Home | Air Travel | Accommodations | Habitats | Driving | Guides | My Checklist | Photos | Bird Notes | Odds and Ends

My Costa Rica Bird Checklist

Please forgive some of the obsolete scientific names and the occasional misstep of the phylogenetic order. The majority of this list was created over a 19-year period and some scientific names changed and families rearranged. This checklist was created from short trips that occurred every year from 1991-2010. Most trips were made during the summer months without a guide, but not all. The list includes two winter tours and a 1997 ABA conference.

Location Key

AR=Arenal Vicinity

GR=Guanacaste Region Throughout

PO=Poas Volcano

BC=Braulio Carillo

GU=Guanacaste National Park

PV=Palo Verde and Vicinity

CA=Carara and Tarcoles River

HL=Heliconias Lodge Area

RN=Rancho Naturalista and Vicinity

CI=Cinchona and Waterfall Gardens

LS= La Selva and Selva Verde Area

SR=Santa Rosa NP Vicinity

CM=Cerro de la Muerte

MA=Manuel Antonio

TA=Tapanti

CN=Canos Negro Refuge

MO=Monteverde

TH=Throughout or Widespread within Range
DO=Dominical, Uvita lowlands-foothills    

Links above are my own sightings at each location

(w) = winter sightings, a designation I use for some N.A. migrants. Most other sightings are summer sightings.
No "heard only" included in this list.

Particular bird identification challenges for birders without guides
Location Species Latin name

 

TINAMIDAE

 

MO, LS, CA Great Tinamou Tinamus major
LS Slaty-breasted Tinamou Crypterellus boucardi
  PODICIPEDIDAE  
AR Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus

GR

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

 

PELECANIDAE

 

TH

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

  SULIDAE  
GR, MA, DO Brown Booby Sula Leucogaster

 

PHALACROCORACIDAE

 

GR, CN, DO

Neotropic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

 

ANHINGIDAE

 

GR, CN

Anhinga

Anhinga anhinga

 

FREGATIDAE

 

TH

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

 

ARDEIDAE

 

CA, CN, PV

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

AR, RN Fasciated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma fasciatum

TH

Great Egret

Ardea alba

TH

Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

TH

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

TH (w) Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
CA (w - coastal) Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens

TH

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

TH

Green Heron

Butorides virescens

TH (w) Black-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa nycticorax

TH

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

CA (lagoon) Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius
PV Limpkin

Aramus guarauna

 

THRESKIORNITHIDAE

 

TH

White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

PV Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
CN Green Ibis Mesembrinibis cayennensis

GR

Roseate Spoonbill

Ajaia ajaja

  EURYPYGIDAE  
RN, LS Sunbittern Eurypyga helias

 

CICONIIDAE

 

PV

Jabiru

Jabiru mycteria

GR, PV, CA

Wood Stork

Mycteria americana

 

CATHARTIDAE

 

TH

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

TH

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

DO, CA King Vulture

Sarcoramphus papa

 

ANATIDAE

 

TH

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

PV (w) Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
PV (w) Muscovy Duck Cairinina moschata
PV (w) Blue-winged Teal Anas discors

 

ACCIPITRIDAE

 

TH (w) Osprey Pandion haliaetus
PV (w) Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis

AR, MO, RN, DO

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

TH

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

PV, CN Snail Kite

Rostrahamus sociabilis

MA, DO Double-toothed Kite Harpagus bidentatus
CN Black-collared Hawk Busarellus nigricollis

GR

Crane Hawk

Geranospiza caerulescens

DO White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis
LS, AR Semiplumbeous Hawk Leucopternis principeps
GR Mangrove Black-Hawk Buteogallus subtilus
CN, DO Great Black-Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga

GR

Gray Hawk

Asturina nitidus

GR (w) Harris's Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus

TH

Roadside Hawk

Buteo magnirostris

TH (w) Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platerperus
MO Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus
AR Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

TH (March)

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

GR (w) Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus
DO Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus

 

FALCONIDAE

 

TH

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

DO, CA Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimichima

GU, DO

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

PV, CA Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus
TH (w) American Kestrel Falco sparverius
PV (w) Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
CN Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis

 

CRACIDAE

 

GU, RN, DO Gray-headed Chachalaca Ortalis cinereiceps
RN, AR Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens
MO (w) Black Guan Chamaepetes unicolor
HL Great Currasow Crax rubra
  ODONTOPHORIDAE  
PV Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus

 

RALLIDAE

 

AR White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis
CN, MA, DO Gray-necked Wood-Rail Aramides cajanea

GR

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

CA, PV, CN Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica

 

BURHINIDAE

 

PV area

Double-striped Thick-Knee

Burhinus bistriatus

 

CHARADRIIDAE

 

TH

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

 

JACANIDAE

 

CN, PV

Northern Jacana

Jacana spinosa

 

SCOLOPACIDAE

 

CA (beach) Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
CA (beach) Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
CA (beach) Collared Plover Charadrius collaris
SA Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
CA (beach) Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
DO (beach) American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus
CA (beach) Sanderling Calidris alba

TH

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

TH

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

TH (w) Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria

TH

Willet

Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

TH (w) Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
TH (w) Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
CA Spotted Sandpiper Actitus macularius
TH (w) Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria intrepres
TH (w) Least Sandpiper Caladris minutilla
  LARIDAE  
TH Laughing Gull Larus atracilla
TH (w) Royal Tern Sterna maxima
DO, MA Sandwich Tern Sterna sandivencensis
CA Elegant Tern Thalasseus elegans
GR Black Tern Childonias niger

 

COLUMBIDAE

 

TH

Rock Dove

Columba livia

MA, LS, AR, DO Pale-vented Pigeon Columba cayannensis
MO Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata
CM Ruddy Pigeon Columba subvinacea

GU, MO, GR, CN

Red-billed Pigeon

Columba flavirostris

LS, DO Short-billed Pigeon Columba nigrirostris

GR

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

GR

Inca Dove

Columbina inca

CN Gray-headed Dove Leptotila rufaxilla
CA, AR, DO Gray-chested Dove Leptotila cassinii

GR

Common Ground-Dove

Columbina passerina

TH

Ruddy Ground-Dove

Columbina talpacoti

MA, DO Blue Ground-Dove Claravis pretiosa

SR, GR, PV, HL, DO

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

CA Ruddy Quail Dove Geotrygon montana

 

PSITTACIDAE

 

CA, DO Scarlet Macaw Ara macao
LS Great Green Macaw Ara Ambigua
CN, RN, AR, DO Crimson-fronted Parakeet Aratinga finschi
CN Olive-throated Parakeet Aratinga nana

SR, GR

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Aratinga canicularis

TH

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

MO, MA, HL, DO Brown-hooded Parrot Pionopsitta haematotis
CA, LS, RN, DO White-crowned Parrot Pionus senillus

GR

White-fronted Parrot

Amazona albifrons

CN, LS Red-lored Parrot Amazona autumnalis
CN, LS Mealy Parrot Amazona freonosa
PV (w) Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata

 

CUCULIDAE

 

TH

Squirrel Cuckoo

Piaya cayana

TH

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

DO Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris
  STRIGIIDAE  
PV (w) Pacific Screech-Owl Otus cooperi
San Jose Tropical Screech-Owl Otus choliba
RN Crested Owl Lophostrix cristata
CA, AR Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicilatta
CA, PV Ferruginous Pygmy Owl Glaucidium brasilianum
PV, HL Black-and-White Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata
MA (w) Striped Owl Pseudocops clamator

 

CAPRIMULGIDAE

 

AR Short-tailed Nighthawk Lurocalis semiorquatus

TH

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

TH

Common Pauraque

Nyctidromus albicollis

  NYCTIBIIDAE  
MA (w) Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus

 

APODIDAE

 

GR (out of typical range) Black Swift Cypeseloides niger
MA (w) Spot-fronted Swift Cypseloides cherrei
AR Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila
GU, LS, MA, AR. DO White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris
MO, AR Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi
DO Costa Rican Swift Chaetura spinicauda
LS Gray-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris
GR (north of range) Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis

 

TROCHILIDAE

 

MA, RN Band-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes ruckeri
LS Bronzy Hermit Glancis aeneus
MO, CA, LS, RN, AR Green Hermit Phethornis guy
MA, LS, CA, DO Long-billed Hermit Phethornis superciliosus
MA, LS, AR, DO Stripe-throated Hermit Phaethornis striigularis
AR White-tipped Sicklebill Eutoxeres aquila
BC Green-fronted Lancebill Doryfera ludoviciae
MA, DO Scaly-breasted Hummingbird Phaeochroa cuvieri
MO, CI Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus
TH White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora
MO, CI Green Violet-ear Colibri thalassinus
CI, RN, HL Brown Violet-ear Colibri delphinae
RN, PV (w) Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii

GU, RN

Violet-headed Hummingbird

Klais guimeti

RN Black-crested Coquette Lophornus helenae
DO White-crested Coquette Lophornus adorabilis
CI, RN Green Thorntail Discosura conversii
DO Garden Emerald Chlorostilbon assimilis
GU (w) Canivet's Emerald Chlorostilbon caniveti
BC, CI, RN, AR Violet-crowned Woodnymph Thalurania colombica
PO (w) Fiery-throated Hummingbird Panterpe insignis
MA, DO Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae
MA (w) Mangrove Hummingbird Amazilia boucardi
MO, HL Steely-vented Hummingbird Amazilia saucerotti

TH

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

PV, GR

Cinnamon Hummingbird

Amazilia rutila

TA Black-bellied Hummingbird Eupherusa nigraventris
DO Charming Hummingbird Amazilia decora
MO Stripe-tailed Hummingbird Eupherusa eximia
MO, CI Coppery-headed Emerald Elvira cupreiceps
RN, LS (rare here) Snowcap Microchera albocoronata
LS, CI, RN Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer Chalybura urochrysia
CM White-bellied Mountain-Gem Lampornis hemileucus
MO Purple-throated Mountain Gem Lampornis calolaema
MO, CI, RN Green-crowned Brilliant Heliodoxa jacula
CM Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens
MA, RN, CA, DO Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothrix barroti

GR

Plain-capped Starthroat

Heliomaster constantii

DO Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris
MO (w) Magenta-throated Woodstar Calliphlox bryantae
TH (w) Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
CM Volcano Hummingbird Selasphorus flammula
GU (w) Scintillant Hummingbird Selasphorus Scintilla

 

TROGONIDAE

 

MO Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno

SR, GR

Black-headed Trogon

Trogon melanocephalus

CA Baird's Trogon Trogon bairdii
MA, CA, CN, DO Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus
CA, HL, DO Black-throated Trogon Trogon rufus
CM Collared Trogon Trogon collaris
MO (w) Orange-bellied Trogon Trogon aurantiiventris
BC Lattice-tailed Trogon Trogon clathratus
LS, CA, HL Slaty-tailed Trogon Trogon messena

 

MOMOTIDAE

 

GR

Turquoise-browed Motmot

Eumomota superciliosa

MO, MA, DO Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota
LS, RN Rufous Motmot Baryphthengus martii
AR Keel-billed Motmot Electron carinatum
LS, AR Broad-billed Motmot Electron carinatum
  GALBULIDAE  
CA Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficaula

 

ALCEDINIDAE

 

GU, CN

Ringed Kingfisher

Ceryle torquata

GU, GR, CN

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

PV, CN Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona
DO American Pygmy Kingfisher Choloroceryle aenea

 

BUCCONIDAE

 

GR, DO

White-necked Puffbird

Notharchus macrorhynchows

AR White-fronted Nunbird Monasa morphoeus
  CAPITONIDAE  
MO Prong-billed Barbet Eubucco frantzii
TA, CI Red-headed Barbet Eubucco bourcieni

 

RAMPHASTIDAE

 

GU, RN, MO, HL

Keel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos sulfuratus

DO, CA, HL, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan Rhamphastos swainsonii
MO, CI Blue-throated Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus
GU, CN, RN Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus
MA, DO Fiery-billed Aracari Pteroglossus frantzii

 

PICIDAE

 

GR, CN, DO, HL Linneated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus
CA, AR Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatamalensis

CN, DO

Olivaceous Piculet

Picumnus olivaceus

MA, CA Golden-naped Woodpecker Melanerpes chrysauchen
CM Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus

RN, GU, CN, AR

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes pucherani

MA, DO Red-crowned Woodpecker Melanerpes rubricallis

GR, GU, HL

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

Melanerpes hoffmannii

CM Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
RN, AR Smoky Brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus
DO Rufous-winged Woodpecker Piculus simplex
HL Cinnamon Woodpecker Celeus loricatus
LS Chestnut-colored Woodpecker Celeus castaneus
HL Golden-olive Woodpecker Piculus rubinginosus

 

DENDROCOLAPTIDAE

 

LS, RN Plain Brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa
BC, HL Northern Barred Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae
LS, RN, DO Cocoa Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans
BC Black-striped Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus
LS, RN, HL Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorhynchus spirurus

GU, PV, MO

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

CA, CN, HL, DO Streak-headed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetti
MO, AR, HL Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphornynchus erythropygius
CA, RN Long-tailed Woodcreeper Deconychura longicauda
TA Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis
  FURNARIDAE  
CA Scaly-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus guatamalensis
AR Slaty Spinetail Synallaxis brachyura
MO Red-faced Spinetail Cranioleuca erythrops
MO Spotted Barbtail Premnoplex brunnescens
MO Ruddy Treerunner Margarornis rubiginosus
RN, CA Buff-throated Foliage Gleaner Automolus archrolaemus
MA, RN, CA, DO Plain Xenops Xenops minutus

 

THAMNOPHILIDAE

 

LS Fasciated Antshrike Cymbilaimus lineatus
AR Great Antshrike Taraba major

SR, GR, DO

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

SR Western Slaty Antshrike Thamnophilus atrinucha
CA, MA, DO Black-hooded Antshrike Thamnophilus bridgesi
RN, HL, DO Russet Antshrike Thamnistes anabatinus
MO, RN Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis
AR Streak-crowned Antvireo Dysithamnus puncticeps
MO, CA, RN, AR Slaty Antwren Myrmotherula schisticolor
DO Dot-winged Antwren Myrmotherula quixensis
RN Checker-throated Antwren Epinecrophilla fulviventris
GU, CA, AR, Dusky Antbird Cercomacra tyrannia
AR Bare-crowned Antbird Gymnocichla nudiceps
CA, MA, HL, DO Chestnut-backed Antbird Myrmeciza exsul
RN, AR Dull-mantled Antbird Myrmeciza laemosticta
AR, HL Spotted Antbird Hylophylax naevioides
AR Bicolored Antbird Gymnopithys leucaspis
AR Ocellated Antbird Phaenostictus mcleannani
  FORMICARIIDAE  
CA Black-faced Anthrush Formicarius analis
  GRALLARIDAE  
AR Thicket Antpitta Hylopezus dives
CA Streak-chested Antpitta Hylopezus perspicillatus

Flycatchers to Finches