Costa Rica - Birds

Costa Rica - what a country! Remarkable environmental protection and re-wilding, with incredible biodiversity. Pioneering eco-tourism in multiple different habitats - from coastal rainforest, to dry forest to cloud forest. We made a fabulous two-week trip around the country (see map), really just sampling what it has to offer. It's a birder's paradise, and here's just a few from an amateur. (See separate albums for Other Fauna and Everything Else.) I've tried to include just one per species (or two to show male and female), but the Respendent Quetzal is so amazing and we were so lucky to see and photograph it, that it qualifies for a few more! Many thanks to Alejandro for the expert guiding. Some photos are heavily cropped - just to record the species, rather than great photos. Pura Vida!

Map of Costa Rica

Map of Costa Rica

Bare-throated Tiger Heron, En route to Tortuguero

Bare-throated Tiger Heron, En route to Tortuguero

Cattle Egret, En route to Tortuguero

Cattle Egret, En route to Tortuguero

Southern Lapwing, En route to Tortuguero

Southern Lapwing, En route to Tortuguero

Snowy Egret, En route to Tortuguero

Snowy Egret, En route to Tortuguero

Purple Heron, En route to Tortuguero

Purple Heron, En route to Tortuguero

Montezuma Oropendola, Tortuguero

Montezuma Oropendola, Tortuguero

Montezuma Oropendola, Tortuguero

Montezuma Oropendola, Tortuguero

Black Vulture, Tortuguero

Black Vulture, Tortuguero

Common Black Hawk, Tortuguero

Common Black Hawk, Tortuguero

Flycatcher, Tortuguero

Flycatcher, Tortuguero

Great Kiskadee, Tortuguero

Great Kiskadee, Tortuguero

Eastern Kingbird, Tortuguero

Eastern Kingbird, Tortuguero

Pale-vented Pigeon, Tortuguero

Pale-vented Pigeon, Tortuguero

Social Flycatcher, Tortuguero

Social Flycatcher, Tortuguero

Ringed Kingfisher, Tortuguero

Ringed Kingfisher, Tortuguero

Little Blue Heron, Tortuguero

Little Blue Heron, Tortuguero

Great Green Macaw, Tortuguero

Great Green Macaw, Tortuguero

Green Heron, Tortuguero

Green Heron, Tortuguero

Boat-billed Night Heron, Tortuguero

Boat-billed Night Heron, Tortuguero

Anhinga, Tortuguero

Anhinga, Tortuguero

Green Ibis, Tortuguero

Green Ibis, Tortuguero

Agami Heron, Tortuguero

Agami Heron, Tortuguero

Double-toothed Kite, Tortuguero

Double-toothed Kite, Tortuguero

Grey-cowled Wood Rail, Tortuguero

Grey-cowled Wood Rail, Tortuguero

Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Tortuguero

Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Tortuguero

Thick-billed Seed Finch (f), Tortuguero

Thick-billed Seed Finch (f), Tortuguero

Crimson-fronted Parakeet, La Fortuna

Crimson-fronted Parakeet, La Fortuna

Turkey Vulture, La Fortuna

Turkey Vulture, La Fortuna

Great-tailed Grackle, La Fortuna

Great-tailed Grackle, La Fortuna

Clay-coloured Thrush (National Bird), La Fortuna

Clay-coloured Thrush (National Bird), La Fortuna

Scrub Euphonia, La Fortuna

Scrub Euphonia, La Fortuna

Passerini's Tanager, La Fortuna

Passerini's Tanager, La Fortuna

Thick-billed Seed Finch (m), La Fortuna

Thick-billed Seed Finch (m), La Fortuna

Pied-billed Grebe, Lake Arenal

Pied-billed Grebe, Lake Arenal

Great Egret, Lake Arenal

Great Egret, Lake Arenal

Green Honeycreeper (m), Arenal

Green Honeycreeper (m), Arenal

Green Honeycreeper (f), Arenal

Green Honeycreeper (f), Arenal

Tropical King Bird, Arenal

Tropical King Bird, Arenal

Crested Guan (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Crested Guan (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Red-legged Honeycreeper (m), La Fortuna

Red-legged Honeycreeper (m), La Fortuna

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, La Fortuna

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, La Fortuna

Yellow Warbler, La Fortuna

Yellow Warbler, La Fortuna

Collared Aracari (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Collared Aracari (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Thick-billed Euphonia, La Fortuna

Thick-billed Euphonia, La Fortuna

Northern Emerald Toucanet, Monteverde

Northern Emerald Toucanet, Monteverde

Masked Tityra, Monteverde

Masked Tityra, Monteverde

Blue-grey Tanager, Monteverde

Blue-grey Tanager, Monteverde

Ruddy Treerunner, Monteverde

Ruddy Treerunner, Monteverde

Tufted Flycatcher, Monteverde

Tufted Flycatcher, Monteverde

Yellow-throated Euphonia, Monteverde

Yellow-throated Euphonia, Monteverde

Lesson's Motmot, Monteverde

Lesson's Motmot, Monteverde

Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Monteverde

Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Monteverde

Inca Dove, en route to Manuel Antonio

Inca Dove, en route to Manuel Antonio

Frigate Birds, en route to Manuel Antonio

Frigate Birds, en route to Manuel Antonio

Green Kingfishers, en route to Manuel Antonio

Green Kingfishers, en route to Manuel Antonio

Scarlet Macaws, en route to Manuel Antonio

Scarlet Macaws, en route to Manuel Antonio

Chestnut-backed Antbird, Manuel Antonio

Chestnut-backed Antbird, Manuel Antonio

Brown Pelican, Manuel Antonio

Brown Pelican, Manuel Antonio

Scarlet-rumped Tanager (f), Manuel Antonio

Scarlet-rumped Tanager (f), Manuel Antonio

Scarlet-rumped Tanager (m), Manuel Antonio (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Scarlet-rumped Tanager (m), Manuel Antonio (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Roadside Hawk, en route to Esquinas Lodge

Roadside Hawk, en route to Esquinas Lodge

Crested Caracara, en route to Esquinas Lodge

Crested Caracara, en route to Esquinas Lodge

Yellow-throated Toucan, en route to Esquinas Lodge

Yellow-throated Toucan, en route to Esquinas Lodge

Laughing Falcon, en route to Esquinas Lodge (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Laughing Falcon, en route to Esquinas Lodge (photo credit Alfiehaz)

White Ibis, Esquinas Lodge

White Ibis, Esquinas Lodge

Black-headed Tody Flycatcher?, Esquinas Lodge

Black-headed Tody Flycatcher?, Esquinas Lodge

Variable Seedeater (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Variable Seedeater (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Great Curassow (m), Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Great Curassow (m), Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Band-tailed Barbthroat Hummingbird, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Band-tailed Barbthroat Hummingbird, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Great Curassow (f), Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Great Curassow (f), Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Purple Gallinule with chicks, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Purple Gallinule with chicks, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Northern Jacana, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Northern Jacana, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Hoffman's Woodpecker, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Hoffman's Woodpecker, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Wood Stork, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Wood Stork, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Willet, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Willet, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Streaked Flycatcher, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Streaked Flycatcher, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Yellow-headed Caracara, en route to Savegre

Yellow-headed Caracara, en route to Savegre

Bi-coloured Hawk, Savegre

Bi-coloured Hawk, Savegre

Quetzal (m), Savegre (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Quetzal (m), Savegre (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Resplendent Quetzal entering nest, Savegre

Resplendent Quetzal entering nest, Savegre

Quetzal (f), Savegre (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Quetzal (f), Savegre (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Resplendent Quetzal leaving nest, Savegre

Resplendent Quetzal leaving nest, Savegre

Resplendent Quetzal leaving nest, Savegre, Costa Rica

Resplendent Quetzal leaving nest, Savegre, Costa Rica

Resplendent Quetzal leaving nest, Savegre, Costa Rica

Resplendent Quetzal leaving nest, Savegre, Costa Rica

Resplendent Quetzal leaving nest, Savegre, Costa Rica

Resplendent Quetzal leaving nest, Savegre, Costa Rica

Collared Redstart, Savegre

Collared Redstart, Savegre

Acorn Woodpecker, Savegre

Acorn Woodpecker, Savegre

Common Chlorospingus, Savegre

Common Chlorospingus, Savegre

Flame-coloured Tanager, Savegre (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Flame-coloured Tanager, Savegre (photo credit Alfiehaz)

Rufous-collared Sparrow, Savegre

Rufous-collared Sparrow, Savegre

Slaty Flowerpiercer, Savegre

Slaty Flowerpiercer, Savegre

Wilson's Warbler, Savegre

Wilson's Warbler, Savegre

Lesser Violetear Hummingbird, Savegre

Lesser Violetear Hummingbird, Savegre

Veery, Savegre

Veery, Savegre

Thrush, Savegre

Thrush, Savegre

Talamanca Hummingbird, Savegre

Talamanca Hummingbird, Savegre

Rufous Hummingbird (f), Savegre

Rufous Hummingbird (f), Savegre

Purple-throated Mountain Gem Hummingbird, Savegre

Purple-throated Mountain Gem Hummingbird, Savegre

Grey-headed Chachalaca? (cap), La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Grey-headed Chachalaca? (cap), La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Silver-throated Tanager (cap), La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Silver-throated Tanager (cap), La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Blue Grosbeak (cap), La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Blue Grosbeak (cap), La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (cap), La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (cap), La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Palm Tanager (cap), La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Palm Tanager (cap), La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Violet Sabrewing Hummingbird, La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Violet Sabrewing Hummingbird, La Paz Waterfall Gardens

White-necked Jacobin Hummingbird, La Paz Waterfall Gardens

White-necked Jacobin Hummingbird, La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Green-crowned Brilliant Hummingbird, La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Green-crowned Brilliant Hummingbird, La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush, La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush, La Paz Waterfall Gardens

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