Costa Rica Birding Trip Report
July 2-12, 2016

Trip Totals

During our tour, we tallied an amazing 411 birds and 13 mammals; we also identified some, but certainly not all of the reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates we encountered along the way. Without Andrew Spencer, our incredible Tropical Birding guide, our success rate would have been infinitely lower. On behalf of everyone in the group, thanks, Andrew! I’d also like to thank our outstanding bus drivers as well as the staff at the five birder-friendly hotels and lodges we visited during our tour.

Following are the species we found and identified: (G = guide only; H = heard only)

Birds

Tinamidae - Tinamous

Great Tinamou (H)

Little Tinamou (H)

Thicket Tinamou (H)

Anatidae - Ducks, Geese and Waterfowl

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Cracidae - Guans, Chachalacas and Curassows

Gray-headed Chachalaca

Crested Guan

Black Guan

Great Curassow

Odontophoridae - New World Quail

Crested Bobwhite

Spotted Wood-Quail (H)

Ciconiidae - Storks

Wood Stork

Fregatidae - Frigatebirds

Magnificent Frigatebird

Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants and Shags

Neotropic Cormorant

Pelecanidae - Pelicans

Brown Pelican

Ardeidae - Herons, Egrets and Bitterns

Fasciated Tiger-Heron

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Little Blue Heron

Tricolored Heron

Cattle Egret

Green Heron

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Boat-billed Heron

Threskiornithidae - Ibises and Spoonbills

White Ibis

Green Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

Cathartidae - New World Vultures

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

King Vulture

Pandionidae - Osprey

Osprey

Accipitridae - Hawks, Eagles and Kites

White-tailed Kite

Swallow-tailed Kite

Pearl Kite

Plumbeous Kite

Crane Hawk (G)

Common Black-Hawk

Roadside Hawk

Semiplumbeous Hawk (G, H)

Gray Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Eurypygidae - Sunbittern

Sunbittern

Rallidae - Rails, Gallinules and Coots

White-throated Crake (H)

Russet-naped Wood-Rail

Purple Gallinule

Burhinidae - Thick-Knees

Double-striped Thick-knee

Recurvirostridae - Stilts and Avocets

Black-necked Stilt

Haematopodidae - Oystercatchers

American Oystercatcher

Charadriidae - Plovers and Lapwings

Black-bellied Plover

Southern Lapwing

Collared Plover

Wilson’s Plover

Jacanidae - Jacanas

Northern Jacana

Scolopacidae - Sandpipers and Allies

Spotted Sandpiper

Willet

Lesser Yellowlegs

Whimbrel

Ruddy Turnstone

Laridae - Gulls, Terns and Skimmers

Laughing Gull

Royal Tern

Sandwich Tern

Elegant Tern

Columbidae - Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeon

Pale-vented Pigeon

Scaled Pigeon

Red-billed Pigeon

Band-tailed Pigeon

Ruddy Pigeon

Short-billed Pigeon

Inca Dove

Common Ground-Dove

Ruddy Ground-Dove

Blue Ground-Dove

Ruddy Quail-Dove

White-tipped Dove

Gray-chested Dove

Chiriqui Quail-Dove

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Cuculidae - Cuckoos

Squirrel Cuckoo

Mangrove Cuckoo (H)

Lesser Ground-Cuckoo (H)

Smooth-billed Ani

Groove-billed Ani

Strigidae - Owls

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Mottled Owl

Caprimulgidae - Nightjars and Allies

Lesser Nighthawk

Common Pauraque

Dusky Nightjar

Apodidae - Swifts

White-collared Swift

Costa Rican Swift

Gray-rumped Swift

Trochilidae - Hummingbirds

White-necked Jacobin

Band-tailed Barbthroat

Green Hermit

Long-billed Hermit

Stripe-throated Hermit

Lesser Violetear

Purple-crowned Fairy

Black-crested Coquette

Green-crowned Brilliant

Magnificent Hummingbird

Fiery-throated Hummingbird

Purple-throated Mountain-gem

White-throated Mountain-gem

Volcano Hummingbird

Scintillant Hummingbird

Canivet’s Emerald

Violet-headed Hummingbird

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

Violet Sabrewing

Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer

Crowned Woodnymph

Stripe-tailed Hummingbird

Coppery-headed Emerald

Snowcap

Blue-chested Hummingbird

Charming Hummingbird (G)

Mangrove Hummingbird

Steely-vented Hummingbird

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Cinnamon Hummingbird

Blue-throated Goldentail (G)

Trogonidae - Trogons

Resplendent Quetzal

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Black-headed Trogon

Baird’s Trogon (H)

Gartered Trogon

Black-throated Trogon

Orange-bellied Trogon

Collared Trogon

Momotidae - Motmots

Lesson’s Motmot

Rufous Motmot

Broad-billed Motmot

Turquoise-browed Motmot

Alcedinidae - Kingfishers

Ringed Kingfisher

Amazon Kingfisher

Green Kingfisher

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Bucconidae - Puffbirds

White-necked Puffbird (G)

White-whiskered Puffbird

Galbulidae - Jacamars

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Semnornithidae - Toucan-Barbets

Prong-billed Barbet

Ramphastidae - Toucans

Emerald Toucanet

Collared Aracari

Fiery-billed Aracari

Yellow-throated Toucan

Keel-billed Toucan

Picidae - Woodpeckers

Olivaceous Piculet

Acorn Woodpecker

Golden-naped Woodpecker (H)

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Hoffmann’s Woodpecker

Smoky-brown Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Rufous-winged Woodpecker

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker

Lineated Woodpecker

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Falconidae - Falcons and Caracaras

Barred Forest-Falcon (G)

Crested Caracara

Yellow-headed Caracara

Laughing Falcon

Bat Falcon

Psittacidae - New World and African Parrots

Barred Parakeet

Orange-chinned Parakeet

White-crowned Parrot

Red-lored Parrot

Yellow-naped Parrot

White-fronted Parrot

Mealy Parrot

Sulphur-winged Parakeet

Olive-throated Parakeet

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Great Green Macaw

Scarlet Macaw

Crimson-fronted Parakeet

Thamnophilidae - Typical Antbirds

Fasciated Antshrike

Great Antshrike (G)

Barred Antshrike

Black-hooded Antshrike

Russet Antshrike (G)

Plain Antvireo (G)

Streak-crowned Antvireo

Checker-throated Antwren

Slaty Antwren (G)

Dot-winged Antwren

Dusky Antbird

Chestnut-backed Antbird

Grallariidae - Antpittas

Streak-chested Antpitta

Rhinocryptidae - Tapaculos

Silvery-fronted Tapaculo

Formicariidae - Antthrushes

Black-faced Antthrush

Furnariidae - Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers

Tawny-throated Leaftosser (G)

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Long-tailed Woodcreeper

Tawny-winged Woodcreeper

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Black-striped Woodcreeper

Spotted Woodcreeper

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Spot-crowned Woodcreeper

Plain Xenops

Buffy Tuftedcheek

Lineated Foliage-gleaner

Streak-breasted Treehunter

Striped Woodhaunter

Spotted Barbtail

Ruddy Treerunner

Red-faced Spinetail

Pale-breasted Spinetail

Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet

Yellow Tyrannulet

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Mountain Elaenia

Torrent Tyrannulet

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Rough-legged Tyrannulet

Paltry Tyrannulet

Northern Scrub-Flycatcher

Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant (H)

Northern Bentbill

Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Eye-ringed Flatbill (H)

Yellow-olive Flycatcher

Yellow-margined Flycatcher

White-throated Spadebill

Royal Flycatcher

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher

Black-tailed Flycatcher

Tropical Pewee

Yellowish Flycatcher

Black-capped Flycatcher

Black Phoebe

Bright-rumped Attila

Rufous Mourner

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Panama Flycatcher

Nutting’s Flycatcher

Great Kiskadee

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Social Flycatcher

Gray-capped Flycatcher (G)

White-ringed Flycatcher

Golden-bellied Flycatcher

Streaked Flycatcher

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Piratic Flycatcher

Tropical Kingbird

Cotingidae - Cotingas

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Turquoise Cotinga

Three-wattled Bellbird

Snowy Cotinga (G)

Pipridae - Manakins

Long-tailed Manakin

Blue-crowned Manakin (G)

White-collared Manakin

Orange-collared Manakin (H)

Tityridae - Tityras and Allies

Black-crowned Tityra

Masked Tityra

Barred Becard

Cinnamon Becard

White-winged Becard

Rose-throated Becard

Verionidae - Vireos, Shrike-Babblers and Erpornis

Mangrove Vireo

Yellow-winged Vireo

Brown-capped Vireo

Yellow-green Vireo

Scrub Greenlet

Tawny-crowned Greenlet

Lesser Greenlet

Green Shrike-Vireo

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Corvidae - Crows, Jays and Magpies

Azure-hooded Jay (H)

White-throated Magpie-Jay

Brown Jay

Hirundinidae - Swallows

Blue-and-white Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Gray-breasted Martin

Mangrove Swallow

Troglodytidae - Wrens

Scaly-breasted Wren

House Wren

Ochraceous Wren

Timberline Wren

Band-backed Wren (G)

Rufous-naped Wren

Black-bellied Wren

Rufous-breasted Wren

Black-throated Wren

Banded Wren

Rufous-and-white Wren

Stripe-breasted Wren

Cabanis’s Wren

Riverside Wren

Bay Wren

White-breasted Wood-Wren

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren

Polioptilidae - Gnatcatchers

Tawny-faced Gnatwren

Long-billed Gnatwren

White-lored Gnatcatcher

Tropical Gnatcatcher

Turdidae - Thrushes and Allies

Black-faced Solitaire

Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush (H)

Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush

Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush

Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush

Sooty Thrush

Mountain Thrush

Pale-vented Thrush

Clay-colored Thrush

White-throated Thrush

Mimidae - Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Tropical Mockingbird

Ptilogonatidae - Silky-Flycatchers

Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher

Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher

Parulidae - New World Warblers

Flame-throated Warbler

Gray-crowned Yellowthroat

Olive-crowned Yellowthroat

Tropical Parula (G)

Yellow (Mangrove) Warbler

Rufous-capped Warbler

Black-cheeked Warbler

Golden-crowned Warbler

Costa Rican Warbler

Buff-rumped Warbler

Slate-throated Redstart

Collared Redstart

Wrenthrush

Thraupidae - Tanagers and Allies

Gray-headed Tanager

White-shouldered Tanager

Tawny-crested Tanager

White-lined Tanager

White-throated Shrike-Tanager

Passerini’s Tanager

Cherrie’s Tanager

Blue-and-gold Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

Palm Tanager

Golden-hooded Tanager

Speckled Tanager

Spangle-cheeked Tanager

Plain-colored Tanager

Bay-headed Tanager

Emerald Tanager

Silver-throated Tanager

Scarlet-thighed Dacnis

Blue Dacnis

Shining Honeycreeper

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Green Honeycreeper

Black-and-yellow Tanager

Slaty Flowerpiercer

Blue-black Grassquit

Variable Seedeater

White-collared Seedeater

Bananaquit

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Dusky-faced Tanager

Buff-throated Saltator

Grayish Saltator

Emberizidae - Buntings and New World Sparrows

Sooty-capped Chlorospingus

Common Chlorospingus

Stripe-headed Sparrow

Orange-billed Sparrow

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch

Sooty-faced Finch (G)

Volcano Junco

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Large-footed Finch

White-eared Ground-Sparrow

Yellow-thighed Finch

Cardinalidae - Cardinals and Allies

Hepatic Tanager

Flame-colored Tanager

Red-throated Ant-Tanager

Carmiol’s Tanager

Black-faced Grosbeak

Black-thighed Grosbeak (H)

Blue-black Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Icteridae - Troupials and Allies

Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Meadowlark

Red-breasted Blackbird

Melodious Blackbird

Great-tailed Grackle

Shiny Cowbird

Bronzed Cowbird

Giant Cowbird

Black-cowled Oriole

Streak-backed Oriole

Yellow-billed Cacique

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Chestnut-headed Oropendola

Montezuma Oropendola

Fringillidae - Finches, Euphonias and Allies

Scrub Euphonia

Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Thick-billed Euphonia

Yellow-throated Euphonia

Elegant Euphonia

Spot-crowned Euphonia

Olive-backed Euphonia

Tawny-capped Euphonia

Golden-browed Chlorophonia

Yellow-bellied Siskin

Passeridae - Old World Sparrows

House Sparrow

Mammals

Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth

Brazilian Long-nosed Bat

White Tent Bat

White-throated Capuchin Monkey

Mantled Howler Monkey

Central American Spider Monkey

Alfaro’s Pygmy Squirrel

Red-tailed Squirrel

Variegated Squirrel

Central American Agouti

White-nosed Coati

Neotropical River Otter

Collared Peccary

White-tailed Deer

Amphibians

Marine Toad

Green and Black Poison Frog

Strawberry Poison Frog

Reptiles

Common Basilisk

Emerald Basilisk

Brown Basilisk

Spinytail Iguana

Green Iguana

Central American Ameiva

Eylash Pitviper

Spectacled Caiman

American Crocodile