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Birds of Costa Rica N IRVANA FOR BIRDERS, Costa Rica has more than 850 bird species – about 10 percent of the world’s known total, and twice as many as the USA and Canada combined. Although the national bird is the clay-brown yiquirro (robin), many others are more exotically plumed. Tanagers, manakins, and trogons, inhabit the thick forests, where they are hard to spot despite their bright plumage. Waders such as egrets, ibis, and spoonbills are easily seen amid the wetlands, while vultures and raptors are commonly sighted soaring overhead or squatting atop poles. A PORTRAIT OF COSTA RICA INTRODUCING COSTA RICA PARROTS AND MACAWS Garrulous creatures of the forest, the parrot family ranges from small, swift, short-tailed parrakeets to the giants of the parrot kingdom, the long-tailed macaws (above). Most parrots are green with varying patches of red, white, and/or yellow. They have hooked bills and powerful claws for grasping fruits and nuts. Costa Rica is home to 16 species of parrots and two species of macaws. Trogons are pigeon-sized forest birds identified by their black and white striped tails. Most come in two-color combinations, such as blue and yellow, or green and red. The most beautiful member of the trogon family is the resplendent quetzal (see p179), an iridescent emerald-green bird, which was considered sacred in Mayan culture. Bird-watching with experienced naturalist guides is richly rewarding. Carry binoculars and a tripod. Tanagers are small, vibrant birds that live in the forests. The summer tanager (left) is a flame-red bird. The blue-gray tanager is variegated in peacock hues. Short wings permit fast flight through the forest. About 50 species of tanagers live in Costa Rica. Mealy parrot The scarlet macaw (lapa roja) is blood red, with wings of yellow and blue. It is commonly seen in Santa Rosa, Carara, Manuel Antonio, and Corcovado National Parks. The green macaw or Buffon’s macaw (lapa verde) is an endangered species restricted to the northern lowlands. Toucans, easily recognized by their oversized bills, are found from elevations of 2,000 ft (610 m) to sea level. The keel-billed toucan has a banana- yellow chest, a black body, and a startling rainbow- striped beak (left). The smaller aracaris and toucanets are more varied in color. Frigate birds nest in colonies on top of coastal shrubs. During the mating season, males inflate bright red chest pouches to woo the females that fly overhead. Brown pelicans are present year-round on the Pacific coast and can be spotted easily as they dive for fish. WETLAND BIRDS Costa Rica is on the migratory path of numerous waterfowl, such as black-bellied whistling ducks, which stop seasonally at Palo Verde (see p130) and similar flooded regions. Jabiru, roseate spoonbills, and cormorants are among the permanent wetland species. Sunbitterns spread their wings to reveal distinctive patterns that are designed for defense. Northern jacana have elongated toes for walking across floating lilypads. Male jacana rear the young. Macaws are usually found in pairs. These colorful birds are an extraordinary sight as they fly overhead, screeching loudly. SEABIRDS Costa Rica’s shores are crowded with seabirds. Oystercatchers, spotted sandpipers, and whimbrels scurry around at the water’s edge. Coastal mangroves are home to blue heron, ibis, and neotropic cormorants, while several offshore islands are important nesting sites for boobies, laughing gulls, and storm petrels. Migratory birds flock to Costa Rica’s wetlands, especially toward the end of the December–April dry season. Blue-winged teal, Muscovy ducks, black-bellied whistling ducks, and other winter migrants arrive in their tens of thousands. Vultures are found across Costa Rica; the country has four species of this bird of prey, and about 50 other types of raptors, including owls, the osprey, the laughing falcon, and the endangered harpy eagle, the world’s largest eagle. Hummingbirds, named for the bee-like “hum” of their wings beating at a blurry 100 times per second, are able to hover as they sip nectar from flowers through hollow, needle-like beaks. They are very territorial despite their tiny size: males can often be seen in spectacular aerial battles. Bare-throated tiger-herons are graceful waterbirds. Costa Rica hosts about 20 species of herons. 26 27
