Bird the World

Costa Rica >> Northwestern Costa Rica

Costa Rica, one of the world’s prime birding destinations, is slightly smaller than Sri Lanka or about the same size as the state of West Virginia. It is blessed with a hospitable people, a pleasant climate in most areas, and a relatively low crime rate, with the important exception of petty theft. The country has four distinct regions, the warm, wet sub-tropical Caribbean lowland, which includes on the slopes diverse remnant forests; the Pacific lowland in the northwest, a dry forest ecosystem, which meets the southern subtropical forest at Carara National Park; the subtropical Pacific slope forest south of Carara National Park; and a central region, dominated by mountains and intervening valleys, where some prime hotspots are found. With a list of close to 900 species, a major tourist industry (= quality accommodations), a tradition of environmentalism (= many protected areas), and numerous qualified local bird guides, it’s a delightful place to bird.

Number of species recorded to date in Costa Rica: 881

Number of endemics: 7

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ClimateHealth InformationSecurity NotesTransportation

Renting a car is clearly the best way for visiting birders to travel around Costa Rica. Potential visitors should compare rates. In most cases you are more likely to get better rates by making rental arrangements in your countries of origin. You can ask that the car be delivered to the airport but this will entail a hefty surcharge, and car rental agencies will provide transportation from the airport to their offices. Before you leave the rental agency, check the water, brake fluid, oil, air-conditioner, hoses, lights, belts, tires and tire pressure, the condition of the spare and the jack, and make notes and sketches of any existing damage to the vehicle and bring these to the attention of the agency Many guidebooks talk about the infamous potholes in the surfaced roads in Costa Rica. In our experience, this concern is overdone. Of course, there are occasional bad potholes. It is a matter of driving prudently. Costa Ricans drive regular vehicles all over the country. However, visiting birders probably should choose high clearance vehicles. The trip to Monteverde, for example, especially if you come to it from the Tilaran area, would be gruesome in a low-slung car. Four-wheel drive is not necessary in the dry season, unless you are going into the more difficult places, but if you do want to visit places in the less-developed parts of the country, the roads on the Caribbean side can be rutted and muddy. Distances within the country are relatively short, but you should be aware that the roads are not built for high speeds. The real problem with the roads of Costa Rica is not the potholes but the fact that even the better roads are narrow, with minimal shoulders, and in the mountains are rarely straight for more than a few hundred yards. These characteristics, plus the fact that virtually all freight traffic is carried in large trucks, means slow driving, especially uphill. Be prepared to accept the sometimes slow traffic movement. Costa Ricans are proverbially polite, but getting behind the wheel of a car or truck seems to change the personality of some of them. A night ride over the main highway that crosses the country, with heavy trucks passing on blind curves, is an experience you will never forget. Another problem is the terrible level of Costa Rican signage. Driving through San Jose, in particular, can be a nightmare. If you do not speak Spanish, you would be well advised to have the English-speaking staff of your accommodations write out, in detail and with a sketch map, the exact route you will be taking to your next destination. Ask them to write out an explanation in Spanish also, so that you can show it to people when, as will inevitably happen, you find yourself confused. Finally, speeding laws, and seat belt laws, are reputedly enforced by heavy fines, though in our experience, traffic police are few and far between. If you have trouble with your car, call the rental agency first. They will tell you what to do. You can also call 911. Rental agencies usually will not reimburse you for repairs made without the prior authorization of the main office. If you are in an accident, do not move your vehicle until you are authorized to do so by an official. Sketch the positions of the vehicles and write down descriptions of the damage suffered. Do not make any statements about the accident, except to the official or to a representative of the National Insurance Institute. You can contact the Institute by dialing 800-800-8000. If an inspector cannot come to the accident site, you will be given a three-digit code number. You will then have three working days to fill out an accident report and turn it in at the nearest INS office. (There are more than of dozen of these offices scattered around the country). Do not allow your car to be towed to a repair shop that is not authorized by the Institute. Ask witnesses to write down their names and their cedula (identification numbers). Do not leave your veh

Guides, Tours, Accomodations and non-birding activities

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Bird Information

BirdsEndemicsHot Spots

Number of species: 881
Number of endemics: 7
(Includes Cocos Island)
Endemics in CAPITALS
TINAMIFORMES:
Tinamidae - Tinamous

Great Tinamou	Tinamus major
Highland Tinamou	Nothocercus bonapartei
Little Tinamou	Crypturellus soui
Slaty-breasted Tinamou	Crypturellus boucardi
Thicket Tinamou	Crypturellus cinnamomeus

PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae - Grebes
Least Grebe	Tachybaptus dominicus
Eared Grebe	Tachybaptus nigricollis
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps

PROCELLARIIFORMES: Diomedeidae - Albatrosses
Waved Albatross	Phoebastria irrorata

Procellariidae - Shearwaters and Petrels
Black-capped Petrel	Pterodroma hasitata
Galapagos Petrel	Pterodroma phaeopygia
Parkinson's Petrel	Procellaria parkinsoni
Cory's Shearwater	Calonectris diomedea
Pink-footed Shearwater	Puffinus creatopus
Wedge-tailed Shearwater	Puffinus pacificus
Sooty Shearwater	Puffinus griseus
Short-tailed Shearwater	Puffinus tenuirostris
Audubon's Shearwater	Puffinus lherminieri

Hydrobatidae - Storm-petrels
Wilson's Storm-Petrel	Oceanites oceanicus
White-faced Storm- Petrel	Pelagodroma marina
Least Storm-Petrel	Oceanodroma microsoma
Wedge-rumped Storm- Petrel	Oceanodroma tethys
Band-rumped Storm- Petrel	Oceanodroma castro
Leach's Storm-Petrel	Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Markham's Storm- Petrel	Oceanodroma markhami
Black Storm-Petrel	Oceanodroma melania

PELECANIFORMES:
Phaethontidae - Tropicbirds

Red-billed Tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus
White-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus

Pelecanidae - Pelicans
American White Pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis

Trochilidae - Hummingbirds
Coppery-headed Emerald	Elvira cupreiceps
Mangrove Hummingbird	Polyerata boucardi
Gray-tailed Mountain-gem	Lampornis cinereicauda
Alfaros Hummingbird	Saucerottia alfaroana

Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers
Dark Pewee	Contopus lugubris

Guanacaste National Park

Guanacaste Province is the southern limit of many species that stretch north into Mexico. The Guanacaste National Park bird list is distinctive, with such birds as Orange-fronted Parakeet, White-throated Magpie-jay, Nutting’s Flycatcher, Rufous-capped Warbler, Lesser Ground-cuckoo, Scrub Euphonia and Grey-crowned Yellowthroat plus many other species not so associated with dry forest habitat.
In addition to the interesting selection of birds, the park is home to coyotes, peccaries, coatimundis, and tapirs, among other mammals.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park

The park is located in Guanacaste province close to the Nicaraguan border. It protects as area of active vulcanism with hot springs and bubbling mud pots.
The bird list reflects the mixture of dry habitat in its western part, with species found also to the north as far as southern Mexico like Orange-fronted Parakeet, White-throated Magpie-jay, Nutting’s Flycatcher, Rufous-capped Warbler, Lesser Ground-cuckoo, Scrub Euphonia, and an area of greater rainfall, with different birds, in its eastern section. The list of resident species is over 200, and includes Crested Guan, Brown-headed Parrot, and Orange-bellied Trogon. Buff-fronted and Chiriquí Quail-doves are also found here. In the park there are several trails, leading from the headquarters.
The park is reached from Liberia. About 25 km north of the city, a road signed to the park heads off to the left. This road may be rough, and at times a four-wheel drive might be necessary. Check with your hotel about current conditions.

Santa Rosa National Park

To reach Santa Rosa NP follow the Pan American highway northwest to and through Potrerillos. About 9 km further, the entrance to the park is to the left.
The park (49,515 hectares), has a number of trails that range from one to twenty kilometers in length. The park protects remnant patches of tropical dry forest, largely gone elsewhere, in addition to savannah (the result of extensive slash and burn practices), marshlands, and mangroves.
The bird list includes dry forest species such as Orange-fronted Parakeet, White-throated Magpie-jay, Nutting’s Flycatcher, Rufous-capped Warbler, Lesser Ground-cuckoo, Scrub Euphonia plus Great Currasow, Crested Guan, Spectacled Owl, Elegant Trogon, King Vulture, Double-striped Thick-knee, and many more.
Finally the park also has lovely recreational beaches. The dry season is from January through March.

Thraupidae - Tanagers and Allies
Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager	Habia atrimaxillaris
Cherrie's Tanager	Ramphocelus costaricensis