Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus), Maquenque Ecolodge
In terms of birds, I managed to observe many of the species I wanted to see during the March 2020 trip to Costa Rica. The total number of observed species of around 200 was nevertheless lower than expected based on the rich avifauna in this tropical country (with 950 species in total). I saw (or heard with guides) four species of toucans, four species of trogons (including the Resplendent Quetzal) and at least 18 species of hummingbirds (see own page for the hummers), in addition to the near threatened Great Green Macaw and the Scarlet Macaw. I also found and managed to get photos of two sought-after heron species, one type of tiger-heron (Bare-throated Tiger-heron) and the Boat-billed Heron. And of course, I was happy to observe three of the colorful honeycreeper species (the Green, Red-legged and Shiny Honeycreeper).
Maybe a bit surprising for me, the trip was not particularly good for raptors. I saw the King Vulture at two locations, in the Turtoguero region and in Boca Tapada. To get good photos of the King Vulture, I had to go to a bird hide with carcasses in the latter location. Even if it was raining heavily, this tour was well worth the extra money. The Turkey and Black vultures were common. Also, the Common Black Hawk was relatively common, as were the Crested and Yellow-headed Caracara (on the Pacific coast). I also saw Osprey, Roadside Hawk, and Swainson's Hawk. Otherwise, in transit I saw many small falcon-like raptors perching on wires in the Caribbean lowland, but I am not sure about the ID of these birds. Reading online, I see I am not the first to question "Where are the raptors when birding Costa Rica?" Although the high biodiversity and high number of species, many of them are rare, and their populations are low. To find many of the rarer forest-dwelling species, you must plan ahead and search for them specifically.
But all in all, I was happy with seeing many of the "sought-after" species and getting decent photos of some of them. A list of the birds seen can be seen here.
Collared Aracari, Maquenque Ecolodge
Collared Aracari in the early morning rain-forest, Tortuguero
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii), Maquenque Ecolodge
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Tirimbina Lodge
Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), La Paz
Keel-billed Toucan, La Paz. Also seen and heard at Maquenque Ecolodge
A sleeping Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus). This is how you see them at night, just a curled-up feather ball. Monteverde night walk
This is how the Emerald Toucanet really looks like, La Paz (caged bird)
The Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), Monteverde Cloud Forest. Not easy to get good photo of as it was hidden in the treetops in the dense rainforest. But very happy to see one at all!
The Resplendent Quetzal (a trogon) is one of the most-sought after birds in Costa Rica. Maybe not strange, given its spectacular beauty. I had to hire my own bird guide to find this species in Monteverde. Walked around for three hours on the trails in the cloud forest, and then found one just at the end!
Partly hidden Slaty-tailed Trogon (Trogon massena), Tortuguero
Slaty-tailed Trogon, Tirimbina Nature Reserve
Black-throated Trogon - female (Trogon rufus), Selva Verde Nature Reserve
Black-throated Trogon - male, Selva Verde Nature Reserve
Lesson's Motmot (Momotus lessoni), Monteverde night walk
Brown Jay (Psilorhinus morio), Monteverde night walk
Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa), Cerro Lodge
Turquoise-browed Motmot, near Cerro Lodge
Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao), Cerro Lodge
A Scarlet Macaw at Cerro Lodge
Scarlet Macaw drinking and eating the fruit from the Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale), Cerro Lodge
Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus), Maquenque Ecolodge
Brown-hooded Parrot (Pyrilia haematotis), Maquenque Ecolodge
Brown-hooded Parrot, Maquenque Ecolodge
Orange-fronted Parakeet (Eupsittula canicularis), Cerro Lodge Entrance Road
Yellow-naped Parrot (Amazona auropalliata), Cerro Lodge
Olive-throated Parakeet (Eupsittula nana), Tortuguero
Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa), Tortuguero
Orange-chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis), Maquenque Ecolodge
Orange-chinned Parakeet, Maquenque Ecolodge
Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma), Maquenque Ecolodge
Montezuma Oropendola, Maquenque Ecolodge
Great Curassow - male (Crax rubra), Tortuguero
Great Curassow - female, La Fortuna
Black Guan (Chamaepetes unicolor), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Russet-naped Wood-rail (Aramides albiventris), Frio River in Caño Negro
Grey-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis cinereiceps), Tirimbina Lodge
Grey-headed Chachalaca, Tirimbina Lodge
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana), Cerro Lodge
Squirrel Cuckoo, Cerro Lodge
Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis cayennensis), Sarapiquí River
Green Ibis, Sarapiquí River
White Ibis - immature (Eudocimus albus), Frio River in Caño Negro
White Ibis, Frio River in Caño Negro
Bare-throated Tiger-heron - immature (Tigrisoma mexicanum), Tortuguero
Bare-throated Tiger-heron, Tarcoles River
A really strange fella, the Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius), La Fortuna
Boat-billed Heron, Frio River in Caño Negro
Green Heron (Butorides virescens), Tarcoles River
Green Heron, Boca Tapada
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), Tortuguero
Snowy Egret, Sarapiqui River
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), Sarapiqui River
Great Blue Heron, Tortuguero
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor), Tortuguero
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Tarcoles River
Little Blue Heron, white morph (Egretta caerulea), Tortuguero
Little Blue Heron, blue morph (Egretta caerulea), Sarapiqui River
Yellow-crowned Night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea), Tortuguero
Yellow-crowned Night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea), Tortuguero
Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), Tarcoles River
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), Frio River in Caño Negro
Anhinga - male (Anhinga anhinga), Tortuguero
Catch of the day. Anhinga - female, Frio River in Caño Negro
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus), Frio River in Caño Negro
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), with a Great Egret (Ardea alba), near Caño Negro
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus), Tortuguero
Purple Gallinule - immature, Maquenque Ecolodge
Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa), Tortuguero
Northern Jacana - immature, Maquenque Ecolodge
Black-bellied Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis). Sitting outside an aviary at La Paz, saying hello to its locked-in friends
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), Tortuguero
Sanderling (Calidris alba), Tortuguero
Sanderling, Tortuguero
Spotted Sandpiper - nonbreeding (Actitis macularius), Sarapiqui River
Spotted Sandpiper, with spots, Maquenque Ecolodge
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), Tortuguero
Shorebirds near the outlet of Tarcoles River. These are Willet (Tringa semipalmata), Short-Billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) (presumely Short-Billed based on location), Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca), and a small Sandpiper behind the Willet to the left (could be Least Sandpiper)
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), Tortuguero
Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus), Tarcoles River
Magnificent Frigatebird (Himantopus mexicanus), Tarcoles River
Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) at dusk, Cerro Lodge
Sungrebe - male or nonbreeding female (Heliornis fulica), Tortuguero
Sungrebe - breeding female, Tortuguero
Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Sunbittern with catch of the day, a freshwater crab, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Red-legged Honeycreeper - male (Cyanerpes cyaneus), Maquenque Ecolodge
Red-legged Honeycreeper - female, Maquenque Ecolodge
Green Honeycreeper - male (Chlorophanes spiza), Maquenque Ecolodge
Green Honeycreeper - female, Maquenque Ecolodge
Shining Honeycreeper - male (Cyanerpes lucidus), Maquenque Ecolodge
Shining Honeycreeper - female, Maquenque Ecolodge
Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata), Maquenque Ecolodge
Golden-hooded Tanager, Boca Tapada
Scarlet-rumped Tanager - male (Ramphocelus passerinii), Maquenque Ecolodge
Scarlet-rumped Tanager - female (Ramphocelus passerinii), La Fortuna
Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum), Maquenque Ecolodge
Palm Tanager, Maquenque Ecolodge
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus), Maquenque Ecolodge
Blue-gray Tanager, Maquenque Ecolodge
Red-throated Ant-tanager (Habia fuscicauda), La Fortuna
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra), Cerro Lodge
Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus), Cerro Lodge
Pale-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis), seen from the tree-house at Maquenque Ecologde
Hoffman's Woodpecker (Melanerpes hoffmannii), Hotel Bougainvillea, San Jose
Hybrid between Hoffman's Woodpecker and Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus), Cerro Lodge
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Red-crowned x Hoffmann's Woodpecker (hybrid) Melanerpes sp., near Cerro Lodge
Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani), La Fortuna
Rufous-winged Woodpecker (Piculus simplex), Maquenque Ecologde
Smoky-brown Woodpecker (Picoides fumigatus), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Ringed Kingfisher - female (Megaceryle torquata), Sarapiqui River
Ringed Kingfisher - male, Tortuguero
Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana), Tarcoles River
Green Kingfisher, Frio River in Caño Negro
Amazon Kingfisher - male (Chloroceryle amazona), Sarapiqui River
Amazon Kingfisher - female, Sarapiqui River
American Pygmy Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea), Frio River in Caño Negro
American Pygmy Kingfisher, Frio River in Caño Negro
Yellowish Flycatcher (Empidonax flavescens), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Yellow-olive Flycatcher (Tolmomyias sulphurescens), Cerro Lodge
Streaked Flycatcher (Myiodynastes maculatus), Cerro Lodge
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), Frio River in Caño Negro
Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer), La Fortuna
Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus), Maquenque Ecolodge
Scrub Euphonia (Euphonia affinis), near Cerro Lodge
Could be a female Yellow-crowned Euphonia (Euphonia luteicapilla), La Fortuna
Greenish Elaenia (Myiopagis viridicata), near Cerro Lodge
Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster), Tortuguero
Female Rose-throated Becard (Pachyramphus aglaiae), near Cerro Lodge
Rose-throated Becard, Cerro Lodge
It was difficult to get good photos of birds under the dense canopy in the cloud forest. Here a poor image of a Slate-throated Redstart (Myioborus miniatus), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Gray-breasted Wood-wren (Henicorhina leucophrys), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Rufous-naped Wren (Campylorhynchus capistratus), San Jose
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), Maquenque Ecolodge
Streak-headed Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii), Maquenque Ecolodge
Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Cerro Lodge
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus), San Jose
Struggling with the heat! A Great Kiskadee, San Jose
Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis), San Jose
Social Flycatcher, Boca Tapada
Could be a White-ringed Flycatcher (Conopias albovittatus)? Has whitish eyelids and longer? bill which is supposedly distinguishing it from the almost identical Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis), Sarapiqui River
Gray-capped Flycatcher (Myiozetetes granadensis), Boca Tapada
Yellow-throated Euphonia (Euphonia hirundinacea), La Fortuna
Buff-throated Saltator (Saltator maximus), Maquenque Ecolodge
Black-crowned Tityra with a fat lunch (Tityra inquisitor), Cerro Lodge
Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus), with a pair of Black-crowned Tityra, Boca Tapada
Variable Seedeater - female (Sporophila corvina), Sarapiqui
Variable Seedeater - male, Tortuguero
Black-faced Solitaire (Myadestes melanops), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis), La Paz
Clay-colored Thrush (Turdus grayi). Of all the colorful birds they have, Costa Rica selected this one as their national bird!
It's song is beautiful, especially in the morning. So I can understand why the Clay-colored Thrush was selected as national bird after all
Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris), Sarapiqui
Groove-billed Ani, Cerro Lodge
Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea), Sarapiqui River
Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis), Boca Tapada
Cinnamon Becard (Pachyramphus cinnamomeus), Boca Tapada
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola), La Paz
According to the guide, a Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia). Corrected to Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica), Ecocentro Danaus, La Fortuna
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana), Boca Tapada
Another one of the cryptic birds encountered on a night walk, the White-eared Ground-Sparrow (Melozone leucotis), Monteverde cloud forest
Saw the sleeping Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) on several night walks, here from Tirimbina Nature Reserve
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla), La Fortuna
Stripe-headed Sparrow (Peucaea ruficauda), near Cerro Lodge
Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives), Maquenque Ecolodge
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus), San Jose
According to the guide, this was a Nicaraguan Grackle (Quiscalus nicaraguensis), Caño Negro. This species is endemic to Nicaragua and the Caño Negro region of Costa Rica, and a much-sought after bird to tick off for birders
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus), Caño Negro
Streak-backed Oriole (Icterus pustulatus), Cerro Lodge
Streak-backed Oriole, Cerro Lodge
Baltimore Oriole - female (Icterus galbula), Cerro Lodge
Baltimore Oriole - male, Cerro Lodge
Yellow Tyrannulet (Capsiempis flaveola), La Foruna
Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus), Maquenque Ecoloodge
Inca Dove (Columbina inca), Cerro Lodge
Pale-vented Pigeon (Patagioenas cayennensis), Maquenque Ecoloodge
White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi), Maquenque Ecoloodge
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica), San Jose
King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa), Tortuguero
King Vulture, Boca Tapada
King Vulture, Boca Tapada
King Vulture - immature, Boca Tapada
The clean-up crew. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) at a cow carcass along Tarcoles River
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Turtoguero
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway), Cerro Lodge Entrance Road
Yellow-headed Caracara - immature (Milvago chimachima), Cerro Lodge
Yellow-headed Caracara, Tarcoles River
Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus), Tortuguero
Common "Mangrove" Black Hawk, Tarcoles River
A migrating Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni), near Cerro Lodge
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Tarcoles River
A distant Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris), Boca Tapada
Common Black Hawk, Tarcoles River