Calles 27 & 29, Ave 2, one of the happiest, safest and birding friendly country. His personal passion for birds and birdwatching lead him to begin a career as a private freelance guide. They have long pointed bills for spearing and seizing their prey. Costa Rica is never as full of color and life as when you are talking about its variety of world-famous birds. Their eyes and ears have been fine-tuned to pick up on specific species and bird calls. The Scarlet Macaw is the largest member of the parrot family and is popular among birdwatchers in these areas. His commitment to the conservation and protection of Costa Rica’s natural wonders and his passion for sharing his country with visitors has made him one of Costa Rica’s top Naturalist/Guides. Encompassing six birding ecozones and numerous micro ecosystems, Costa Rica’s birds and wildlife are virtually on display in they natural habitat. Birding Tours Costa Rica, Tropical Feathers offers specialized birding tours in Costa Rica, access to birdwatching hot spots, lodges, and professional birding guides T r o p i c a l F e a t h e r s Aquatic birds like the Jaribu, tiger heron, and white hibis. More than 900 bird species are found in the country, so whether in cloud forest, humid lowlands, and mountain peaks, dry forest, mangroves or the shore, birds are highly accessible to visitors. Don’t be surprised if you’re from the USA or Canada and spot some home-like feathered friends – this migration corridor is one of their favorites, and they stand out among the brilliantly-colored tropical birds. Working on his family’s farm, he was exposed to many different animals. As a young boy, he enjoyed the freedom of growing up in a small rural, agricultural area; running through fields and exploring the surrounding rainforests. This is the ideal way to see a bit more of the fauna and flora of the canopy. For an in-depth overview of Costa Rica bird species along with their features, habits, and behaviors, I recommend purchasing the field guide, The Birds of Costa Rica by Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean. On top of being a family destination, an eco adventure, a yoga-wellness and surf-beach destination, Costa Rica is also a top birding hotspot. White-throated magpie-jay in La Fortuna via @gabrielramirezfoto. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Factor in the volcanoes and rolling hills of the country and different altitudes just add to the species variety! Many destinations have also made efforts to attract hummingbirds to their feeders, allowing guests to see these magnificent birds up close! It was these early experiences that fueled his passion for wildlife and plants. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The extraordinary number of birds reported in this one area rivals that of any other Central American site. The dry, sparse landscape of Palo Verde makes it easier to spot wildlife than in the rich vegetated regions of Southern Costa Rica. Costa Rica Focus 2020 | All Rights Reserved. Before sunrise, bananas are set out on feeders for the birds. The extraordinary number of birds reported in this one area rivals that of any other Central American site. The males and females differ in plumage with the males being a bit more vibrant. While small, it has unrivaled amounts of biodiversity and in 2011 was listed in Forbes as one of the most beautiful parks in the world. This park has an array of bird and animal species, and is a favorite for bird-watchers. Costa Rica is a bird watchers paradise and with good cause! He began his career as an intern in a small birding lodge in his hometown of Sarapiqui. Alex Castro was born in the small town of Naranjo, Costa Rica, just north of San Jose and not far from the Arenal Volcano region. Birds of Costa Rica. is estimated to be the home of upwards of 400 different bird species – and an early morning birding tour is the perfect opportunity to see how many you can spot! Barrio La California, Typically, if you spot one scarlet macaw in the wild, its mate is close by. He enjoys his semi-pro DSLR camera adding digital photography to his list of interests and skills. Besides that you will have access to an extensive trail system penetrating  a beautiful piece of lowlands virgin rainforest in which you can expect some of the more elusive typical forest birds like Tinamous, Manakins, Woodcreepers and Antbirds. With graceful long legs and necks, these birds are typically found in coastal and wetland habitats of Costa Rica like Tortuguero, Corcovado National Park, Tarcoles, and Palo Verde National Park. Compared to the 700 bird species occurring in North America, this is an amazing variety! The first birding route that covers all the Costa Rica’s ecozones and IBAs since 2014, the real birding hotspots and the top accommodations and experiences of the country. San Jose, Costa Rica 10104. While not especially well-liked or good-looking, vultures flaunt some brilliant colors. He likes to recount seeing the Rufous Motmot for the very first time, “At that moment, I was hooked”. The friendly owners are passionate birders and have converted their beautiful garden in a paradise for birds and birdwatchers. The clay-colored thrush was designated Costa Rica’s national bird in January 1977. Top Ten Birding Destinations in Costa Rica. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. No matter what type of birder you are, you certainly will find what you are looking for here. Our photo gallery of Costa Rica birds captures some beautiful characters, but also the beautiful landscape that they call home. , unique to the cloud forests of Central America. For aquatic bird species, explore Rio Frio and Cano Negro Lake within Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge. A variety of bird species can be found within Carara National Park on the Central Pacific Coast. Up to 150 different species have been reported seen in a single day. After studying at the University of Costa Rica, with a specialization in Natural History, Johan continued field work studying and learning about the birds of Costa Rica. King vulture in Boca Tapada, San Carlos via @adrianzamcr. So of course, photography of the birds and wildlife must also be great! He has more than 24 years experience in the field. Popular birds of Costa Rica include toucans, scarlet macaws, motmots, and the shy and beautiful Quetzal. All Rights Reserved. Arrive before 9:00 am or stay past 4:00 pm for a chance to feed these flying jewels with the Peace Lodge’s specially-designed hand-feeder. Peace Lodge is a must-see destination for any nature-minded traveler. Take a look at our Costa Rica bird gallery and make your own list of birds that you need to get out and see in person. The red-capped manakin is definitely one of the birds you’ll want to keep an eye out for. Born and raised in Costa Rica, Erick Castro is a self-taught naturalist and birding and bird photography guide. The vibrant Scarlet Macaw can be frequently seen traveling in pairs. Like many a human guacamole lover, avocado is one of the resplendent quetzal’s favorite snacks. Including full cover insurance, mobile router that generates Wi-Fi signal + . While once they called much of Central America home, now Carara National Park contains one of the largest remaining wild populations. We love the birds of Costa Rica and are happy to share our passion, Here we provide some exellent background information about the birds of Costa Rica and its important birding habitats, Here you can find 6 examples of great itineraries including Costa Rica birding tours, natural history tours and a nature photography tour, Here you can find our contact information and some travel tips. It definitely doesn’t hurt that Selva Verde Lodge is nearby a plethora of fun activities – from horseback riding to whitewater rafting, even the non-bird-lovers in your group will adore this destination. Encompassing six birding ecozones and numerous micro ecosystems, Costa Rica’s birds and wildlife are virtually on display in they natural habitat. 26 different species have been spotted at the Hummingbird Garden. There are 52 hummingbird species in Costa Rica. It’s worth mentioning that Costa Rica’s national bird is the clay-colored thrush (previously called the clay-colored robin), one of the most common birds in the country and found throughout nearly every region. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You will find a vast array of colors and species from the chatty … Monteverde Cloud Forest, Santa Elena Reserve, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Bajos del Toro, and Poas Volcano National Park are prime hummingbird viewing destinations.