Famous birds of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known for being rich in wildlife, including bird species. In such a small country, it is impressive to record approximately 909 species of birds classified further into 82 families. 

Just like colorful Costa Rica, you can see vibrant birds anytime you visit the country. There are many varieties in bird species of Costa Rica which results in a diverse population.  

One of the main reasons birds thrive in Costa Rica is due to the ideal climate offered by the country. As habitat plays an important role in a bird’s choice of finding a home, Costa Rica provides the perfect seasonal or permanent place for them to reside. Thus, for many bird species, Costa Rica becomes a natural choice. 

The country has been one of the top destinations for bird enthusiasts. For witnessing an exquisite avifauna, Costa Rica does not disappoint at all. Instead, one might not find such a variety of bird species elsewhere.  

Here are the 10 most famous bird species you can spot in Costa Rica all year round: 

1. Resplendent quetzal 

One of the strikingly colorful and vibrant birds, the Resplendent quetzal, proudly resides in Costa Rica. This bird is prominent for being the most beautiful bird in the country. 

Out of the ten trogon species, Resplendent Quetzal is one of them. The male quetzal has the privilege of being more radiant than their female counterparts. They appear to have an emerald back, deep red front, and gorgeous feathers. 

One of the main highlights of a Resplendent Quetzal is their small heads but very long tails. They have four extended upper tails that measure up to 30 inches. 

They are usually cloud forest dwellers and thus your chances of finding them near the Central Highlands of Costa Rica is higher. Talamanca cloud forest is a typical habitat of these beauties. 

Avocado is one of the favorite snacks of these birds.  

2. Toucans 

Toucans are easily recognized by their tall beaks. There are six toucan speceis found in Costa Rica. Some of them include the keel-billed, black-mandibled, Yellow-eared toucanet and the emerald toucanet.  

Out of these, the keel-billed toucan is one the most commonly spotted species in Costa Rica. They have long and colorful beaks with colored patterns. Due to this, they are also referred to as Rainbow billed toucan. 

As beautiful as their beaks are, they also very functional and help pick berries for them. Aside from eating fruits from flowering trees, they consume eggs of other insects, birds, and smaller reptiles as well.  

You can spot flocks of keel-billed toucans at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Tortuguero National Park, and La Selva Protected Zone. Once you find yourself in a Toucan territory, you can hear these birds sing a toucan song which turns out to be a unique experience. 

3. Hummingbirds 

Hummingbirds are the most common species seen in Costa Rica which can be spotted all over the country. 

There are 52 species of Hummingbird in Costa Rica so there is a possibility you come across various types, ranging from different colors and sizes.  

These birds are always the ones to catch the attention of birders and non-birders alike with their fluttering wings and iridescent shade. Some of the species to have on your list must include the black-crested coquette, fiery throated hummingbird, coppery-headed emerald, and long-billed hermit.   

A fun fact about hummingbirds is that their metabolism is very high and hence they need to eat all day to survive. To feed themselves, they visit at least 2000 flowers every day. Aside from this, they also like to eat small insects such as beetles, gnats, mosquitoes, and wasps.  

As hummingbirds are common in Costa Rica, there is a Hummingbird garden dedicated to them in Selvatura Park. In many destinations, you see these birds up close to their feeders, one of them being La Paz Waterfall Gardens. 

4. Kingfishers 

There are 90 species of kingfishers all around the world but only six of them can be in the USA. All six species of kingfisher can be seen in Costa Rica. 

Three of them can be spotted near the Tortuguero River. These are the Amazon kingfisher, the Ringed kingfisher, and the green kingfisher which is known to be the smallest of all.  Tarcoles and Carara are the best places for these. 

A kingfisher has a rufous belly, large head, sharp and pointed beaks, short legs, and stubby tails. Along with this, they have the most vivid feathers. Female kingfishers are more colorful than males and thus can be differentiated easily.  

Kingfishers eat a wide range of fishes, small insects, reptiles, and amphibians. They prefer to live in places that are cool and damp, especially lowland freshwater areas and river estuaries.  

You can see kingfishers throughout the national parks of Costa Rica. 

5. King Vulture 

There are four species of the New World vultures found in Costa Rica, one of them being the king vulture. The king vulture is one of the largest Costa Rican vultures. 

Although it is not as appealing as other bird species to look at, king vultures do flaunt their bright hues to serve as a signal among mates.  

An adult king vulture has while plumate with a subtle rose-tinted tinge to it. Younger ones are a slate grey. They have broad wings and a short squaretail. The most fascinating feature of a king vulture is its head which has orange, blue, white, and yellow colors.  

The head and neck of a king vulture are featherless as an adaption of hygiene. While eating carrion, the lack of feathers prevents the bacteria to spread.  

These vultures are essential to the ecosystem as they eat carcasses and prevent the spread of disease. The king vulture is a solitary bird and can be found in tropical lowland forests.  

6. Tanagers 

Tanagers are yet one of the most common species of birds found in Costa Rica. These colorful birds have 51 species residing in the country. 

Due to their beautiful colors, Tanagers are one of the most photographed birds. The most common species of these vibrant birds include glowing plumage, passerine tanager, Cherrie’s Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, and many more. Tanagers usually eat fruits and wild berries.   

One of the most adaptable species is the blue-gray tanager found In the lowlands and middle elevations.  

If you want to spot tanagers, you don’t even have to visit a natural reserve. They can be seen flying around urban areas like parks and gardens across the country.

7. Honeycreepers 

There are mainly three species of honeycreepers you can spot in Costa Rica. The three species of these birds include the green honeycreeper, red-legged honeycreeper, and the shining honeycreeper.

All three appear to be very different from each other, varying in color and gender. 

Honeycreeper birds appear small in size and may have a downward bill. They like to flaunt their beautiful colors especially the male honeycreepers who are vibrant than females. 

These species can be seen in rainforests as well as near the fruiting trees, lowlands, and foothills. Honeycreepers usually eat nectar, fruits, seeds, insects, bugs, spiders, and even carrion.  Sarapiqui is one of the best places to see them. 

8. Owls 

There are 16 owl species found in Costa Rica, all of which are brown in shade. The most common types include the crested owl, spectacled owl, striped owl, black and white owl, mottled owl as well as the Costa Rican pygmy owl. 

Some of the species can be found exclusively on highlands over 2000 meters. Owls are nocturnal animals, regarded for being the best night hunters.  

They eat small rodents like mammals such as mice and voles. They also like to feed on frogs, lizard mice, and other birds. 

9. Aracari

Aracari is any of the medium-sized toucans and makes up the genus of Pteroglossus. They have a bright plumage and big, contrastingly patterned bills.  

The fiery-billed Aracari and collared Aracari are usually found in Costa Rica. They are the most richly colored birds of the Toucan family. 

Both the species share similar features such as a large bill, slender and medium-sized body, long tail, and short, roundish wings.  

One way to distinguish between both is to look for a broad band across the middle. The collared aracari is mostly black while the fiery red has an obvious red band. 

The collared aracari can be found in Caribbean lowland and premontane forests. The firey billed lives in forests similar to the collared but can also be found at elevations up to 1,500 meters.  

10. Motmots

You can find six species of motmots residing in Costa Rica. These include the blue-crowned motmot, broad-billed motmot, rugous motmot, keel-billed motmot, turquoise bowned motmot, and the tody motmot. 

Motmots have bright feathers and the signature racquet-tipped tails, except for the tody motmot. The most common species seen are the blue-crowned motmot. 

Motmots are tiny birds but stand out from the rest due to their colorful head and body accompanied by a long tail. 

The blue-crowned motmot can be seen in the Santa Rosa National Park and Carara National Park. Other motmot species inhabit the interiors and edge of the forests.  They like to eat fruits and smaller insects like crickets, waxworms, and earthworms. 

These are just some of the birds found in Costa Rica. Many species are just as colorful and beautiful as the ones mentioned. As the country is a haven for birders, don’t miss out on these birds that can be found easily and prove to be photogenic too.   

 

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