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