costa rica photo journey 2016 (feb 14 23, 2016) … birding trip report costa rica photo journey –...

Tropical Birding Trip Report Costa Rica Photo Journey – February 2016

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Costa Rica Photo Journey 2016 (Feb 14 – 23, 2016)

Report & Photos by George Lin

Summary

Covering only 0.03% of the surface of Earth, Costa Rica boasts 6% of the biodiversity on earth, making it one of the top

20 most biodiverse countries in the world. Costa Rica formed as a part of the land bridge that formed more than 100

million years ago, joining North America and South America. As a result, there are eight distinct ecoregions that

fostered an ideal environment for species migration and evolution.

On the Costa Rica Photo Journey, we cover the Caribbean Moist Forest, Central American Dry Forest, Moist Pacific

Mangroves, Pacific Moist Forest and Talamancan Montane Forest. On the Tropical Birding Photo Journey, we target

birds that are not only colorful or unique, but easy to photograph. Even though this was the very first Photo Journey in

Costa Rica, we had great results from our trip.

Some of the highlights included 4 Toucan species just on the first day (Keel-billed Toucan, Yellow-throated Toucan,

Emerald Toucanet and Collared Aracari) with everybody getting good photos of them; Staking out the Resplendent

Quetzal and finally getting a nice shot of the male, swarms of Fiery-throated Hummingbirds and photographing 6 owl

species. We ended the trip with 244 species of birds (4 heard-only), 11 mammals and 15 reptiles & amphibians.

2/14/2016

And we’re off! Costa Rica Photo Journey 2016 started off on a fine sunny Sunday. We decided to take the route that

passes between Volcano Poas and Volcano Brava because it’s more scenic and recent storms have made the other

routes more difficult.



We made an unplanned stop at La Paz Waterfalls & then another unplanned stop at Mirador San Fernando where they

have a few hummingbird feeders & fruit feeders set up. It turned out to be a VERY productive stop as we saw the

endemic Copper-headed Emerald and the beautiful Violet Sabrewing. We photographed other birds including Blue-gray

Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Buff-throated Saltator and the Emerald Toucanet.

We were just about to leave until I spotted some movements below and we saw a small group of Prong-billed Barbets

feeding on some papaya. The Barbets eventually made their way up to the platform and was very photogenic. Everyone

got great photos of them.



I had to drag the photographers away from that platform and we continued on our way to our first lodge. We stopped

along the way, of course, and saw a few Ringed Kingfishers, Northern Jacana, Roadside Hawks and a Laughing Falcon.

Just before we got to the lodge, Brian, one of the photographers spotted a toucan in an open area. That garden turned

out to be very productive for the photographers because all 3 Toucan species found in the area came in to pose for

photos. They all got a good look and shot at the Yellow-throated Toucan (AKA Black-mandibiled Toucan), Keel-billed

Toucan and Collared Aracari. It was a 4-Toucan day, or Fourcan. Ha.

We FINALLY arrived at the lodge 2 hours late for lunch and quickly ate the food. Most of the people were juggling with

eating lunch and photographing some of the birds that were coming into the feeder like the Black-cowled Oriole, Black-



cheeked Woodpecker, more Blue-gray & also Palm Tanagers. A few Great Kiskadees came in along with more

Montezuma Oropendolas.

After lunch, the guys decided to take the forest to photograph the Macaw nests while the ladies stayed on the balcony

to photograph the birds. The ladies were busy with some new birds coming in like the Great Curassow, Red-legged

Honeycreeper, Green Honeycreeper, Blue Dacnis, Brown-hooded Parrot, Orange-chinned Parakeet.



The guys, in the meantime, had a muddy trek through the forest but we got to see a few of the Strawberry Poison Dart

Frogs and hearing the Red-capped Manakin whistling through the forest. We finally came out in the open with beautiful

light on the great Almond Tree but it soon clouded over. Despite the poor light condition for photography, it was

amazing to see 3 pairs of the Great Green Macaws and 1 pair of the Scarlet Macaws flying in majestically and raucously

squawking once they landed.

A few Crested Guans flew around another far tree and tons of Red-lore Parrots were flying around, returning to their

night roost. The guys were pretty happy to finish the very strenuous hike back just in time for dinner. After dinner, we

photographed a Kinkajou feeding on some of the bananas! The group then went on the Caiman Show were they got to

see some Spectacled Caimans and Red-eyed Tree Frogs. All in all, it was a very productive day.



2/15/2016

The morning was overcast with passing light rain, but that didn’t stop our photographers from taking photos and

ignoring their breakfast as birds arrive at the feeders. We had all 3 Toucan species coming to the feeder along with a

parade of Montezuma Oropendolas, Brown-hooded Parrots, Orange-chinned Parakeets, Golden-hooded Tanager, and

other less conspicuous birds like the Long-tailed Tyrant and Black-crowned Tityra.



The staff had placed some bait out to attract the vultures and soon, we were summoned to the vulture hide as we

spotted some King Vultures starting to circle the area. We were soon squeezed into the hide and indeed, the King

Vultures started to come down to feast on the food we laid out for them. More than 8 King Vultures came down at one

point or another to feast along with a slew of Black Vultures and even a Crested Caracara.



Photographic opportunities were abundant which allowed our photographers to also observe the interesting behavior

and pecking order of the vulture feast. I also saw the Caracara cleaning a Black Vulture which was very strange indeed.

After eating lunch and additional shooting on the balcony, we moved to a dedicated shooting session. Some critters

were collected from the forest by the staff for the shoot and returned to the same location where they were found

afterward.



Our photographers got to photograph both morphs of the Eyelash Viper, a Boa Constrictor, some Strawberry Poison-

Dart Frog, Green and Black Poison-Dart Frog, and a Helmeted Iguana.



A troop of Central American Spider Monkeys came in to eat the ripening Almendro fruits around the lodge which gave

our photographers a chance to shoot some primates jumping around the trees. Most people stayed around the lodge

grounds to get additional photographs while I took Peter and Pat on a canoe paddle through lagoon #2. We saw a few

skittish kingfishers and herons, but the Prothonotary Warbler was quite at ease with our presence which allowed us to

make some good observations and photos of this beautiful bird.



2/16/2016

We stopped by one of the staff’s house this morning on our way out. He had set up a fruit feeder in his yard so we got

to see and photograph more tanagers and even some Great Kiskadee doing their display by showing the crest. The

highlight was the beautiful Chestnut-colored Woodpecker that came to the feeder. Both male and female captured the

attention of our photographers.

On our way to our next lodge, we saw some big Green Iguanas and our first Mantled Howler Monkey feeding on the side

of the road in a tree. Our route took us past Lake Arenal and we had to stop a few times for troops of White-nosed Coati



scavenging along the highway. We saw some Euphonias, Tityras and Guans at our lunch stop but the strangest thing we

saw was at a rest stop before we got to our next lodge: Macaws.

There were a few Scarlet Macaws in the tree so we tried running around photographing them. Soon, they moved to a

tree on top of a restaurant and more macaws came in. There was a guy in the restaurant who came out and threw some

bread on the ground and soon the macaws started to fly down, landing on the fence and the grounds. More and more

macaws came in and eventually, there were at least 10 macaws, including an exotic Blue and Yellow Macaw and what

looks like a hybrid of the Blue & Yellow + Scarlet. It was an interesting experience but I hope the hybrid and the exotic

don’t contaminate the native Scarlets.

We eventually arrived at our rustic lodge that was situated near a wetland area as part of a cattle farm in the dry, Pacific

lowlands. After dinner, we were all exhausted and most people went to sleep. I heard the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl



calling outside as I was brushing my teeth so I went to look for it. I found a pair of Pacific Screech-Owls instead. The

only person with their lights on was Brian so I fetched him and we went to look for the Owls again. We found the

Screech Owls again and also a sleeping Turquoise-browed Motmot which was pretty cool.

2/17/2016

The morning started off with the Pacific Screech-Owl sleeping in the tree next to the drive way, followed by a

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl calling from high in the tree. A pair of Turquoise-browed Motmot was also in the area which

made breakfast very slow going. After breakfast, we went to look for the Spectacled Owl in the forest and we were

successful in locating a pair of them plus a single owl.



Our next stop is the salt evaporation pond just outside the town of Colorado. These ponds attract shore birds and

wading birds. We saw the Gartered Trogon and Black-headed Trogon on the way there. Once we arrived, our

photographers started snapping away at the shore birds in the area. There were Willets, Marbled Godwits, Wimbrels,

Royal Terns and flocks of Black Skimmers. There were many sandpipers as well, including the Least, Western, Stilted,

Solitary and Spotted.

After our visit to the evaporation pond we headed to the mangrove forest near the coast and had some good looks at

the Mangrove Warblers and Prothonotary Warblers. We then headed back to the lodge for lunch and waited for the

afternoon heat to pass and lighting condition to improve. In the mid-afternoon, we headed back out to the wetland

area for the numerous species of water birds in the area. Some of the standouts included the Jabiru, thousands of



Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Boat-billed Heron, and Double-striped Thick-knee. We also saw Kites including the White-

tailed, Hook-billed and Snail. Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Laughing Falcon, American Kestrel and

Peregrine Falcon were also seen and photographed. We headed back to the lodge afterward for a much needed rest

after such a full day.

2/18/2016

We returned to the wetlands area in the morning after breakfast. Most of the people still don’t have a nice photo of the

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl so we went to search for it. We were lucky to find a pair of them on the way to the wetlands.



The pair was calling and they flew close for an inspection when I imitated the call. Everyone got a very nice shot of the

owls. We also found a pair of White-necked Puffbird when we were leaving the owls. It was a nice bonus for the group.

In the wetland area, we saw and photographed Roseate Spoonbills in flight and more Cattle Egrets and Black-bellied

Whistling Duck in flight as well. We also got better looks of the Mantled Howler Monkeys, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, a

nesting Double-striped Thick-Knee, Northern Jacanas, and Limpkins.

After a late lunch, we bid farewell to Hacienda Solimar and headed to the more humid, Southern Pacific outside Carara

National Park. It was late in the afternoon but we managed to photograph a pair of Black and White Owl, albeit horrible

lighting. Brian also spotted a nice Gray-headed Kite but it flew away before others had a chance to photograph it.



2/19/2016

It was an early morning start for us when we went to the Tarcoles River for the river cruise. This Pacific Mangrove area

had a beautiful clear morning and we were greeted by Mangrove Swallows around the boat and a few sleepy American

Crocodiles along the banks of the river. On the cruise, we saw flocks of Scarlet Macaws flying over and also 5 kinds of

Kingfishers including the Ringed, Belted, Amazon, Green and American Pygmy.

Common Black Hawk was another first for many in our group and we also photographed some Bare-throated Tiger-

Herons and even a sleeping Raccoon. After the boat tour, we went back to photograph the Black and White Owls as it

was better lighting in the late morning. We then headed out on our long drive to Savegre.



On our way out to the Talamancan Montane Forest, we stopped by a café for a break but we managed to photograph

some Large-footed Finch on the property. It was getting late and we continued to Suria Lodge.

2/20/2016

The weather cooperated on this important day for our hunt for the bird that’s on everybody’s target list: the

Resplendent Quetzal. When we arrived at Paraiso Quetzales, it looked very promising as we saw the male Quetzal fly

out of the tree in the distant, calling out. We also saw some nice Long-tailed Silky-flycatchers.

Our group then proceeded to hike to a forest nearby and staked out an active Quetzal nest. It didn’t take long for the

female Quetzal to return to the nest but we were in for a surprised as to whether or not we will be able to photograph



the male. It took about an hour for the male to show up. In the meantime, we saw some Barred Parakeets and Black-

cheeked Warblers.

When the male finally showed up, he perched in a position where it was very back-lit so none of us could get a decent

photo of it. The waiting game started for us and after about 2 hours when some the people in our group were ready to

give up, we got a lucky break. A juvenile male Quetzal, a Black Guan and some Band-tailed Pigeons flew in which got our

mature male a bit territorial.

The mature male chased pretty much everybody away from the area and perched in a few different locations where we

were finally able to get a nice photo of the male Resplendent Quetzal and all its glorious tail feathers.



We returned to the lodge for a late lunch but it’s a busy day as we scheduled a private hummingbird shoot after that.

We had tons of Magnificent, Fiery-throated, Volcano Hummingbirds and Green Violetears fighting for the nectar stations

and nectar-filled flowers. We had set up these flowers and feeders to photograph the hummingbirds. They were

swarming the feeders at one point, not caring whether or not if somebody is standing next to it or even holding it.

Others wanted to add some variety to their hummingbird photos so they walked around the grounds a little bit and

managed to photograph a few Flame-colored Tanagers, Hairy Woodpecker, Large-footed Finch and even some Golden-

browed Chlorophonia. The late afternoon drizzling fog finally came in and we packed up and ended a very busy but

fulfilling day in the cloud forest.



2/21/2016

We headed away from the mountains and cloud forest and headed back to the Caribbean lowlands again. On the way

there, we stopped by the El Tapir Hummingbird Garden. Our target here was the Snowcap hummingbird. Although a

few of us got to see it, it disappeared quickly and was never seen again while we were there. We did get some nice

photos of the Black-crested Coquet, Scintillant Hummingbird and the Violet-headed Hummingbird.



After lunch, we stopped by Cope Arte’s place where he transformed his backyard into a bird sanctuary and he set it up in

a way that it’s great for photographers. Some birds photographed here included the Gray-necked Wood-Rail, White-

necked Jacobin, Long-billed Hermit, Stripe-throated Hermit, Crowned Woodnymph and the Crested Oropendola. We

also took side trips from the place and were able to photograph a pair of sleeping Crested Owl and a Common Potoo.

We headed to our lodge, Selva Verde late in the afternoon.

2/22/2016

The morning started with a trip to the “Macaw Farm” after breakfast where Alvaro, the owner of the farm, managed to

habituated a large flock of Macaws by feeding them peanuts. They are fairly established in the area even though they



are free to fly anywhere. They established nests nearby in both natural and artificial nesting boxes that he built. There

were quite a few hybrids too from the cross-breeding of Great Green Macaws and Scarlet Macaws.

The Macaws came flying down, swooping by our heads as Alvaro called out “lapa lapa lapa” which is Spanish for “Macaw

Macaw Macaw”. We went to an open field where we got the chance to shoot these beautiful Macaws in flight as the

Macaws followed Alvaro and his bucket-o-peanuts from one tree to another.

Other birds on the ground included Gray-headed Chachalaca, Yellow-naped Parrot, Red-lored Parrot and a strangely pale

Yellow-throated Toucan. After a delicious lunch, we headed back down to the main town and headed to Nature’s

Pavilion.



Nature’s Pavilion has a 360 degree porch where feeders were being visited continuously by a whole slew of different

tanagers like the Crimson-collared Tanagers, Red-legged Honeycreeper and Green Honeycreepers. We shot here for the

remaining afternoon and returned to Selva Verde for dinner.

2/23/2016

A few of us walked around the grounds in the morning and spotted several new birds including the Red-throated Ant

Tanager, a male Slaty-tailed Trogon and the Orange-billed Sparrow. We headed out to Nature’s Pavilion after breakfast

for another photoshoot there. Some people stayed to shoot the various tanagers at the fruit feeder and some stayed at

the hummingbird feeders.



I took a group on the trail down to the forest behind the lodge and spotted the Rufous Motmot at the beginning of the

trail. The whole group got together to shoot the beautiful Motmot and then separated again as we continued down to

the river. On the way, we found a Lineated Woodpecker and a pair of the Black-throated Trogon. We avoided a long

marching line of Leaf-cutter ants on our way to the Sarapiqui River and enjoyed the beautiful river with the rainforest as

the backdrop.

On our way back up, we found a White-whiskered Puffbird, a pair of Green Kingfishers and also a Rufous-winged

Woodpecker. Another Red-throated Ant Tanager was found by the fruit feeder as well as the much sought-after

Crimson-collared Tanager. A few Great Green Macaws flew down to the nearby tree to bid us farewell as we made our

way back to San Jose.



Along the road back to San Jose, we spotted a Poro tree with bright orange flowers being hungrily devoured by a troop

of Mantled Howler Monkeys. We stopped by the café again that had the view of the San Fernando Waterfall and

photographed some more tanagers, hummingbirds and Toucanet. A Red-headed Barbet made an appearance for us for

the first time and he didn’t stay too long.

We made another unscheduled stop at a hummingbird garden where the purple throated variety of the Volcano

Hummingbirds was photographed along with other hummers and a pair of Slate-throated Redstart.



After reaching our hotel near the airport in San Jose, a few of us went out on a nearby farm to see the Grasshopper

Sparrows and Crested Bob-whites on a dry scrubby farm field. Back at the hotel grounds, we were shown a Ferruginous

Pygmy Owl and a nesting Tropical Owl, our 7th owl species on this trip!

Overall, I believe this was a wildly successful Costa Rica Photo Journey where I was surprised by many high quality

photographs produced by our photographers. The highlights were the initial day where our group was surprised by all 4

species of Toucans in the area and also when we waited patiently for the beautiful Resplendent Quetzal. Here’s to a

great trip and I hope to see you on our next Photo Journey.

- George Lin



LIST OF SPECIES PHOTOGRAPHED This list includes only what was photographed by tour participants and the tour leader.

DUCKS, GEESE, AND WATERFOWL: ANATIDAE

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis

Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata

American Wigeon Anas americana

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

GUANS, CHACHALACAS, AND CURASSOWS: CRACIDAE

Gray-headed Chachalaca Ortalis cinereiceps

Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens

Black Guan (E) Chamaepetes unicolor

Great Curassow Crax rubra

NEW WORLD QUAIL: ODONTOPHORIDAE

Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus

STORKS: CICONIIDAE

Wood Stork Mycteria americana

Jabiru Jabiru mycteria

FRIGATEBIRDS: FREGATIDAE

Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens



CORMORANTS AND SHAGS: PHALACROCORACIDAE

Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus

ANHINGAS: ANHINGIDAE

Anhinga Anhinga anhinga

PELICANS: PELECANIDAE

Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

HERONS, EGRETS, AND BITTERNS: ARDEIDAE

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma mexicanum

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

Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius

IBISES AND SPOONBILLS: THRESKIORNITHIDAE

White Ibis Eudocimus albus



Green Ibis Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja

NEW WORLD VULTURES: CATHARTIDAE

Black Vulture Coragyps atratus

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa

OSPREY: PANDIONIDAE

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

HAWKS, EAGLES, AND KITES: ACCIPITRIDAE

Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis

White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus

Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus

Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis

Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus

Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus

Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris

Harris's Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus

Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus

Gray Hawk Buteo plagiatus

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Swainson's hawk Buteo swainsoni



RAILS,GALLINULES, AND COOTS: RALLIDAE

Gray-necked Wood-Rail Aramides cajaneus

Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus

LIMPKIN: ARAMIDAE

Limpkin Aramus guarauna

THICK-KNEES: BURHINIDAE

Double-striped Thick-knee Burhinus bistriatus

STILTS AND AVOCETS: RECURVIROSTRIDAE

Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus

PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS: CHARADRIIDAE

Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis

Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus

JACANAS: JACANIDAE

Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa

SANDPIPERS AND ALLIES: SCOLOPACIDAE

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius

Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria

Willet Tringa semipalmata

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus



Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla

Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri

Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopu

GULLS, TERNS, AND SKIMMERS: LARIDAE

Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla

Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus

Black Skimmer Rynchops niger

PIGEONS AND DOVES: COLUMBIDAE

Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris

Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata

Ruddy Pigeon Patagioenas subvinacea

Inca Dove Columbina inca

Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina

Plain-breasted Ground-Dove Columbina minuta

Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti

White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi

CUCKOOS: CUCULIDAE

Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana

Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris

BARN-OWLS: TYTONIDAE



Barn Owl Tyto alba

OWLS: STRIGIDAE

Pacific Screech-Owl Megascops cooperi

Tropical Screech-Owl Megascops choliba

Crested Owl Lophostrix cristata

Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum

Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata

NIGHTJARS AND ALLIES: CAPRIMULGIDAE

Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis

Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis

POTOOS: NYCTIBIIDAE

Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus

SWIFTS: APODIDAE

White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris

HUMMINGBIRDS: TROCHILIDAE

White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora

Green Hermit Phaethornis guy

Long-billed Hermit Phaethornis longirostris

Stripe-throated Hermit Phaethornis striigularis



Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus

Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii

Green Thorntail Discosura conversii

Black-crested Coquette Lophornis helenae

Green-crowned Brilliant Heliodoxa jacula

Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens

Fiery-throated Hummingbird (E) Panterpe insignis

White-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis castaneoventris

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris

Volcano Hummingbird (E) Selasphorus flammula

Scintillant Hummingbird (E) Selasphorus scintilla

Violet-headed Hummingbird Klais guimeti

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird Phaeochroa cuvierii

Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus

Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer Chalybura urochrysia

Crowned Woodnymph Thalurania colombica

White-tailed Emerald (E) Elvira chionura

Coppery-headed Emerald (E) Elvira cupreiceps

Snowcap (E) Microchera albocoronata

Blue-chested Hummingbird Amazilia amabilis

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl

Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila

TROGONS: TROGONIDAE

Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno



Slaty-tailed Trogon Trogon massena

Black-headed Trogon Trogon melanocephalus

Baird's Trogon (E) Trogon bairdii

Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus

Black-throated Trogon Trogon rufus

MOTMOTS: MOMOTIDAE

Rufous Motmot Baryphthengus martii

Turquoise-browed Motmot Eumomota superciliosa

KINGFISHERS: ALCEDINIDAE

Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata

Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon

Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona

Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana

American Pygmy Kingfisher Chloroceryle aenea

PUFFBIRDS: BUCCONIDAE

White-necked Puffbird Notharchus hyperrhynchus

White-whiskered Puffbird Malacoptila panamensis

NEW WORLD BARBETS: CAPITONIDAE

Red-headed Barbet Eubucco bourcierii

TOUCANS-BARBETS:SEMNORNITHIDAE



Prong-billed Barbet (E) Semnornis frantzii

TOUCANS: RAMPHASTIDAE

Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus maxillaris

Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus torquatus

Yellow-throated (Black/Chestnut Mandibled) Toucan Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii

Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus

WOODPECKERS: PICIDAE

Black-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes pucherani

Hoffmann's Woodpecker (E) Melanerpes hoffmannii

Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus

Rufous-winged Woodpecker (E) Piculus simplex

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker Celeus castaneus

Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus

FALCONS AND CARACARAS: FALCONIDAE

Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway

Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima

Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans

American Kestrel Falco sparverius

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

NEW WORLD & AFRICAN PARROTS: PSITTACIDAE

Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola



Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis

Brown-hooded Parrot Pyrilia haematotis

Orange-fronted Parakeet Eupsittula canicularis

Great Green Macaw Ara ambiguus

Scarlet Macaw Ara macao

Crimson-fronted Parakeet (E) Psittacara finschi

White-crowned Parrot Pionus senilis

Red-lored Parrot Amazona autumnalis

Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata

White-fronted Parrot Amazona albifrons

Mealy Parrot Amazona farinosa

TYPICAL ANTBIRDS: THAMNOPHILIDAE

Chestnut-backed Antbird Myrmeciza exsul

OVENBIRDS AND WOODCREEPERS: FURNARIIDAE

Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Streak-headed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS: TYRANNIDAE

Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster

Lesser Elaenia Elaenia chiriquensis

Mountain Elaenia Elaenia frantzii

Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum

Long-tailed Tyrant Colonia colonus



Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus

Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus

Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus

Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua

Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis

Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus

Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus

MANAKINS: PIPRIDAE

White-collared Manakin Manacus candei

TITYRAS AND ALLIES: TITYRIDAE

Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor

Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata

CROWS, JAYS, AND MAGPIES: CORVIDAE

White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa

Brown Jay Psilorhinus morio

SWALLOWS: HIRUNDINIDAE

Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Mangrove Swallow Tachycineta albilinea

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica



WRENS: TROGLODYTIDAE

House Wren Troglodytes aedon

Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha

Bay Wren Cantorchilus nigricapillus

THRUSHES AND ALLIES: TURDIDAE

Black-faced Solitaire (E) Myadestes melanops

Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush (E) Catharus gracilirostris

Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii

Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina

Sooty Thrush (Robin) E Turdus nigrescens

Clay-colored Thrush (Robin) Turdus grayi

SILKY-FLYCATCHERS: PTILOGONATIDAE

Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher (E) Ptilogonys caudatus

NEW WORLD WARBLERS: PARULIDAE

Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis

Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea

Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina

Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia

Yellow (Mangrove) Warbler Setophaga petechia bryanti

Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica

Black-cheeked Warbler (E) Basileuterus melanogenys

Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla



Collared Redstart (Whitestart) E Myioborus torquatus

TANAGERS AND ALLIES: THRAUPIDAE

Crimson-collared Tanager Ramphocelus sanguinolentus

Passerini's Tanager Ramphocelus passerinii

Cherrie's Tanager (E) Ramphocelus costaricensis

Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus

Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum

Golden-hooded Tanager Tangara larvata

Plain-colored Tanager (E) Tangara inornata

Emerald Tanager Tangara florida

Silver-throated Tanager Tangara icterocephala

Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana

Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus

Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza

Slaty Flowerpiercer (E) Diglossa plumbea

Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina

Variable Seedeater (Caribbean) Sporophila corvina corvina

Bananaquit Coereba flaveola

Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus

BUNTINGS AND NEW WORLD SPARROWS: EMBERIZIDAE

Yellow-thighed Finch (E) Pselliophorus tibialis

Large-footed Finch (E) Pezopetes capitalis

Orange-billed Sparrow Arremon aurantiirostris



Stripe-headed Sparrow Peucaea ruficauda

Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis

Common Chrlorospingus Chlorospingus flavopectus

Sooty-capped Chlorospingus (E) Chlorospingus pileatus

Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum

CARDINALS AND ALLIES: CARDINALIDAE

Summer Tanager Piranga rubra

Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata

Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda

Black-faced Grosbeak Caryothraustes poliogaster

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus

Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea

TROUPIALS AND ALLIES: ICTERIDAE

Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna

Melodious Blackbird Dives dives

Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus

Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus

Black-cowled Oriole Icterus prosthemelas

Streak-backed Oriole Icterus pustulatus

Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis

Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula

Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus

Montezuma Oropendola Psarocolius montezuma



Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus

FINCHES, EUPHONIAS & ALLIES: FRINGILLIDAE

Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea

Olive-backed Euphonia Euphonia gouldi

Golden-browed Chlorophonia (E) Chlorophonia callophrys

MAMMALS

Common Opossum Didelphis marsupialis

Mantled Howler Alouatta palliata

Geoffroy's Spider Monkey Ateles geoffroyi

Northern Tamandua Tamandua mexicana

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth Bradypus variegatus

Variegated Squirrel Sciurus variegatoides

Central American Agouti Dasyprocta punctata

Kinakajou Potos flavus

White-nosed Coati Nasua narica

Common (Northern) Raccoon Procyon lotor

Lowland Paca Cuniculus paca

REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS

Strawberry Poison-Dart Frog Oophaga pumilio

Green and Black Poison-Dart Frog Dendrobates auratus

Eyelash Viper Bothriechis schlegelii

Boa Constrictor (Red-tailed Boa) Boa constrictor



Helmeted Iguana Corytophanes cristatus

Four-lined Whip-tailed Lizard Ameiva quadrilineata

Green Iguana Iguana iguana

Spectacled caiman Caiman crocodilus

American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus

Green / Double Crested Basilisk Basiliscus plumifrons

Common Basilisk Basiliscus basiliscus

Brown Basilisk Basiliscus vittatus

Ctenosaur / Spine-tailed Lizard Ctenosaura similis

Pug-nosed Anole Norops capito

House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus

OTHER SIGHTINGS

Leaf / Shield / Hood Mantis Choeradodis sp.

Stick Insect Order: Phasmatodea

costa rica photo journey 2016 (feb 14 23, 2016) … birding trip report costa rica photo journey –...

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