilderness adventure few ever experience. Lapa Rios is part of the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, the same forest as nearby Corcovado Park. Miles of private, uncrowded trails in prime rain forest, cool rivers wild with waterfalls and pools, and unspoiled, safe sand beaches. Excellent birdwatching (over 300 species). All tours use trained naturalists for guides. Lapa Rios Bird List.

.....Bueno Vista Beach and Jungle Lodge - Buena Vista is located

on Playa Cativo on the protected Pacific Ocean bay of Golfo Dulce. While visiting Buena Vista you will have a wonderful opportunity to observe the rich tropical biodiversity & photograph Costa Rican wildlife in their native habitat. Bird (218 species) and animal checklist.

.....Posada Andrea Cristina - Costa Rican Bed & Breakfast. Less than

two hours by car from San José, this Bed and Breakfast is a place to enjoy the wonderful natural beauty of this area. Just minutes from the door, you can embark on a boat trip down the Sarapiquí River, or take a guided tour through a rainforest preserve. Rafting, bird-watching, horseback riding, and cultural activities are all right in the "back yard". The owner has a special interest in Buffon's (Great Green) Macaw and is involved in conservation efforts for the birds. He can attempt to guide visitors to places where these endangered birds can be viewed in the wild.

.....Genesis II Lodge and Private Nature Reserve - The FORever Cloud

FORest in Costa Rica. If you care to experience the gentle mystery of a virgin cloud forest, Genesis II, a 7,500-foot high, private forest reserve just a few km. off the Inter-American Highway is a less crowded and more easily accessible option than internationally renowned Monteverde Reserve in north central Costa Rica. One and one half hours south of San José, the reserve encompasses 75 acres of untouched cloud forest and 20 acres currently being restored to its natural state. Enjoy the Talamanca Treescape Tour. This is a canopy access system with a zipline at Genesis II - a canopy access system for comfortable viewing at different canopy levels. It is the highest elevation in Costa Rica and overlooks the Macizo de la Muerte National Park.The prestigious “New Key to Costa Rica” guide book recognizes Genesis II as one of 45 ecolodges meeting high-quality sustainable tourism standards. See also the Genesis II Bird List

Local Birding Events

Photo copyright Manuel Grosselet

.....The Birding Club of Costa Rica - Outing Schedule for 2000. The
Birding Club of Costa Rica, founded in 1995, is the only English-speaking birding club in Costa Rica. The club agenda includes regular monthly birding outings to all parts of the country and to date we have visited more than 50 different birding sites.
.....TROPICAL BIRDING COURSES IN COSTA RICA, given since
1993. (two weeks): July 26 – August 7, 2004. Travel and learn while you go over Costa Rica. Courses given in four different environments (Lifes Zones). Highly efficient teaching methodology. Students are trained to identify just in the field, down to family and genus level most of birds in the tropics, and to continue making progresses by their own down to species level. Complete course description and testimonies from previous students in our website. Costs: US$ 1800.00 which covers everything while you are in Costa Rica. We offer partial fellowships. Contact: Dr. Humberto Jiménez Saa. Apdo. 8-5857-1000/ San José, Costa Rica. FAX: (506) 2534963. Phones: (506) 291-0862; 231-1236 (hjimenez@racsa.co.cr).

Central American Specialities

in Costa Rica

Photo copyright David Massie

Information on endemics and specialities is derived from Sibley & Monroe checklists and bird distribution lists in Thayer's Birder's Diary - Version 2.5. Information on endangered birds is derived from the IUCN Red List, Birdlife International, and supporting data bases developed by Ian Patton, of Merlin Species Watcher. The endemic, endangered and speciality birds may be uncommon, extremely rare vagrants, may be extirpated in the country now or may only be present in migration. However, documented sightings of each species noted below have been made in Costa Rica.

Photo copyright Richard Garrigues

...

Costa Rica Endemics (for more information on Costa Rica endemics - see Richard Garrigues page)
___ Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager ___ Cocos Cuckoo	___ Cocos Finch ___ Cocos Flycatcher	___ Coppery-headed Emerald ___ Mangrove Hummingbird
Endemics Shared Only by Panama and Costa Rica
___ Baird's Trogon ___ Bare-necked Umbrellabird ___ Black Guan ___ Black-and-Yellow Silky Flycatcher ___ Black-and-Yellow Tanager ___ Black-bellied Hummingbird ___ Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush ___ Black-breasted Wood-Quail ___ Black-capped Flycatcher ___ Black-cheeked Warbler ___ Black-faced Solitaire ___ Black-hooded Antshrike ___ Black-thighed Grosbeak ___ Blue-and-gold Tanager ___ Buff-fronted Quail-Dove ___ Charming Hummingbird ___ Chiriqui Yellowthroat ___ Collared Redstart ___ Dark Pewee ___ Dusky Nightjar	___ Fiery-billed Aracari ___ Fiery-throated Hummingbird ___ Flame-throated Warbler ___ Garden Emerald ___ Golden-bellied Flycatcher ___ Golden-browed Cholophonia ___ Grey-tailed Mountain-Gem ___ Large-footed Finch ___ Lattice-tailed Trogon ___ Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher ___ Magenta-throated Woodstar ___ Ochraceous Pewee ___ Ochraceous Wren ___ Orange-bellied Trogon ___ Peg-billed Finch ___ Prong-billed Barbet ___ Red-fronted Parrotlet ___ Riverside Wren ___ Ruddy Treerunner ___ Rufous-breasted Quail-Dove ___ Scintillant Hummingbird ___ Silvery-fronted Tapaculo	___ Silvery-throated Jay ___ Slaty Flower-piercer ___ Snowy-breasted Hummingbird ___ Sooty Thrush ___ Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager ___ Spangle-cheeked Tanager ___ Spot-crowned Euphonia ___ Streak-breasted Treehunter ___ Sulphur-rumped Tanager ___ Sulphur-winged Parakeet ___ Tawny-chested Flycatcher ___ Timberline Wren ___ Turqouise Cotinga ___ Volcano Hummingbird ___ Volcano Junco ___ White-bellied Mountain-Gem ___ White-crested Coquette ___ White-tailed Emerald ___ Wrenthrush ___ Yellow-billed Cotinga ___ Yellow-thighed Finch ___ Yellow-winged Vireo
... Central American Endemic Specialities in Costa Rica
___ Black-Throated Wren ___ Crimson-fronted Parakeet ___ Grey-headed Piprites ___ Hoffman's Woodpecker ___ Indigo-capped Hummingbird ___ Nicaraguan Grackle	___ Nicaraguan Seed-Finch ___ Purple-throated Mountain-gem ___ Rufous-winged Woodpecker ___ Snowcap ___ Snowy Cotinga ___ Streak-crowned Antvireo	___ Stripe-breasted Wren ___ Three-wattled Bellbird ___ White-throated Mountain-gem ___ White-throated Shrike-Tanager ___ Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Endangered Birds in Costa Rica (endemics are printed in *bold italics*)
Breeding Birds		Non-breeding Birds
___ Bare-necked Umbrellabird ___ *Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager* ___ *Cocos Cuckoo* ___ *Cocos Finch* ___ *Cocos Flycatcher*	___ *Mangrove Hummingbird* ___ Military Macaw ___ Three-wattled Bellbird ___ Turquoise Cotinga ___ Yellow-billed Cotinga	___ Markham's Storm-Petrel

Print and Other Resources on Birds

and Birding in Costa Rica

(logos and links take you to on-line locations where you can order/purchase these resources)
....

AMAZON.COM is the registered trademark of Amazon.com, Inc.

A small portion of your purchase price for any books purchased by following links from this site will go toward supporting the maintenance and development costs of this site.
Golden-naped Woodpecker - Photo copyright Giuliano Gerra and Silvio Sommazzi

Golden-naped Woodpecker - Photo copyright Giuliano Gerra and Silvio Sommazzi

Photo copyright Giuliano Gerra and Silvio Sommazzi ...
Violet-headed Hummingbird - Photo copyright Richard Garrigues

Photo copyright Richard Garrigues

....A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica - by F. Gary Stiles, Alexander F.

Skutch (Contributor), Dana Gardner (Illustrator) Paperback (December 1989) This is the definitive reference source on the birds of Costa Rica and is quite suitable for the backpack as well (I carry my copy in a waterproof ziplock bag while in the field). Spanish names are included for all species--a very helpful feature.

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....A Guide to the Birds of Panama : With Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and

Honduras - by Robert S. Ridgely, John A. Gwynne (Contributor). Paperback 2nd edition (August 1992). Revised and expanded edition of a marvelous field guide to some 1,000 species in this rich and varied (and threatened) region. About 850 of the species are illustrated, most on 48 color plates, of which 19 were newly prepared for their edition.

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....Travel & Site Guide to Birds of Costa Rica With Side Trips to Panama

by Aaron D. Sekerak, Elissa Conger (Illustrator). Paperback - 256 pages (December 1996) This is not a birding field guide, but a helpful guide to quite a few Costa Rica birding sites. Very good descriptions of sites included (including some information not available elsewhere) but many other places were not covered. The author's assessments are useful. Supplements other guides.

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....Birds Songs of Nature Net CD Shop - Environmental Soundscapes of

Costa Rica by CD Nature

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....Adventures in Birdwatching: Vol 3 - Rare Birds of Costa Rica -

This 3-Volume Set is produced in association with the National Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. Join nature enthusiast Ken Dial as he travels to several birding hot spots filled with the most spectacular species of birds imaginable.

Links checked October 15, 2001