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Costa Rica is home to some fabulously colored birds, including the stunning Orange-collared Manakin. Photo by guide Megan Crewe.
Costa Rica has long been a favorite of birders and nature lovers, and it's certainly easy to see why -- the country is stuffed full of wonderful places to visit, and fabulous encounters with wildlife are practically guaranteed. We spent two weeks ranging across the middle part of the country, from the steamy lowlands of the Caribbean slope and the dry beaches of the Pacific coast to the country's mountainous spine. And everywhere we went there were birds -- nearly 520 species by the tour's end. We had many highlights:
A Collared Forest-Falcon peered from a leafy tree. A soggy Streak-breasted Treehunter sat in the rain beside its burrow nesthole. A pair of Great Green Macaws nuzzled each other in a late afternoon session of allopreening. A cloud of Fiery-throated Hummingbirds swarmed around mountain feeders. A pair of Resplendent Quetzals (and there's an appropriate name, if ever there was one) ferried mouthfuls to a nest of unseen youngsters. A stockstill Slaty-breasted Tinamou whistled beside a rainforest trail. A family of Spotted Wood-Quails scrabbled for tasty morsels in the leaf litter. Big flocks of Tawny-crested Tanagers swirled through the underbrush at Braulio Carrillo. A Gray-necked Wood-Rail stalked around the entrance gates at La Selva. Raspberry-bright male Snowcaps and handsomely tufted Black-crested Coquettes flitted around tiny purple vervain flowers. A Brown-billed Scythebill rested on a mossy branch. A blue-faced Black Guan gobbled figs. A Tawny-chested Flycatcher sallied after insects from a branch within touching distance of half the group.
Volcano Juncos scratched along the roadside. Male Red-capped and Blue-crowned manakins lit up the dark shadows of a bathing pool in Carara late one afternoon. A Bay Wren chortled from a streamside bush. Long-tailed Silky-Flycatchers posed on treetops. A crowd of Black-cheeked Warblers carefully checked a thicket of tree branches. A male Elegant Euphonia nibbled mistletoe berries. An Ocellated Antbird crept through shadowy undergrowth. A sleepy Black-and-white Owl gazed down from a tree in the middle of a town square. Long-tailed Tyrants investigated a nest hole. A trio of Silvery-throated Jays slipped through a misty forest. Montezuma Oropendolas gurgled and bubbled and performed their somersaulting courtship displays. And mixed flocks of tanagers, euphonias, and warblers, or treerunners, barbtails, and woodcreepers swarmed through forests throughout, delighting -- and occasionally overwhelming -- all with their speed and variety.
Thanks to all of you for your patience, good humor, expert spotting and fine companionship -- you helped to make the trip good fun. Lena and I hope to see you again somewhere, someday on another tour!
-- Megan
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
BIRDS
Tinamidae (Tinamous)
A little family group of Spotted Wood-Quail along one of the trails at Savegre gave us fantastic "up close and personal" views as they scratched and scuffled in the leaf litter. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
SLATY-BREASTED TINAMOU (Crypturellus boucardi) – One sang beside a trail at La Selva, allowing more than 20 minutes of scope views -- virtually unheard of!
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
MUSCOVY DUCK (Cairina moschata) – A pair flew past, showing the remarkable size difference between males and females, while we birded near the entrance to La Selva.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors) – Several pairs floated on the Rio Birris reservoir.
Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows)
GRAY-HEADED CHACHALACA (Ortalis cinereiceps) – Particularly common around Rancho Naturalista, where the fruit feeders below the veranda had a steady stream of "regulars".
CRESTED GUAN (Penelope purpurascens) – A treeful of them gobbled figs in the clearing by the researchers' cabins at La Selva. A few unlucky individuals also got chased around by a very hostile (and very determined) male Great Curassow!
BLACK GUAN (Chamaepetes unicolor)
GREAT CURASSOW (Crax rubra) – Fabulous views of both males and females in the main clearings at La Selva.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
BUFFY-CROWNED WOOD-PARTRIDGE (Dendrortyx leucophrys) – We heard a loud rollicking chorus of these from the scruffy hillside below Sanchiri Hotel while we waited for the group to assemble one morning. [*]
BLACK-BREASTED WOOD-QUAIL (Odontophorus leucolaemus) – Seven sprinted across the road just outside the gate at Tapanti National Park, then turned around and sprinted back. Fortunately, a few paused at the road edge, allowing us all brief views of their strikingly white throats.
SPOTTED WOOD-QUAIL (Odontophorus guttatus)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
Beauty and the beast? A Roseate Spoonbill shares a branch with a Wood Stork in the mangroves near the Tarcol River. Photo by guide Megan Crewe.
Ciconiidae (Storks)
WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana)
Fregatidae (Frigatebirds)
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata magnificens) – Tornadoes of these graceful fliers circled over the Pacific coast.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – A scattering dried their wings on snags in the Tarcol River, waving gently as our boat motored past.
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis) – Dozens, including an impressive number of youngsters, snoozed on the sand bar at Playa Tarcoles.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
FASCIATED TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma fasciatum)
BARE-THROATED TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma mexicanum) – A young bird stalked prey along the grassy edge of the river under La Selva's suspension bridge, and a handsome adult flew past our boat while we birded the Tarcol River.
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea)
TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nyctanassa violacea) – An adult and a youngster flushed out of the mangroves when we stopped to take a look at the Boat-billed Heron nest.
BOAT-BILLED HERON (Cochlearius cochlearius) – An adult with a half-grown (and still fluffy) chick on a nest in the mangroves were among the highlights of our boat trip. [N]
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
A Fasciated Tiger-Heron poses in the rushing Rio San Jose. Photo by guide Megan Crewe.
GREEN IBIS (Mesembrinibis cayennensis) – Two flew past while we drove to La Selva one morning -- unfortunately in a place where we couldn't pull over for a proper look.
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura) – Regular throughout, including hundreds of birds streaming north over La Selva one morning.
KING VULTURE (Sarcoramphus papa) – An adult and a youngster circled over a forested ridge in Braulio Carrillo NP, seen from a pullout near the highway bridge.
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) – Two soared past over the Bougainvillea Hotel, seen on our pre breakfast walk the first morning of the tour.
HOOK-BILLED KITE (Chondrohierax uncinatus) – An adult male circled high overhead at Rancho Naturalista, seen by those who hiked the upper trail with Harry and Lena.
GRAY-HEADED KITE (Leptodon cayanensis) – One flew in and landed in a tree right beside the group along La Selva's entrance road on our first morning there. It moved a few times, showing us all possible sides and angles before heading off across a field.
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus)
ORNATE HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus ornatus) – A soaring bird high over the river at Tapanti was one of the only raptors we saw in the park.
BLACK-AND-WHITE HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus melanoleucus) – Some fine spotting by Lena of a high-flying bird drifting past over Pueblo Nuevo marsh. This species is not particularly common over much of Costa Rica.
DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE (Harpagus bidentatus) – Our best looks came along Carara's Laguna Meandrica trail, where we found one perched atop a broken palm tree right beside the path.
PLUMBEOUS KITE (Ictinia plumbea)
BICOLORED HAWK (Accipiter bicolor)
COMMON BLACK-HAWK (MANGROVE) (Buteogallus anthracinus subtilis)
GREAT BLACK-HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga) – Two soared along a ridge near the Silencio road, being harassed by a couple of Swallow-tailed Kites -- and showing their distinctive white rumps as they circled.
BARRED HAWK (Morphnarchus princeps)
ROADSIDE HAWK (Rupornis magnirostris) – Several around Rancho Naturalista, including one snuggled onto a nest near the manager's house and two noisy birds flying past over the forest feeders.
A pair of Bicolored Hawks with a nest near the forest hummingbird feeders at Rancho Naturalista proved exceptionally confiding -- though the viewing was occasionally x-rated! Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus)
GRAY HAWK (Buteo plagiatus)
SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Buteo brachyurus)
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni) – Dozens were sprinkled among the river of Turkey Vultures headed north over La Selva. It was surprising how small and falcon-like they looked in comparison!
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Eurypygidae (Sunbittern)
SUNBITTERN (Eurypyga helias) – One along the little stream beside the Silencio road sadly proved very wary, sneaking around some boulders just upstream from the group, then quickly flying past -- though at least we all got a view of that glorious upperwing design!
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-THROATED CRAKE (Laterallus albigularis) – Heard on four days, including multiple pairs at Pueblo Nuevo marsh -- with two invisible birds chorusing right below. [*]
GRAY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL (Aramides cajaneus)
PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinicus)
Aramidae (Limpkin)
LIMPKIN (Aramus guarauna)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis) – A handful of these handsome plovers hunted for prey among the cattle at Casa Turire, and others picked along the edges of the Rio Tarcoles, seen from the big bridge.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis dominica) – One with a mixed shorebird flock on a sandbar at Playa Tarcoles was a surprise.
COLLARED PLOVER (Charadrius collaris) – Two of these tiny plovers pattered about on a sandy riverbank, seen where we turned around on our afternoon boat trip along the Rio Tarcoles.
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) – A couple wading along the shoreline of the Rio Tarcoles kept us entertained between scanning for thick-knees and Collared Plovers.
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
A Gray-breasted Wood-Rail stalked around the entrance gates at La Selva, searching for tidbits underneath the lights. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) – One waggled its way along the rocks in Rio San Jose, already starting to show some of its spots, and dozens more scattered in front of our boat as we motored through the mangroves around Rio Tarcoles.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) – One among the yellowlegs at the Rio Birris Reservoir allowed us a good chance to study their differences.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
WILLET (Tringa semipalmata)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
WHIMBREL (Numenius phaeopus)
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Calidris pusilla) – Small numbers of this species and the next mingled on the sandy edges of the Rio Tarcoles at Playa Azul, not far from the former Tarcol Lodge. Both peeps are winter visitors to Costa Rica.
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla) – Mobs, including a handful just starting to molt into their black-headed breeding plumage, hunted, rested and laughed along the coast at Playa Tarcoles.
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica) – A lucky few spotted one winging past at Playa Tarcoles.
ROYAL TERN (Thalasseus maximus) – A mixed tern flock on the black sand beach at Playa Tarcoles held plenty of these big, orange-billed terns.
SANDWICH TERN (Thalasseus sandvicensis) – And these smaller terns were liberally sprinkled through the same roosting flock at Playa Tarcoles.
ELEGANT TERN (Thalasseus elegans) – A single bird lurked in the tern roost at Playa Tarcoles. Unfortunately, it disappeared behind several Royal Terns before everybody got a chance to see it in the scope, and it was never seen again.
BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
The floppy curls of a female Great Curassow are pretty striking -- as is the rest of her. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
PALE-VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis)
RED-BILLED PIGEON (Patagioenas flavirostris) – Abundant and widespread, with particularly nice scope studies on the grounds of the Hotel Bougainvillea our first morning.
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata)
RUDDY PIGEON (Patagioenas subvinacea) – This higher elevation "sister" of the next species was seen in the Savegre Valley and heard at Rancho Naturalista. Its "hit the foul pole" song is slower and subtly different from the "up cup a coo" of the very similarly plumaged Short-billed Pigeon.
SHORT-BILLED PIGEON (Patagioenas nigrirostris)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti) – Common in the Caribbean lowlands, with good looks at both sexes along La Selva's entrance road.
BLUE GROUND-DOVE (Claravis pretiosa) – A lucky few happened to be in the right part of the boat to see a male that perched briefly in the mangroves along the Rio Tarcoles.
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)
GRAY-CHESTED DOVE (Leptotila cassini)
RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE (Geotrygon montana) – Wow! It's not often that this skulking forest species performs QUITE so well as the one that mooched along beside the trail to the manakin pools at Carara. After watching it for nearly 10 minutes, we finally walked away!
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana)
MANGROVE CUCKOO (Coccyzus minor) – One below the big bridge over Rio Tarcoles was a surprise; it's certainly unexpected to see one of these wary birds from above!
STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia) – One heard calling from a weedy field near the Great Green Macaw nest. [*]
LESSER GROUND-CUCKOO (Morococcyx erythropygus) – Wow! Spectacularly close views of one that sneaked up to the top of a big nearby log and peered around. We decided they looked vaguely Egyptian!
GROOVE-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga sulcirostris)
Strigidae (Owls)
This little Vermiculated Screech-Owl led us on quite the merry dance before finally showing itself. Video by guide Megan Crewe.
VERMICULATED SCREECH-OWL (GUATEMALAN) (Megascops guatemalae vermiculatus)
BARE-SHANKED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops clarkii) – Two snoozing in a dense clump of leaves just off one of the trails at Curi-Cancha Reserve were a highlight of our ramble around the rather slimy trails through the lovely woods there.
SPECTACLED OWL (Pulsatrix perspicillata) – A pair (or their youngster) at La Quinta were seen on several days near the dining room -- by those who got up early enough, that is! We heard their distinctive calls on multiple occasions there.
COSTA RICAN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium costaricanum) – A calling bird right over the road through the Savegre valley was a nice surprise during one afternoon's walk -- and completely disrupted our search for Rufous-browed Peppershrike!
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium brasilianum) – One tooting in a little street tree in Playa Azul attracted an anxious mob of small birds.
MOTTLED OWL (Ciccaba virgata)
BLACK-AND-WHITE OWL (Ciccaba nigrolineata) – They're back! After several years away, the pair that haunts the main square in Orotina have returned -- and we spotted one peering down at us just before dusk rendered it invisible.
STRIPED OWL (Pseudoscops clamator) – A roadside bird, focused intently on the ground below it, was an unexpected treat on our return to Punta Leona late one afternoon.
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
This doesn't look like a particularly safe spot for a nest, but in reality this Common Pauraque had a roof over her head and two posts to protect her nest from passing vehicle tires. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis) – Common over the Tarcoles River as dusk fell toward the end of our boat trip.
COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis) [N]
DUSKY NIGHTJAR (Antrostomus saturatus) – Nose to nose views of a bird right beside the bus near the start of the Savegre valley road.
Nyctibiidae (Potoos)
GREAT POTOO (Nyctibius grandis) – To see not one, but TWO species of potoo on the nest is quite extraordinary. This larger species was doing its best "don't mind me, I'm just a broken snag" imitation in a dead roadside tree en route to La Quinta. [N]
COMMON POTOO (Nyctibius griseus) – And this one was panting in the hot sun in a dead tree just up the hill from the main building at Rancho Naturalista. [N]
Apodidae (Swifts)
CHESTNUT-COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne rutila)
WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris) – Common and widespread throughout much of the tour, including the screaming whirlwind circling over the river at Tapanti.
VAUX'S SWIFT (Chaetura vauxi)
COSTA RICAN SWIFT (Chaetura fumosa)
GRAY-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura cinereiventris) – Small groups flew low over the entrance road to La Selva on each of our mornings there.
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
The Fiery-throated Hummingbird frenzy around the feeders at Paraiso de Quetzales made it hard to go in for lunch! Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
BAND-TAILED BARBTHROAT (Threnetes ruckeri)
GREEN HERMIT (Phaethornis guy)
LONG-BILLED HERMIT (Phaethornis longirostris) – Particularly nice views of one sharing the heliconia flowers with a Chestnut-colored Woodpecker along La Selva's entrance road. We saw another on the grounds of Punta Leona.
STRIPE-THROATED HERMIT (Phaethornis striigularis)
BROWN VIOLETEAR (Colibri delphinae) – Regular around the balcony feeders at Rancho Naturalista, where they proved to be quite aggressive.
GREEN VIOLETEAR (Colibri thalassinus)
PURPLE-CROWNED FAIRY (Heliothryx barroti)
GREEN-BREASTED MANGO (Anthracothorax prevostii)
GREEN THORNTAIL (Discosura conversii)
BLACK-CRESTED COQUETTE (Lophornis helenae) – A male buzzing around the vervain flowers at the Braulio Carrillo Hummingbird Garden was a highlight there. What a stunner!
GREEN-CROWNED BRILLIANT (Heliodoxa jacula) – One of the most common hummingbirds at mid-elevation feeders throughout the tour.
MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens) – Quite a few fairly thuggish birds around the feeders in the Savegre Valley, aggressively keeping the smaller hummingbirds away from the best spots.
FIERY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Panterpe insignis)
WHITE-BELLIED MOUNTAIN-GEM (Lampornis hemileucus) – One seen well around the feeders at La Paz Waterfall Gardens was a pleasant surprise, as the species is not particularly common there. Our briefer views of others along the road through Tapanti NP were more typical.
PURPLE-THROATED MOUNTAIN-GEM (Lampornis calolaemus) – A handful (including several rusty-bellied females) among the regular visitors to the feeders at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, with others at various feeders around Monteverde.
WHITE-THROATED MOUNTAIN-GEM (GRAY-TAILED) (Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda)
MAGENTA-THROATED WOODSTAR (Calliphlox bryantae)
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus colubris)
VOLCANO HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus flammula)
The stunning Snowcap was a real crowd pleaser. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
GARDEN EMERALD (Chlorostilbon assimilis)
VIOLET-HEADED HUMMINGBIRD (Klais guimeti)
SCALY-BREASTED HUMMINGBIRD (Phaeochroa cuvierii)
VIOLET SABREWING (Campylopterus hemileucurus)
BRONZE-TAILED PLUMELETEER (Chalybura urochrysia) – One near the hummingbird pools at Rancho kept conveniently perching where we could see its distinctive red feet.
VIOLET-CROWNED WOODNYMPH (Thalurania colombica) – Judging from the amount of time they spent dunking themselves in the pools at Rancho Naturalista, this must be the cleanest hummingbird species in Costa Rica!
STRIPE-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Eupherusa eximia)
BLACK-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Eupherusa nigriventris)
COPPERY-HEADED EMERALD (Elvira cupreiceps) – A handful, looking tiny, jostled with their bigger cousins around the feeders at La Paz Waterfall Garden and the Hummingbird Gallery. [E]
SNOWCAP (Microchera albocoronata)
BLUE-CHESTED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia amabilis)
STEELY-VENTED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia saucerrottei)
RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia tzacatl)
CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia rutila) – One perched among the mangroves near Playa Azul showed its cinnamon colored underparts nicely, and we saw another feeding at a flowering hedge along the edge of a gas station parking lot on our descent from Monteverde.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
RESPLENDENT QUETZAL (Pharomachrus mocinno) [N]
LATTICE-TAILED TROGON (Trogon clathratus) – Some fine spotting by Jason netted us scope views of one sitting right along the edge of the forest at the old Butterfly Garden near Braulio Carrillo.
SLATY-TAILED TROGON (Trogon massena)
BLACK-HEADED TROGON (Trogon melanocephalus)
BAIRD'S TROGON (Trogon bairdii) – A noisy pair right near our cabins at Punta Leona were a highlight of both pre-breakfast walks there.
GARTERED TROGON (Trogon caligatus) – A male near the little stream along La Selva's entrance road proved quite confiding, sitting quietly while we ogled him from nearly all angles.
A Resplendent Quetzal nest near Savegre Lodge EVENTUALLY yielded fine views of both male and female. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
ORANGE-BELLIED TROGON (Trogon aurantiiventris) – A showy female at the edge a big clearing at Curi-Cancha Reserve provided a nice finale to our lovely walk there.
COLLARED TROGON (Trogon collaris)
Momotidae (Motmots)
BLUE-CROWNED MOTMOT (LESSON'S) (Momotus coeruliceps lessonii) – Seen on scattered days throughout, including some in the gardens of the Hotel Bougainvillea and another near the entrance to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
RUFOUS MOTMOT (Baryphthengus martii) [*]
BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT (Electron platyrhynchum) – Several pairs along a concrete trail at La Selva -- including one with only a few tiny sprigs of a tail.
TURQUOISE-BROWED MOTMOT (Eumomota superciliosa) – Especially nice studies of a pair in a big clearing at Carara, with another in Playa Azul.
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata)
AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona) – One sat atop a dead stick way out in Pueblo Nuevo marsh, and another studied the rapids at Rio San Jose.
GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana) – One below the suspension bridge at La Selva; too bad setting the scope up was a near impossibility!
AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle aenea) – A tiny male in the mangroves along the Tarcol River was a bit of a challenge to get the whole group on -- but (thanks to some skillful boat maneuvering) we all got there in the end!
Bucconidae (Puffbirds)
WHITE-NECKED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus hyperrhynchus) – Two on open branches in a big tree near the main clearing at La Selva was an first morning morning treat there.
PIED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus tectus) – One high overhead on one of the paved paths at La Selva distracted us on our return from a successful search for Broad-billed Motmot.
WHITE-WHISKERED PUFFBIRD (Malacoptila panamensis) – Those in Jason's group at Braulio Carrillo spotted one on the walk around the big loop trail there.
Galbulidae (Jacamars)
RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula ruficauda) – We heard one singing beyond where our ridiculously confiding Slaty-breasted Tinamou was performing at La Selva, but it took until the next day to find a male hunting along one of the tracks in the park. We saw others along the Quebrada Bonita trail in Carara NP.
Semnornithidae (Toucan-Barbets)
PRONG-BILLED BARBET (Semnornis frantzii) – Best seen at La Cinchona, where several bounced through a big fig tree just off the highway. Some saw another at Tapanti (where we all certainly heard it), and we heard the distinctive call of still others around Monteverde.
Ramphastidae (Toucans)
Given the right incentive, toucans (like this Black-Mandibled Toucan at La Selva) can be quite nimble! Video by guide Megan Crewe.
COLLARED ARACARI (Pteroglossus torquatus)
FIERY-BILLED ARACARI (Pteroglossus frantzii) – Daily on the grounds of Punta Leona, including a little gang that made a quick visit to check on the banana feeders near the dining room -- just before the monkeys arrived!
BLACK-MANDIBLED TOUCAN (CHESTNUT-MANDIBLED) (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii)
KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN (Ramphastos sulfuratus) – Quite common around La Selva, including one delicately picking fruits from a fig tree near the dining room -- just above a Black-mandibled Toucan for easy comparison!
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
GOLDEN-NAPED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes chrysauchen) – One along the Punta Leona entrance road was a highlight of one of our pre-breakfast walks there. This is the Pacific slope cousin of the next species, but is far less common than is its Caribbean slope relative.
BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes pucherani)
HOFFMANN'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes hoffmannii)
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus varius) – One on the grounds of the Hotel Bougainvillea was a bit of a surprise; this species is uncommon winter visitor in gardens and forest edges in the highlands of Costa Rica.
SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER (Picoides fumigatus) – One danced around us along the road to Santa Elena on that rainy, rainy morning, occasionally settling for a few seconds on a dead snag or a thick vine.
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus) – A few scattered birds with mixed flocks in the Savegre Valley. The subspecies here is smaller and darker than are those found in North America.
A close encounter with an unusually low Chestnut-colored Woodpecker (busily feeding at heliconia flowers) was a nice way to start our first morning at La Selva. Photo by guide Lena Senko.
GOLDEN-OLIVE WOODPECKER (Colaptes rubiginosus) – A female showed brilliantly in the coffee plantation en route to Tapanti NP, working her way up and down several of the big immortelle trees near the road.
CINNAMON WOODPECKER (Celeus loricatus) – We heard one calling (and calling) along La Selva's entrance road on our second morning there, and those in Jason's group at Braulio Carrillo heard another. [*]
CHESTNUT-COLORED WOODPECKER (Celeus castaneus)
LINEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus lineatus) – One swooped in to a tree along La Selva's entrance road.
PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER (Campephilus guatemalensis) – Our best views came around our cabins on a pre-breakfast walk at Punta Leona -- when we found a busy pair chipping away at some dead branches on a huge tree over the parking lot.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
BARRED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur ruficollis) [*]
COLLARED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur semitorquatus) – Wow! After hearing it call several different times, we were rewarded with superb views of one of these often-skulking forest raptors when it glided in and landed high in a nearby tree. Extended scope views for all!
CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway) – Regular in the lowlands of both slopes, including a trio over the main clearing at La Selva and a preening pair high in the same dead tree as our Great Green Macaws.
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (Milvago chimachima) – Common in the Pacific lowlands, with especially nice looks at one perched on a dead snag right beside the Rio Tarcoles.
LAUGHING FALCON (Herpetotheres cachinnans) – One in a roadside tree between La Quinta and Braulio Carrillo was a treat -- even if we did have to put up with all that noisy traffic.
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius) – A male perched atop a thin, dead tree near the new cattle barns just outside the entrance to Tapanti NP.
BAT FALCON (Falco rufigularis) – A big female sat in a dead tree near one of the bridges on the drive to the Pacific coast -- though it took a few tries to find the right bridge!!
Psittacidae (Parrots)
SULPHUR-WINGED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura hoffmanni) – A couple of noisy flocks wheeled over the forest along the Silencio road, their yellowish underwings flashing in the early morning light; some of the group saw others over the trees at Rancho Naturalista.
CRIMSON-FRONTED PARAKEET (Aratinga finschi) – Wind-tossed trees full of these noisy birds just down the road from the Hotel Bougainvillea were a highlight of our first afternoon's walk.
Scarlet Macaw is one of the highlight birds of the Carara area. Photo by guide Lena Senko.
ORANGE-FRONTED PARAKEET (Aratinga canicularis)
GREAT GREEN MACAW (Ara ambiguus) – One noisy bird flew in to a roost/nest tree en route to La Selva and preened for a while before being joined by a second bird. A bit of allopreening and courting ensued before both disappeared into the tree cavity.
SCARLET MACAW (Ara macao) – Reasonably common along the Pacific coast, including one munching on fruits in a front yard tree in Playa Tarcoles, numerous calling pairs flying past the Tarcoles bridge and some noisy gangs gathered in trees at Carara NP.
ORANGE-CHINNED PARAKEET (Brotogeris jugularis) – One on the grounds of the Hotel Bougainvillea showed particularly well as it nibbled on pale pink flowers in one of the trees. We saw others at La Selva and Punta Leona.
RED-FRONTED PARROTLET (Touit costaricensis)
BROWN-HOODED PARROT (Pyrilia haematotis)
WHITE-CROWNED PARROT (Pionus senilis) – Probably the most widespread parrot of the tour, seen on most days. The birds gobbling fruits along the entrance road at La Selva were particularly well studied -- and well photographed!
WHITE-FRONTED PARROT (Amazona albifrons)
RED-LORED PARROT (Amazona autumnalis) – Best seen at La Selva, where we found some cooperative birds in roadside trees along the entrance road.
MEALY PARROT (Amazona farinosa) – Small numbers at La Selva and Punta Leona, including a few near the top of a big dead tree in a clearing along the entrance road.
YELLOW-NAPED PARROT (Amazona auropalliata) – A few lucky folks spotted a pair flying over the mangroves toward the end of our boat trip along Rio Tarcoles.
Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)
FASCIATED ANTSHRIKE (Cymbilaimus lineatus) – After hearing several singing (and singing and singing) along La Selva's entrance road, some of us finally connected -- sort of -- with one along the upper trail at Rancho Naturalista.
GREAT ANTSHRIKE (Taraba major)
BARRED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus doliatus)
WESTERN SLATY-ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus atrinucha) – One, looking appropriately slaty, chortled from a trailside tree just up the hill from the frog marsh in La Selva.
BLACK-HOODED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus bridgesi) – Quite common at Carara, with a few others on the grounds of the Punta Leona hotel.
RUSSET ANTSHRIKE (Thamnistes anabatinus)
The Black-hooded Antshrike (this one's a speckly female) is endemic to southwestern Costa Rica and northwestern Panama. Photo by guide Megan Crewe.
CHECKER-THROATED ANTWREN (Epinecrophylla fulviventris) – A couple with a mixed flock near Rancho Naturalista's forest hummingbird feeders proved surprisingly tough to get a good look at.
SLATY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula schisticolor)
DOT-WINGED ANTWREN (Microrhopias quixensis) – Super views of several small flocks just over our heads along the Quebrada Bonita trail in Carara.
DUSKY ANTBIRD (Cercomacra tyrannina)
CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza exsul)
DULL-MANTLED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza laemosticta) – A singing bird right beside the start of the trail at Braulio Carrillo was unbelievably cooperative, walking back and forth along the rocky edge.
OCELLATED ANTBIRD (Phaenostictus mcleannani) – Wow! This handsome bird can be tough to get a look at, so finding one just sitting low in the undergrowth off one of the trails at La Selva was a real treat.
Grallariidae (Antpittas)
STREAK-CHESTED ANTPITTA (Hylopezus perspicillatus) – A singing bird just off the paved trail at Carara led us on a bit of a merry dance back and forth before showing itself.
THICKET ANTPITTA (Hylopezus dives) [*]
Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos)
SILVERY-FRONTED TAPACULO (Scytalopus argentifrons) – As usual, we heard far more of these than we saw, but some of the group spotted one creeping through some trailside brush in the Savegre Valley our final morning there.
Formicariidae (Antthrushes)
BLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSH (Formicarius analis) – One strutted through the dead leaves lining the forest floor along the paved trail at Carara, looking for all the world like a tiny bantam chicken -- though a chicken with a huge blue eyering!
Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)
TAWNY-THROATED LEAFTOSSER (Sclerurus mexicanus) – An in-your-face view of one at a hairpin bend along one of the trails at the Curi-Cancha Reserve near Monteverde. It was certainly far more cooperative than the one we tried to see at Rancho Naturalista's hummingbird pools -- and involved no standing on benches or hanging off railings!
GRAY-THROATED LEAFTOSSER (Sclerurus albigularis)
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (Sittasomus griseicapillus)
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla fuliginosa)
WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Glyphorynchus spirurus) – This was the common small woodcreeper of the tour, notable for its very small bill.
NORTHERN BARRED-WOODCREEPER (Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae) – One along La Selva's entrance road showed well the barring for which it's named. We saw others in Carara and on the grounds of the Punta Leona hotel.
COCOA WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus susurrans)
This Streak-breasted Treehunter, sitting by its nest hole right beside the road, was a special treat on a very soggy morning. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
SPOTTED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus erythropygius)
BROWN-BILLED SCYTHEBILL (Campylorhamphus pusillus) – Fabulous views of one sitting for long minutes on a very mossy branch in a big tree at Santa Elena. What a beak!
STREAK-HEADED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii) – The most common woodcreeper of the tour, seen on many days -- including one crawling up a series of trunks near the forest hummingbird feeders at Rancho Naturalista.
SPOT-CROWNED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes affinis) – The high altitude cousin of the previous species, seen well in several places around Savegre.
PLAIN XENOPS (Xenops minutus)
STREAKED XENOPS (Xenops rutilans) – Fine views of one clinging to a series of branches and vines at Tapanti.
BUFFY TUFTEDCHEEK (Pseudocolaptes lawrencii) [*]
SCALY-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Anabacerthia variegaticeps)
LINEATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Syndactyla subalaris)
BUFF-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (HYPOPHAEUS) (Automolus ochrolaemus hypophaeus) – One in roadside bushes along the Silencio road proved wonderfully confiding, approaching to within yards of us.
BUFF-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (EXSERTUS) (Automolus ochrolaemus exsertus)
STREAK-BREASTED TREEHUNTER (Thripadectes rufobrunneus)
SPOTTED BARBTAIL (Premnoplex brunnescens) – A few folks spotted one crawling up a tree trunk at Tapanti, but our best views came at Santa Elena, where we found nearly a dozen in several mixed flocks in the lovely misty forest.
RUDDY TREERUNNER (Margarornis rubiginosus) – A handful rummaged along the mossy branches of trees on Los Robles trail, part of a big mixed flock we encountered on our way down from the Silvery-throated Jay spot. We found others with the mixed flocks at Santa Elena.
RED-FACED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca erythrops)
SLATY SPINETAIL (Synallaxis brachyura)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum)
GREENISH ELAENIA (Myiopagis viridicata) – One hunted from a flowering tree just up the hill from our cabins at Punta Leona -- seen just after the gang of Capuchin Monkeys trooped across the road.
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA (Elaenia flavogaster)
MOUNTAIN ELAENIA (Elaenia frantzii) – Scattered individuals around the Savegre valley, including one feeding along the stream near the hotel bridge one morning.
The normally skulking Lesser Ground-Cuckoo proved exceptionally confiding this trip. Photo by guide Lena Senko.
OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Mionectes oleagineus)
SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Leptopogon superciliaris)
PALTRY TYRANNULET (Zimmerius vilissimus)
NORTHERN SCRUB-FLYCATCHER (Sublegatus arenarum arenarum) – One came in to our pishing in the mangroves of Cerro Azul, looking distinctively plain.
BLACK-CAPPED PYGMY-TYRANT (Myiornis atricapillus)
SCALE-CRESTED PYGMY-TYRANT (Lophotriccus pileatus)
NORTHERN BENTBILL (Oncostoma cinereigulare)
SLATE-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Poecilotriccus sylvia)
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum cinereum) – Regular in the main clearing at La Selva, with eyeball to eyeball views of one a small tree right outside the dining room.
BLACK-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum nigriceps) [*]
EYE-RINGED FLATBILL (Rhynchocyclus brevirostris)
YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias sulphurescens)
YELLOW-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias assimilis)
STUB-TAILED SPADEBILL (Platyrinchus cancrominus)
WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILL (Platyrinchus mystaceus)
RUDDY-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Terenotriccus erythrurus) – Those who stayed on the lower trail at Rancho Naturalista spotted one of these little flycatchers with a mixed flock.
SULPHUR-RUMPED FLYCATCHER (Myiobius sulphureipygius aureatus)
TAWNY-CHESTED FLYCATCHER (Aphanotriccus capitalis) – Super views of one hunting near the bamboo patch at the start of the forest trails at Rancho Naturalista. This species is restricted to a narrow band on the Caribbean slope of southern Nicaragua, Costa Rica and northern Panama.
TUFTED FLYCATCHER (Mitrephanes phaeocercus)
DARK PEWEE (Contopus lugubris) – One hunting from a dead snag near the road in Tapanti was a nice find. We saw others in the Savegre valley.
TROPICAL PEWEE (Contopus cinereus)
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax flaviventris)
WHITE-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax albigularis) – One along the edges of Lago San Miguel was nicely cooperative, returning again and again to the same little patch of reeds.
YELLOWISH FLYCATCHER (Empidonax flavescens) – Regular in the highlands, including one hunting near the bridge at Savegre one morning.
BLACK-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax atriceps) – One sat atop a roadside tree along the road out of the Savegre valley. This is surely one of the more distinctive Empidonax flycatchers!
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
LONG-TAILED TYRANT (Colonia colonus) – Especially nice views of a pair checking out a nest hole near the manager's cabin at Rancho Naturalista, with others hunting near the parking lot and the main clearing at La Selva. [N]
BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA (Attila spadiceus) – As usual, we heard the raucous, "lunatic laugh" of this big flycatcher on far more days than we saw it. We did, however, have nice views of one along La Selva's entrance road on both mornings there.
The extraordinary sound of the Three-wattled Bellbird echoed through the forest of Curi-Cancha Reserve. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
PANAMA FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus panamensis) – One in the mangroves at Playa Azul showed well its all-dark undertail.
NUTTING'S FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus nuttingi)
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus crinitus)
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus) – One along the Guacimo road, not far from a Nutting's Flycatcher for convenient comparison.
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus) – Abundant (except in the highest highlands) including some hunting right around our cabins at La Quinta.
BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER (Megarynchus pitangua)
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes similis)
GRAY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes granadensis) – Great studies of several on wires around the main clearing at La Selva, with another near the RIo San Jose. It was nice to have them conveniently close to the superficially similar Social Flycatchers and Great Kiskadees.
WHITE-RINGED FLYCATCHER (Conopias albovittatus) [*]
GOLDEN-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes hemichrysus) – Our best views probably came along the Silencio road, where we found a couple of perched up and calling birds along the stream right before we turned around.
STREAKED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes maculatus)
SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris)
PIRATIC FLYCATCHER (Legatus leucophaius) – Reasonably common on the Caribbean slope (with a few heard at Carara), including one singing from the treetops right around our cabins at La Quinta each day. This species is named for its habit of taking over nests recently completed by orioles and caciques.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) – One flashed behind the gas station we stopped at on our drive up to Monteverde. Sadly, a fair few folks were either in the restrooms or buying ice cream when it went past!
Cotingidae (Cotingas)
RUFOUS PIHA (Lipaugus unirufus) – One calling loudly along the Quebrada Bonita trail in Carara showed nicely as it flicked from branch to branch.
THREE-WATTLED BELLBIRD (Procnias tricarunculatus) – After climbing up hill and down dale in Santa Elena trying to find one, we finally connected with this iconic species in the Curi-Cancha reserve -- where we found a male singing loudly from the canopy of one of the big trees.
SNOWY COTINGA (Carpodectes nitidus) – A male along La Selva's entrance road brought everybody running, and we had fine views of a perched female in a backyard along the highway -- fortuitously found when we stopped for a roadside Laughing Falcon.
Pipridae (Manakins)
A little group of male Long-tailed Manakins provided a nice final morning highlight. Photo by guide Lena Senko.
BLUE-CROWNED MANAKIN (Lepidothrix coronata) – One made a few quick visits to the bathing pools in Carara, dazzling us all with that electric blue crown.
WHITE-COLLARED MANAKIN (Manacus candei)
ORANGE-COLLARED MANAKIN (Manacus aurantiacus)
LONG-TAILED MANAKIN (Chiroxiphia linearis) – They made us work for it (we definitely tromped up and down more than a few hills and trails) but we finally connected with several handsome males as they called and sang -- and even danced a few steps -- at Sanctuario Ecologico Monteverde.
WHITE-CROWNED MANAKIN (Pipra pipra)
RED-CAPPED MANAKIN (Pipra mentalis) – Fine views of both males and females as they splashed in the bathing pools at Carara.
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA (Tityra inquisitor) – Seen on scattered days, including one high in a leafless tree in the main clearing at La Selva, and another near our cabins at Punta Leona one morning. [N]
MASKED TITYRA (Tityra semifasciata) [N]
NORTHERN SCHIFFORNIS (Schiffornis veraepacis)
BARRED BECARD (Pachyramphus versicolor) [*]
CINNAMON BECARD (Pachyramphus cinnamomeus) – A pair in the main clearing at La Selva were very busy building a large globe-shaped nest in one of the little trees. We saw another from the Rio Tarcoles bridge. [N]
WHITE-WINGED BECARD (Pachyramphus polychopterus)
BLACK-AND-WHITE BECARD (Pachyramphus albogriseus) – A pair building a nest over the main road at Tapanti proved exceptionally accommodating, posing nicely for pictures as they brought mouthfuls of nesting material. [N]
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus aglaiae)
Vireonidae (Vireos)
MANGROVE VIREO (Vireo pallens) – One chortling from the mangroves along the Rio Tarcoles EVENTUALLY cooperated -- though he made us work for a while before finally popping out where everyone could get a look.
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (Vireo flavifrons)
YELLOW-WINGED VIREO (Vireo carmioli) – Reasonably common around Savegre, including a little family group along the waterfall trail en route to the quetzal nest one morning.
BROWN-CAPPED VIREO (Vireo leucophrys) – Singles on several days, including one with a mixed flock at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, another with a mixed flock in the coffee grove en route to Tapanti, and a third along Los Robles trail high above Savegre Mountain lodge.
The newly minted Northern Schiffornis was recently split from the old "Thrush-like Schiffornis" complex. Photo by guide Lena Senko.
RED-EYED VIREO (Vireo olivaceus)
YELLOW-GREEN VIREO (Vireo flavoviridis) – Best seen in the coffee grove en route to Tapanti, where one flitted through the big immortelle trees just over the road. We saw another along the Guacimo road.
TAWNY-CROWNED GREENLET (Hylophilus ochraceiceps) – A little group of them moving along Carara's Quebrada Bonita trail were somewhat less than cooperative, repeatedly slinking off into the vegetation before some folks could ever get a good look.
LESSER GREENLET (Hylophilus decurtatus) – Common and widespread on both slopes, with especially nice views of a busy little gang of them near the forest hummingbird feeders at Rancho Naturalista.
GREEN SHRIKE-VIREO (Vireolanius pulchellus)
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis gujanensis)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
SILVERY-THROATED JAY (Cyanolyca argentigula) – It took a lot of patience -- and more than a little hill climbing -- but we FINALLY got nice views of a little gang of these small, dark jays on Savegre's Los Robles trail. Many even got a good view of their distinctively pale throats!
AZURE-HOODED JAY (Cyanolyca cucullata) – A roadside group of these handsome jays was a nice reward for coping with some truly hideous weather. What's a little rain, when you can enjoy a view like that?!
WHITE-THROATED MAGPIE-JAY (Calocitta formosa) – These were a real crowd pleaser, seen nicely several times along the road up to Monteverde.
BROWN JAY (Psilorhinus morio) – Abundant, with those raiding the feeders at Rancho providing especially nice views.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOW (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) – Common in the highlands throughout the tour, including a dozen or more swooping through the Hotel Bougainvillea's gardens on our first morning.
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) – Particularly common in and around La Selva's clearings and entrance road. A few along the wires allowed us to see their distinctively "butterscotch" colored chests, and their paler rumps were readily apparent when they flew.
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea) – Seen regularly on our many drives, including a few scattered each morning along roadside wires in a little village between La Quinta (our hotel) and La Selva.
MANGROVE SWALLOW (Tachycineta albilinea) – Especially nice views of several over Lago San Miguel, where their distinctive white rumps were easily seen as they banked.
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) – Good numbers over La Selva's entrance road on both mornings, with others seen from the big bridge over the Rio Tarcoles.
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
Like most of its congeners, the Rufous-naped Wren is very social, typically appearing in big, noisy gangs. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
OCHRACEOUS WREN (Troglodytes ochraceus)
TIMBERLINE WREN (Thryorchilus browni) – These highland wrens can be remarkably adept at skulking in the very thickest part of the very thickest bushes in the area, as the pair we found on Cerro San Felipe showed well. It took more than a few minutes for everyone to get a look, that's for sure!
BAND-BACKED WREN (Campylorhynchus zonatus) – Noisy little gangs of these colorful wrens swarmed through the bromeliads lining big tree branches in the main clearing at La Selva.
RUFOUS-NAPED WREN (Campylorhynchus rufinucha)
BLACK-BELLIED WREN (Pheugopedius fasciatoventris) [*]
RUFOUS-BREASTED WREN (Pheugopedius rutilus)
BLACK-THROATED WREN (Pheugopedius atrogularis)
RUFOUS-AND-WHITE WREN (Thryophilus rufalbus) – They made us work far harder than we normally do, but I think we all finally got a good view of one or both of a pair at Sanctuario Ecologico Monteverde. What a great little duet they sing!
STRIPE-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus thoracicus) [N]
PLAIN WREN (Cantorchilus modestus)
PLAIN WREN (CANEBRAKE) (Cantorchilus modestus zeledoni) – A pair at eye level along the roadside near where we found our Great Green Macaw was an unexpected bonus there. Too bad the big trucks kept scaring them back into the bushes!
RIVERSIDE WREN (Cantorchilus semibadius)
BAY WREN (Cantorchilus nigricapillus) – One twitched through in a tree beside Rio San Jose (seen shortly after we spotted our Fasciated Tiger-Heron) and another worked the edge of the clearing at the El Tapir hummingbird garden.
WHITE-BREASTED WOOD-WREN (Henicorhina leucosticta)
GRAY-BREASTED WOOD-WREN (Henicorhina leucophrys)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
LONG-BILLED GNATWREN (Ramphocaenus melanurus)
WHITE-LORED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila albiloris)
TROPICAL GNATCATCHER (Polioptila plumbea)
Cinclidae (Dippers)
AMERICAN DIPPER (Cinclus mexicanus)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
The wonderful song of the Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush was a regular part of the tour soundtrack at Braulio Carrillo and Santa Elena. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
BLACK-BILLED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH (Catharus gracilirostris) – Fine views of one near the little stream under the bushes in the Savegre valley, seen while we waited for the Zeledonia to make an appearance. Too bad the latter didn't cooperate quite as well!
ORANGE-BILLED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH (Catharus aurantiirostris)
SLATY-BACKED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH (Catharus fuscater)
RUDDY-CAPPED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH (Catharus frantzii) – Those on the grounds of the Savegre Mountain Lodge proved particularly confiding.
BLACK-HEADED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH (Catharus mexicanus) – Those in Jason's group at Braulio Carrillo spotted one (Megan and Lena's group only heard it), and those in Megan's group on the lower trails at Rancho had good views of another perched and singing.
SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catharus ustulatus)
WOOD THRUSH (Hylocichla mustelina)
SOOTY THRUSH (Turdus nigrescens) – Almost ridiculously common in the highlands, including many on roadside wires and fence posts and dozens bouncing through the paramo forest on Cerro de la Muerte.
MOUNTAIN THRUSH (Turdus plebejus)
PALE-VENTED THRUSH (Turdus obsoletus) – One near the entrance to Tapanti gave us superb views as it checked out the pickings in a fruiting tree.
CLAY-COLORED THRUSH (Turdus grayi) – This may seem an odd choice for Costa Rica's national bird -- given the many more colorful and flamboyant birds found there -- but once you've spent any time in the country, it's easy to see why it was chosen. This species is found absolutely everywhere!
WHITE-THROATED THRUSH (Turdus assimilis)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis)
TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus gilvus)
Ptilogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
A Common Potoo snoozing on its nest at Rancho Naturalista was a treat. Photo by guide Megan Crewe.
LONG-TAILED SILKY-FLYCATCHER (Ptilogonys caudatus)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
OVENBIRD (Seiurus aurocapilla) – One strode through the thick layer of dead leaves under the big trees at Sanctuario Ecologico Monteverde. This species is a winter visitor to Costa Rica.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis)
BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora cyanoptera) – One with a mixed flock near the forest hummingbird feeders at Rancho Naturalista.
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora chrysoptera) – One foraged along the edge of the forest at the hummingbird garden just up the road from Braulio Carrillo, and some of the group spotted another along the upper trail at Rancho Naturalista.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia)
FLAME-THROATED WARBLER (Oreothlypis gutturalis) – Satisfying views of several in the Savegre valley, including a few flicking through small trees right near the quetzal nest.
TENNESSEE WARBLER (Oreothlypis peregrina) – Common and widespread throughout, with small flocks seen on several days toward the latter half of the tour -- getting ready to start their long journey north.
GRAY-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis poliocephala) – One singing from a grass stem near the road at La Cinchona showed nicely, and we found another along La Selva's entrance road.
MOURNING WARBLER (Geothlypis philadelphia) – One working along the edge of Lago San Miguel, the roadside lake we stopped at en route to Sarapiqui, proved to be pretty cooperative.
KENTUCKY WARBLER (Geothlypis formosa) – Several seen, with our best views coming near La Selva's entrance gate and under Rancho Naturalista's moth sheet, where one bold individual strode around the undergrowth looking for moths that had been attracted to the lights.
OLIVE-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis semiflava) – Best seen at Lago San Miguel, where a singing bird perched up in a little dead tree along the edge. We had another singing from a big brush pile along La Selva's entrance road.
AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla)
TROPICAL PARULA (Setophaga pitiayumi) – One working in trees near the road at La Cinchona briefly drew our attention away from that wonderful fig tree. We had another which showed nicely in the coffee grove en route to Tapanti.
MAGNOLIA WARBLER (Setophaga magnolia) – We found one of these uncommon winter visitors along the Quebrada Bonita trail in Carara.
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (Setophaga fusca)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
YELLOW WARBLER (MANGROVE) (Setophaga petechia erithachorides)
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Setophaga pensylvanica) – This winter visitor was abundant throughout.
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Setophaga virens)
RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER (Basileuterus rufifrons) – Several busy pairs flicked through low growth on the edges of Hotel Bougainvillea's gardens, and we saw others nicely along the Guacimo road.
BLACK-CHEEKED WARBLER (Basileuterus melanogenys) – Superb views of several little flocks in the Savegre valley, including some near the big tree fall along Los Robles trail.
GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER (Basileuterus culicivorus) – Several hyperactive birds with a mixed flock along Rancho Naturalista's upper trail showed nicely for both groups.
THREE-STRIPED WARBLER (Basileuterus tristriatus) – Best seen at Santa Elena NP, where we saw them with many of the mixed flocks we encountered. We saw others at La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
Golden-hooded Tanagers showed nicely on several days. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
SLATE-THROATED REDSTART (Myioborus miniatus)
COLLARED REDSTART (Myioborus torquatus) – Especially nice views of the "Friend of Man" (as it's known in Spanish) in the Savegre valley, including a few close birds near the quetzal nest. We had others in Santa Elena NP.
WRENTHRUSH (Zeledonia coronata) – They certainly made us work for it! After crawling into some dense bushes along the Savegre valley road, and waiting, waiting, waiting for long minutes, we finally connected (at some level) with a furtive pair that crawled back and forth through vegetation across the stream. Unfortunately, it wasn't a great look for all!
Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER (Tachyphonus luctuosus)
TAWNY-CRESTED TANAGER (Tachyphonus delatrii) – Several big flocks of these noisy tanagers moved through the forest understory at Braulio Carrillo.
WHITE-LINED TANAGER (Tachyphonus rufus) – Particularly common on the Rancho Naturalista feeders, where they seemed quite fond of bananas.
WHITE-THROATED SHRIKE-TANAGER (Lanio leucothorax)
CRIMSON-COLLARED TANAGER (Ramphocelus sanguinolentus) – Nice views of a couple resting in the shade near one of the feeders at La Paz Waterfall Garden, with others preening in the main clearing at La Selva.
PASSERINI'S TANAGER (Ramphocelus passerinii)
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus)
PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)
BLUE-AND-GOLD TANAGER (Bangsia arcaei) – A few moved with one of the big mixed flocks at Braulio Carrillo. This species looks a bit like a euphonia on steroids.
GOLDEN-HOODED TANAGER (Tangara larvata) – Especially common around La Selva, including a pair working on a nest in one of the trees in the clearing by the dining room.
SPECKLED TANAGER (Tangara guttata)
SPANGLE-CHEEKED TANAGER (Tangara dowii) – This was definitely among the "most wanted" of the tour's tanagers, and the birds along the entrance road at Tapanti -- seen from mere yards away -- definitely made people happy! We saw others in the Savegre valley.
PLAIN-COLORED TANAGER (Tangara inornata)
BAY-HEADED TANAGER (Tangara gyrola)
EMERALD TANAGER (Tangara florida) – It took some persistence, but everyone finally got a look at one of these handsome tanagers. The birds in Braulio Carrillo proved elusive for some, but the gang with the mixed flock along the Silent Mountain road were very, very cooperative.
Flame-colored Tanagers were common in the Savegre valley, particularly around the fruit feeders near the restaurant. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
SCARLET-THIGHED DACNIS (Dacnis venusta)
BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana)
SHINING HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes lucidus)
RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes cyaneus)
GREEN HONEYCREEPER (Chlorophanes spiza) – Regular in the lowlands of both coasts.
BLACK-AND-YELLOW TANAGER (Chrysothlypis chrysomelas) – Reasonably common among the mixed flocks in Braulio Carrillo, but our best views probably came along the Silent Mountain road, where a little mob of a dozen or so flicked through some roadside trees, part of a big mixed flock. It's extraordinary how much these look like Prothonotary Warblers!
SLATY FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa plumbea)
PEG-BILLED FINCH (Acanthidops bairdi) – Teasing one of these out from the far more common Slaty Flowerpiercers on Cerro de la Muerte was a challenge, but we prevailed! This bamboo specialist is hard to find most years.
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT (Volatinia jacarina)
VARIABLE SEEDEATER (Sporophila corvina) – Widespread throughout, with both color morphs seen.
WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila torqueola)
NICARAGUAN SEED-FINCH (Oryzoborus nuttingi) – Sadly, the only one we spotted was a LOOOOOONG way away atop some vegetation way out in the marsh at El Tigre. Fortunately, that huge pink beak was visible even from that distance!
THICK-BILLED SEED-FINCH (Oryzoborus funereus)
BANANAQUIT (Coereba flaveola) – Most common on the Caribbean slope, including one checking out the flowers at the hummingbird garden near Braulio Carrillo, and another near the manager's house at Rancho Naturalista.
YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT (Tiaris olivaceus)
DUSKY-FACED TANAGER (Mitrospingus cassinii) – Those with me in Braulio Carrillo had nice views of these dark, pale-eyed tanagers early on our hike around the park's loop trail.
GRAYISH SALTATOR (Saltator coerulescens) – A few, including one nibbling blossoms in one of the trees on the grounds of the Hotel Bougainvillea.
BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR (Saltator maximus) – Probably the most common saltator of the tour, seen particularly well along La Selva's entrance -- including one with a big flock of Black-faced Grosbeaks right near the entrance gates.
BLACK-HEADED SALTATOR (Saltator atriceps) – Especially nice views of a gang around the veranda feeders at Rancho Naturalista, with others along La Selva's entrance road.
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
The sweet whistled song of the Rufous-collared Sparrow was a regular part of the tour soundtrack in the highlands. Photo by guide Lena Senko.
LARGE-FOOTED FINCH (Pezopetes capitalis) – A skulking pair in the undergrowth along the Savegre valley's Los Robles trail proved difficult for most to get a look at -- nice spotting, Craig!
SOOTY-FACED FINCH (Arremon crassirostris) – We heard one singing (and singing and singing) from a soggy gully at Santa Elena, but in the end, the rain defeated us. [*]
CHESTNUT-CAPPED BRUSH-FINCH (Arremon brunneinucha) – One beneath the forest hummingbird feeders at Rancho Naturalista showed well as it scrabbled for seeds. We saw others in the Savegre valley, and at Fonda Vela.
ORANGE-BILLED SPARROW (Arremon aurantiirostris) – One gleaning for moths under the moth sheet at Rancho Naturalista gave us amazing views. What a beak! We saw others along Carara's Quebrada Bonita trail.
OLIVE SPARROW (Arremonops rufivirgatus)
BLACK-STRIPED SPARROW (Arremonops conirostris) – One rummaging under the hedge at the edge of the lawn under the Rancho veranda allowed great chance for study.
WHITE-EARED GROUND-SPARROW (Melozone leucotis) – Exceptional views of a few on the grounds of the Fonda Vela -- right outside our rooms one morning. We saw others at Tapanti.
STRIPE-HEADED SPARROW (Peucaea ruficauda) – A little gang along the road up to Monteverde were nicely cooperative, sitting up on roadside vegetation and fence wires.
RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW (Zonotrichia capensis)
VOLCANO JUNCO (Junco vulcani) – Several of these big, yellow-eyed juncos scratched on the ground or checked things out from the tops of dense bushes on Cerro de la Muerte.
COMMON BUSH-TANAGER (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus)
SOOTY-CAPPED BUSH-TANAGER (Chlorospingus pileatus) – Common in the highlands of Savegre, often in mixed flocks with the previous species.
ASHY-THROATED BUSH-TANAGER (Chlorospingus canigularis)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava) – Most of the group saw a female (and a few spotted the male) sitting near the top of one of the big trees down the hill from the rest rooms at La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra) – Common on the lowlands of both coasts, including many on the grounds of the Punta Leona hotel.
FLAME-COLORED TANAGER (Piranga bidentata)
WHITE-WINGED TANAGER (Piranga leucoptera) – A pair -- including a rather confiding male -- foraged along the main road through Tapanti.
The fruit feeders at La Quinta proved irresistible to the area's Red-throated Ant-Tanagers. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
CARMIOL'S TANAGER (Chlorothraupis carmioli) – Jason's group spotted a mob of these fairly drab tanagers along the trail at Braulio Carrillo, and everyone caught up with them on the Upper trail or near the hummingbird pools at Rancho Naturalista. This was formerly known as the Olive Tanager.
BLACK-FACED GROSBEAK (Caryothraustes poliogaster) – Especially nice views of several noisy birds rummaging through the trees near La Selva's entrance gates.
BLACK-THIGHED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus tibialis) [*]
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
BLUE-BLACK GROSBEAK (Cyanocompsa cyanoides) – One along the entrance drive into Punta Leona made a few forays down the hill towards us through the roadside vegetation -- singing its lovely, bouncing song -- before disappearing up the hill.
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna) – One sang from a tree below the Tarcoles River bridge late one afternoon, and another sat atop a bush behind a grocery store south of Cartago.
MELODIOUS BLACKBIRD (Dives dives) – Believe it or not, this species only made it to Costa Rica a few decades ago! It's now common across the Caribbean slope -- all the way up to the Savegre valley.
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus)
GIANT COWBIRD (Molothrus oryzivorus) – One hung out near the entrance to La Selva, checking out the neighborhood oropendola nests.
BLACK-COWLED ORIOLE (Icterus prosthemelas) – Nice views of these elegant black and yellow orioles along La Selva's entrance road and in the main clearing there.
ORCHARD ORIOLE (Icterus spurius)
YELLOW-TAILED ORIOLE (Icterus mesomelas) [*]
BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icterus galbula)
YELLOW-BILLED CACIQUE (Amblycercus holosericeus) – A couple of sneaky birds along the road down into the Savegre valley made us work for a look as they crept through tangled vegetation. They came back up the hill several times, in response to Jason's calls.
SCARLET-RUMPED CACIQUE (SCARLET-RUMPED) (Cacicus uropygialis microrhynchus)
CHESTNUT-HEADED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius wagleri) – We saw several roadside birds en route to Sarapiqui our first afternoon, but our best views came on our way to Tapanti, when we found another treeful of birds.
MONTEZUMA OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius montezuma) – Abundant on the Caribbean slope, including some wonderful views of males doing their somersaulting, wing quivering courtship display near the outer gates to La Selva.
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
The Olive-backed Euphonia was seen regularly at La Selva. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
YELLOW-CROWNED EUPHONIA (Euphonia luteicapilla)
YELLOW-THROATED EUPHONIA (Euphonia hirundinacea)
ELEGANT EUPHONIA (Euphonia elegantissima) – A handsome male nibbling mistletoe berries in a tree near the bathrooms at Tapanti was a real show stopper.
SPOT-CROWNED EUPHONIA (Euphonia imitans) – Especially nice views of a pair working through some trailside trees along Carara's Quebrada Bonita trail.
OLIVE-BACKED EUPHONIA (Euphonia gouldi)
TAWNY-CAPPED EUPHONIA (Euphonia anneae)
GOLDEN-BROWED CHLOROPHONIA (Chlorophonia callophrys) – A small group of them worked through the big fig tree at La Cinchona. As usual, we heard many others in the highlands of Savegre and Monteverde, but -- unusually -- we didn't connect with any there.
YELLOW-BELLIED SISKIN (Spinus xanthogastrus) – Some of the group spotted one feeding just off the veranda near the Savegre dining room before lunch one day.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
MAMMALS
Monkeys, like this cheeky little White-throated Capuchin, entertained us on several days. Photo by participant Merl Arnot.
NORTHERN GHOST BAT (Diclidurus albus) – One hung from a palm frond near the Laguna Meandrica trail in Carara.
COMMON TENT-MAKING BAT (Uroderma bilobatum)
HONDURAN WHITE BAT (Ectophylla alba) – A cluster of five hung (looking rather like balls of cotton) from a leaf at La Selva.
MANTLED HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta palliata) – We heard far more than we saw (as their calls echo a considerable distance through the forest) but had spectacular views of one group working their way along telephone wires along the road down from Monteverde -- including one that balanced for a most awkward call of nature before proceeding!
WHITE-THROATED CAPUCHIN (Cebus capucinus)
CENTRAL AMERICAN SPIDER MONKEY (Ateles geoffroyi)
HOFFMANN'S TWO-TOED SLOTH (Choloepus hoffmanni) – One hanging in a cecropia tree near the turnoff to La Quinta was a good find -- though, to be honest, it looked a good deal like a bit of old carpet chucked up into the canopy!
NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO (Dasypus novemcinctus)
VARIEGATED SQUIRREL (Sciurus variegatoides) – This handsome squirrel was widespread throughout the tour.
RED-TAILED SQUIRREL (Sciurus granatensis)
MEXICAN HAIRY PORCUPINE (Coendou mexicanus) – One clambered around in the tree in the middle of the courtyard at La Quinta -- surprisingly in the middle of the day, as we assembled to head out for our afternoon's birding.
CENTRAL AMERICAN AGOUTI (Dasyprocta punctata)
WHITE-NOSED COATI (Nasua narica) – Reasonably common throughout, including great views of a gang of mangy looking animals near the bus stop down the hill from La Paz Waterfall Garden.
KINKAJOU (Potos flavus)
OLINGO (Bassaricyon gabbii) – A very few folks spotted one briefly -- silhouetted against the fading light -- as we walked a track in Monteverde, looking for Mottled Owl.
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu) – Super views of many ambling around the clearings at La Selva.
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
RED BROCKET DEER (Mazama americana) – One on the grounds of the Fonda Vela, seen on a pre-breakfast walk -- great spotting, Dave!
Herps
The song of the Strawberry Poison Dart Frog is amazingly loud, considering how tiny the animal is! Video by guide Megan Crewe.
SLENDER ANOLE (Anolis limifrons)
STREAM ANOLE (Anolis poecilopus)
PUG-NOSED ANOLE (Norops capito)
GREEN IGUANA (Iguana iguana) – A few seen at La Selva, including some big green males basking near the tops of trees near the suspension bridge.
BLACK SPINY-TAILED IGUANA (Ctenosaura similis) – These big, slow, spiky backed lizards were pretty common along the Laguna Meandrica trail at Carara, where we found several lumbering along the paths. They were rather photogenic too!
COMMON BASILISK (Basiliscus basiliscus)
GREEN BASILISK (Basiliscus plumifrons)
TROPICAL HOUSE GECKO (Hemidactylus mabouia) – Regular in the lowlands of both coasts, particularly at La Quinta, where they hunted insects around the building's lights. [I]
YELLOW-HEADED GECKO (Gonatodes albigularis) – A male at La Selva
CENTRAL AMERICAN WHIPTAIL (Ameiva festiva)
GREEN SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus malachiticus)
BOA CONSTRICTOR (Boa constrictor)
TIGER RAT SNAKE (Spilates pullatus)
BARRED FOREST RACER (Dendrophidion vinitor)
AMERICAN CROCODILE (Crocodylus acutus) – Some truly enormous ones lurked along the river edges below the highway bridge across the Rio Tarcoles.
SPECTACLED CAIMAN (Caiman crocodilus)
CANE TOAD (Bufo marinus) – An enormous one hopped through the flower bed near the dining room sink one evening.
SMOOTH-SKINNED TOAD (Bufo haematicus)
SMOKY JUNGLE FROG (Leptodactylus pentadactylus)
STRAWBERRY POISON DART FROG (Dendrobates pumilio) – All together now: "Awwwwwww"!
COMMON TINK FROG (Eleutherodactylus diastema) – These well-named frogs were heard regularly ("tink tink tink") in the rainforests of the Caribbean slope. [*]
MASKED TREE FROG (Smilisca phaeota)
BLACK RIVER TURTLE (Rhinoclemmys funereal) – Our best view came along the trail past the soccer field at La Selva's trails, where we spied a big one in the river under one of the metal bridges.
BROWN WOOD TURTLE (Rhinoclemmys annulata)
WET FOREST TOAD (Incilius melanochlorus)
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 529 bird taxa and 19 mammal taxa