The Monteverde area was accessed from the town of Santa Elena where there was a good choice of cheap accomodation. I visited 3 different sites spending a day birding in each. The Monteverde Reserve was 6km from Santa Elena and reached by bus leaving at 6:15. The Santa Elena Reserve was about 5km from Santa Elena town in the other direction from Monteverde. There was also a bus leaving at about 6:45. The last day was spent at the Bajo Del Tigre trail which was 3km from town towards the Monteverde Reserve to which I walked. The Bajo del Tigre trail was at lower elevation and had very different species from the other 2. Monteverde and Santa Elena Reserves had good forest at similar elevations but I saw a few species in each reserve that I didn't see at the other. Several species were seen walking to or from the reserves. The weather was very windy and rainy on all days and really affected the birding. I saw only 1 of my target species, the Black Guan, at the Santa Elena Reserve. I saw 77 species including 22 lifers
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Broad-winged Hawk ? | Buteo platypterus | |
| Black Guan | Chamaepetes unicolor | Near-threatened |
| White-winged Dove | Zenaida asiatica | Seen in Liberia |
| Buff-fronted Quail-Dove | Geotrygon costaricensis | |
| White-fronted Parrot ? | Amazona albifrons | |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | |
| Bare-shanked Screech-Owl | Megascops clarkii | |
| Green Hermit | Phaethornis guy | |
| Violet Sabrewing | Campylopterus hemileucurus | |
| Green Violet-ear | Colibri thalassinus | |
| Fiery-throated Hummingbird | Panterpe insignis | |
| Coppery-headed Emerald | Elvira cupreiceps | Endemic |
| Stripe-tailed Hummingbird | Eupherusa eximia | |
| Purple-throated Mountain-gem | Lampornis calolaema | |
| Green-crowned Brilliant | Heliodoxa jacula | |
| Magenta-throated Woodstar | Calliphlox bryantae | |
| Orange-bellied Trogon ? | Trogon aurantiiventris | |
| Blue-crowned Motmot | Momotus momota | |
| Prong-billed Barbet | Semnornis frantzii | |
| Blue-throated Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis | |
| Smoky-brown Woodpecker | Veniliornis fumigatus | |
| Spotted Barbtail | Premnoplex brunnescens | |
| Ruddy Treerunner | Margarornis rubiginosus | |
| Spotted Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus erythropygius | |
| Slaty Antwren | Myrmotherula schisticolor | |
| Long-tailed Manakin | Chiroxiphia linearis | |
| Mountain Elaenia | Elaenia frantzii | |
| Olive-striped Flycatcher | Mionectes olivaceus | |
| Rufous-browed Tyrannulet ? | Phylloscartes superciliaris | |
| Yellow-olive Flycatcher | Tolmomyias sulphurescens | |
| Yellowish Flycatcher | Empidonax flavescens | |
| Bright-rumped Attila | Attila spadiceus | |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher | Phainoptila melanoxantha | |
| Black-throated Wren ? | Thryothorus atrogularis | |
| Rufous-and-white Wren ? | Thryothorus rufalbus | |
| Ochraceous Wren ? | Troglodytes ochraceus | |
| White-breasted Wood-Wren ? | Henicorhina leucosticta | |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys | |
| Black-faced Solitaire | Myadestes melanops | |
| Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush | Catharus aurantiirostris | |
| Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush | Catharus fuscater | |
| Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush ? | Catharus frantzii | |
| Mountain Robin | Turdus plebejus | |
| Clay-colored Robin | Turdus grayi | |
| Brown Jay | Cyanocorax morio | |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons | |
| Lesser Greenlet | Hylophilus decurtatus | |
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Dendroica virens | |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | |
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | |
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | |
| Collared Redstart | Myioborus torquatus | |
| Golden-crowned Warbler | Basileuterus culicivorus | |
| Rufous-capped Warbler | Basileuterus rufifrons | |
| Three-striped Warbler | Basileuterus tristriatus | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| Common Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus ophthalmicus | |
| Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus pileatus | |
| Hepatic Tanager | Piranga flava | |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Silver-throated Tanager | Tangara icterocephala | |
| Spangle-cheeked Tanager | Tangara dowii | |
| Blue Seedeater ? | Amaurospiza concolor | |
| Yellow-faced Grassquit | Tiaris olivacea | |
| Yellow-thighed Finch | Pselliophorus tibialis | |
| Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch | Buarremon brunneinucha | |
| White-eared Ground-Sparrow | Melozone leucotis | |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | |
| Buff-throated Saltator | Saltator maximus | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus |
These 2 reserves were reached from the town of Orosi where there were several places to stay. I stayed at a cheap hostal called Montana Linda (Dorm $6.50). Orosi is within easy reach of San Jose. First take a bus to Cartago from the Sacsa terminal in the South of the San Jose which take just 45 minutes and leave often. The bus from Cartago to Orosi leaves every half hour and also takes 45 minutes. I stayed in Orosi twice. On my first visit, the Tapanti National Park had been cut off by a land slide so I visited the nearby Monte Sky reserve. The road had been cleared by my second visit. Monte Sky was up a steep gravel road through coffee plantations about half way to Tapanti. It was a right turning and well signed. Tapanti is 12km from town. There is no public transport but some buses go as far as Purisil (just after Monte Sky). It is easy to hitch a ride with friendly locals the rest of the way. Otherwise a taxi can be hired in Orosi (about 2000 colons per person in a group) all the way to Tapanti. Arrange a time to be picked up with the taxi driver. Many birds can be seen in the coffee plantations between Orosi and the reserves. From the turning to Monte Sky it is a long walk up a steep hill. This has good birding as does the reserve. Tapanti has several trails and a long central road. Black Guan was seen at Monte Sky but Blue-and-gold Tanager and Red-fronted Parrotlet were not seen at Tapanti. I saw 121 species including 24 lifers
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea | |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | |
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk ? | Accipiter striatus | |
| Bicolored Hawk | Accipiter bicolor | |
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | |
| Black Guan | Chamaepetes unicolor | Near-threatened |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia | Introduced species |
| Red-billed Pigeon | Patagioenas flavirostris | |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti | |
| Inca Dove | Columbina inca | |
| Crimson-fronted Parakeet | Aratinga finschi | |
| Sulphur-winged Parakeet | Pyrrhura hoffmanni | |
| White-crowned Parrot | Pionus senilis | |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | |
| White-tipped Sicklebill | Eutoxeres aquila | |
| Green Hermit | Phaethornis guy | |
| Little Hermit | Phaethornis | |
| Violet Sabrewing | Campylopterus hemileucurus | |
| Green-breasted Mango | Anthracothorax prevostii | |
| Green Thorntail | Discosura conversii | |
| Stripe-tailed Hummingbird | Eupherusa eximia | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | |
| White-bellied Mountain-gem | Lampornis hemileucus | |
| Purple-throated Mountain-gem | Lampornis calolaema | |
| Collared Trogon | Trogon collaris | |
| Red-headed Barbet | Eubucco bourcierii | |
| Prong-billed Barbet | Semnornis frantzii | |
| Blue-throated Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis | |
| Red-faced Spinetail | Cranioleuca erythrops | |
| Spotted Barbtail | Premnoplex brunnescens | |
| Ruddy Treerunner | Margarornis rubiginosus | |
| Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner | Anabacerthia variegaticeps | |
| Lineated Foliage-gleaner | Syndactyla subalaris | |
| Wedge-billed Woodcreeper | Glyphorynchus spirurus | |
| Spotted Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus erythropygius | |
| Streak-headed Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes souleyetii | |
| Brown-billed Scythebill | Campylorhamphus pusillus | |
| Slaty Antwren | Myrmotherula schisticolor | |
| Lesser Elaenia | Elaenia chiriquensis | |
| Mountain Elaenia | Elaenia frantzii | |
| Torrent Tyrannulet | Serpophaga cinerea | |
| Olive-striped Flycatcher | Mionectes olivaceus | |
| Paltry Tyrannulet | Zimmerius vilissimus | |
| Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant | Lophotriccus pileatus | |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum cinereum | |
| Tufted Flycatcher | Mitrephanes phaeocercus | |
| Dark Pewee | Contopus lugubris | Endemic |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | |
| Yellowish Flycatcher | Empidonax flavescens | |
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | |
| Golden-bellied Flycatcher | Myiodynastes hemichrysus | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Pygochelidon cyanoleuca | |
| Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher | Phainoptila melanoxantha | |
| American Dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | |
| Plain Wren | Thryothorus modestus | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
| Ochraceous Wren | Troglodytes ochraceus | |
| White-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucosticta | |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys | |
| Black-faced Solitaire | Myadestes melanops | |
| Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush | Catharus aurantiirostris | |
| Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush | Catharus fuscater | |
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | |
| Mountain Robin | Turdus plebejus | |
| Clay-colored Robin | Turdus grayi | |
| Tropical Gnatcatcher | Polioptila plumbea | |
| Brown Jay | Cyanocorax morio | |
| Azure-hooded Jay h | Cyanolyca cucullata | |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons | |
| Brown-capped Vireo | Vireo leucophrys | |
| Philadelphia Vireo | Vireo philadelphicus | |
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | |
| Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | |
| Tropical Parula | Parula pitiayumi | |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Dendroica virens | |
| Yellow-throated Warbler | Dendroica dominica | |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | |
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | |
| Collared Redstart | Myioborus torquatus | |
| Rufous-capped Warbler | Basileuterus rufifrons | |
| Three-striped Warbler | Basileuterus tristriatus | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| Common Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus ophthalmicus | |
| White-shouldered Tanager | Tachyphonus luctuosus | |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | |
| Passerini's Tanager | Ramphocelus passerinii | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Elegant Euphonia | Euphonia elegantissima | |
| Tawny-capped Euphonia | Euphonia anneae | |
| Golden-browed Chlorophonia | Chlorophonia callophrys | |
| Silver-throated Tanager | Tangara icterocephala | |
| Rufous-winged Tanager ?? | Tangara lavinia | |
| Spangle-cheeked Tanager | Tangara dowii | |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Yellow-faced Grassquit | Tiaris olivacea | |
| Sooty-faced Finch | Lysurus crassirostris | |
| Yellow-thighed Finch | Pselliophorus tibialis | |
| White-naped Brush-Finch | Atlapetes albinucha | |
| Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch | Buarremon brunneinucha | |
| White-eared Ground-Sparrow | Melozone leucotis | |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | |
| Grayish Saltator | Saltator coerulescens | |
| Buff-throated Saltator | Saltator maximus | |
| Melodious Blackbird | Dives dives | Rare/Accidental |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | |
| Bronzed Cowbird | Molothrus aeneus | |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | |
| Chestnut-headed Oropendola | Psarocolius wagleri | |
| Montezuma Oropendola | Gymnostinops montezuma | |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Introduced species |
The Carara National Park was accessed from the town of Tarcoles which can be reached in about 2 and a half hours from San Jose on regular buses towards the beach town of Jaco. Tarcoles has several places to stay. I stayed at the Restaurant Hotel Carara ($20 for a double) which is a 10 minute walk from where the bus drops you (towards playa Azul). Scarlet Macaws could be easily seen feeding in trees near the hotel during the day. The park headquarters were about 2km back along the highway. There are some trails through good forest from the Headquarters but better is the Sendero Laguna a further 2km towards the bridge over the Rio Tarcoles. This has a wide trail through secondary and primary forest and also passes a lake which has many water birds. Entrance tickets ($6 for foreigners) are sold from 7am but it seems possible to buy a ticket the day before and go along the lake trail earlier. I also birded along the beach to the river estuary which had several wading bird species and I also checked mangroves near Tarcoles for possible Mangrove Hummingbird and Yellow-billed Cotinga. Some mangroves are easily accessible. From the Hotel Carara take the road towards Playa Azul for just a few hundred metres and turn left at a sign which reads 'Paseo de la Laguna'. This comes to a dead end but before that on the left is a small wooden bridge over a creek with some mangroves. Neither species were seen here although Mangrove Warlber was. A female Yellow-billed Cotinga was seen just before bridge over the Rio Tarcoles perched in a tree by the road. It then flew down into trees by the river. Three-wattled Bellbird was heard along the Sendero Laguna but Baird's Trogon and Mangrove Hummingbird were not seen. Apparently good mangroves occur upstream of the bridge over the Rio Tarcoles where Mangrove Hummingbird may occur and one of the tour companies running crocodile viewing trips may be persuaded to take people up there. I saw 153 species including 35 lifers
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | |
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | |
| Anhinga | Anhinga anhinga | |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Fregata magnificens | |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | |
| Tricolored Heron | Egretta tricolor | |
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea | |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | |
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | |
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Nyctanassa violacea | |
| Boat-billed Heron | Cochlearius cochlearius | |
| Bare-throated Tiger-Heron | Tigrisoma mexicanum | |
| White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | |
| Roseate Spoonbill | Platalea ajaja | |
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis | |
| Muscovy Duck | Cairina moschata | |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | |
| Crane Hawk | Geranospiza caerulescens | |
| Gray Hawk | Asturina nitida | |
| Crested Caracara | Caracara cheriway | |
| Yellow-headed Caracara | Milvago chimachima | |
| Purple Gallinule | Porphyrio martinica | |
| Northern Jacana | Jacana spinosa | |
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus mexicanus | |
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | |
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | |
| Wilson's Plover | Charadrius wilsonia | |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | |
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | |
| Laughing Gull | Larus atricilla | |
| Gull-billed Tern ? | Sterna nilotica | |
| Royal Tern | Sterna maxima | |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia | Introduced species |
| Red-billed Pigeon | Patagioenas flavirostris | |
| Short-billed Pigeon h | Patagioenas nigrirostris | |
| Common Ground-Dove | Columbina passerina | |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti | |
| Inca Dove | Columbina inca | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
| Violaceous Quail-Dove | Geotrygon violacea | |
| Ruddy Quail-Dove | Geotrygon montana | |
| Scarlet Macaw | Ara macao | |
| Crimson-fronted Parakeet | Aratinga finschi | |
| Orange-chinned Parakeet | Brotogeris jugularis | |
| White-fronted Parrot | Amazona albifrons | |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | |
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris | |
| Lesser Nighthawk | Chordeiles acutipennis | |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | |
| Band-tailed Barbthroat | Threnetes ruckeri | |
| Little Hermit | Phaethornis | |
| Western Long-tailed Hermit | Phaethornis longirostris | |
| Scaly-breasted Hummingbird | Phaeochroa cuvierii | |
| Violet Sabrewing | Campylopterus hemileucurus | |
| Green-breasted Mango | Anthracothorax prevostii | |
| Blue-throated Goldentail | Hylocharis eliciae | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | |
| Steely-vented Hummingbird | Saucerottia saucerrottei | |
| Black-headed Trogon | Trogon melanocephalus | |
| Slaty-tailed Trogon | Trogon massena | |
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | |
| Ringed Kingfisher | Ceryle torquata | |
| Amazon Kingfisher | Chloroceryle amazona | |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | |
| Turquoise-browed Motmot | Eumomota superciliosa | |
| Rufous-tailed Jacamar | Galbula ruficauda | |
| White-whiskered Puffbird | Malacoptila panamensis | |
| Golden-naped Woodpecker | Melanerpes chrysauchen | |
| Hoffmann's Woodpecker | Melanerpes hoffmannii | |
| Pale-billed Woodpecker | Campephilus guatemalensis | |
| Plain Xenops | Xenops minutus | |
| Tawny-winged Woodcreeper | Dendrocincla anabatina | |
| Long-tailed Woodcreeper | Deconychura longicauda | |
| Olivaceous Woodcreeper | Sittasomus griseicapillus | |
| Streak-headed Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes souleyetii | |
| Barred Antshrike | Thamnophilus doliatus | |
| Black-hooded Antshrike | Thamnophilus bridgesi | |
| Dot-winged Antwren | Microrhopias quixensis | |
| Chestnut-backed Antbird | Myrmeciza exsul | |
| Yellow-billed Cotinga | Carpodectes antoniae | Endangered |
| Three-wattled Bellbird h | Procnias tricarunculata | Vulnerable |
| Orange-collared Manakin | Manacus aurantiacus | |
| Greenish Elaenia | Myiopagis viridicata | |
| Yellow-bellied Elaenia | Elaenia flavogaster | |
| Northern Bentbill | Oncostoma cinereigulare | |
| Slate-headed Tody-Tyrant ? | Poecilotriccus sylvia | |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum cinereum | |
| Yellow-olive Flycatcher | Tolmomyias sulphurescens | |
| Yellow-margined Flycatcher ? | Tolmomyias assimilis | |
| Least Flycatcher ? | Empidonax minimus | Rare/Accidental |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | |
| Brown-crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus tyrannulus | |
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | |
| Boat-billed Flycatcher | Megarynchus pitangua | |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | |
| Streaked Flycatcher | Myiodynastes maculatus | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus forficatus | |
| Black-crowned Tityra | Tityra inquisitor | |
| Gray-breasted Martin | Progne chalybea | |
| Mangrove Swallow | Tachycineta albilinea | |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | |
| Rufous-naped Wren | Campylorhynchus rufinucha | |
| Black-bellied Wren | Thryothorus fasciatoventris | |
| Rufous-breasted Wren | Thryothorus rutilus | |
| Riverside Wren | Thryothorus semibadius | |
| Rufous-and-white Wren | Thryothorus rufalbus | |
| Clay-colored Robin | Turdus grayi | |
| Tropical Gnatcatcher ? | Polioptila plumbea | |
| White-throated Magpie-Jay | Calocitta formosa | |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons | |
| Lesser Greenlet | Hylophilus decurtatus | |
| Rufous-browed Peppershrike | Cyclarhis gujanensis | |
| Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | |
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | |
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | |
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | |
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | |
| Kentucky Warbler | Oporornis formosus | |
| White-shouldered Tanager | Tachyphonus luctuosus | |
| White-lined Tanager | Tachyphonus rufus | |
| Red-crowned Ant-Tanager | Habia rubica | |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | |
| Passerini's Tanager | Ramphocelus passerinii | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Palm Tanager | Thraupis palmarum | |
| Yellow-crowned Euphonia | Euphonia luteicapilla | |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | |
| Golden-hooded Tanager | Tangara larvata | |
| Red-legged Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes cyaneus | |
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Stripe-headed Sparrow | Aimophila ruficauda | |
| Grayish Saltator ? | Saltator coerulescens | |
| Buff-throated Saltator | Saltator maximus | |
| Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | |
| Painted Bunting | Passerina ciris | |
| Melodious Blackbird | Dives dives | Rare/Accidental |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | |
| Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius |
The Quebrada Gonzalez sector of the Braulio Carrillo National Park was reached in 45 minutes by bus from San Jose leaving the Caribe Terminal. Buses leave every half hour with the first at 5:30am. The park opens at 8am but I found out on the first day that walking the trails before this and buying your ticket ($6) later is accepted. The reserve has good low to mid-elevation forest and a good range of foothill species but the quality of birding depends very much on the weather. My first day was bright sunshine and third, very rainy and few birds were seen. The second day was overcast but dry and the birding was excellent. There are trails on both sides of the road. The trail on the same side as the buildings is higher up and this is where I saw Bare-necked Umbrellabird on the first day at the site marker number 10. Accross the road, a longer series of trails runs along the valley and down to the banks of the Rio Sucio. This trail has a couple of miradors (viewpoints) from where Bat Falcon was seen. There also were a good place to view mixed flocks of tanagers as they passed along the valley. In 3 days I failed to see my target species, the Blue-and-gold Tanager. I saw 58 species including 20 lifers
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Bat Falcon | Falco rufigularis | |
| Crested Guan h | Penelope purpurascens | |
| Gray-chested Dove | Leptotila cassini | |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | |
| Green Hermit | Phaethornis guy | |
| Little Hermit | Phaethornis | |
| Violet-crowned Woodnymph | Thalurania colombica | |
| Purple-crowned Fairy | Heliothryx barroti | |
| Collared Trogon | Trogon collaris | |
| Rufous Motmot | Baryphthengus martii | |
| Broad-billed Motmot | Electron platyrhynchum | |
| White-whiskered Puffbird | Malacoptila panamensis | |
| Keel-billed Toucan | Ramphastos sulfuratus | |
| Black-mandibled Toucan | Ramphastos ambiguus | |
| Black-cheeked Woodpecker | Melanerpes pucherani | |
| Spotted Barbtail | Premnoplex brunnescens | |
| Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner | Automolus ochrolaemus | |
| Wedge-billed Woodcreeper | Glyphorynchus spirurus | |
| Northern Barred-Woodcreeper | Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae | |
| Chestnut-backed Antbird ? | Myrmeciza exsul | |
| Bicolored Antbird | Gymnopithys leucaspis | |
| Spotted Antbird | Hylophylax naevioides | |
| Bare-necked Umbrellabird | Cephalopterus glabricollis | Vulnerable |
| White-collared Manakin | Manacus candei | |
| Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant | Lophotriccus pileatus | |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum cinereum | |
| Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher | Myiobius sulphureipygius | |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | |
| Boat-billed Flycatcher | Megarynchus pitangua | |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | |
| Bay Wren | Thryothorus nigricapillus | |
| Stripe-breasted Wren | Thryothorus thoracicus | |
| White-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucosticta | |
| Nightingale Wren | Microcerculus philomela | |
| Pale-vented Thrush | Turdus obsoletus | |
| Clay-colored Robin ? | Turdus grayi | |
| Brown Jay | Cyanocorax morio | |
| Lesser Greenlet | Hylophilus decurtatus | |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | |
| Buff-rumped Warbler | Basileuterus fulvicauda | |
| Common Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus ophthalmicus | |
| Black-and-yellow Tanager | Chrysothlypis chrysomelaena | |
| Dusky-faced Tanager | Mitrospingus cassinii | |
| Olive Tanager | Chlorothraupis carmioli | |
| White-shouldered Tanager | Tachyphonus luctuosus | |
| Tawny-crested Tanager | Tachyphonus delatrii | |
| Summer Tanager ? | Piranga rubra | |
| Tawny-capped Euphonia | Euphonia anneae | |
| Golden-browed Chlorophonia ? | Chlorophonia callophrys | |
| Emerald Tanager | Tangara florida | |
| Silver-throated Tanager | Tangara icterocephala | |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | |
| Green Honeycreeper | Chlorophanes spiza | |
| Orange-billed Sparrow | Arremon aurantiirostris | |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | |
| Montezuma Oropendola | Gymnostinops montezuma |
We stayed on Cerro de la Muerte for 3 nights at the Restaurant Las Georginas which also had cheap cabins (about $15 for a double). The restaurant had good, cheap food and 4 species of hummingbird could be seen at the feeders from the window. Las Georginas can be reached in 2 hours by buses heading to San Isidro from the Musoc terminal in San Jose. All the bus drivers know the restaurant and many stop for food there. The staff are very friendly and a good set of trails lead from the cabins where many highland species could be found. The restaurant is just above 3000m and trails lead down as far as a set of cascades at about 2800m. The trail down is called Sendero Los Quetzales and unsurprisingly I saw Resplendent Quetzals, both at the top and the bottom of the trail. Black Guans were also seen at the bottom in the evening. Along the main road about 2km back towards San Jose, I birded a trail heading up towards the peak with paramo habitat. Along the main road about 2km towards San Isidro from Las Georginas was a right turning towards Villa Mills, where there is a school, church and football pitch. This area had a few species not found near Las Georginas. The weather was surprisingly good whilst we were there and we had blue skies everyday. I saw 41 species including 16 lifers.
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Black Guan | Chamaepetes unicolor | Near-threatened |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | |
| Ruddy Pigeon | Patagioenas subvinacea | |
| Dusky Nightjar | Caprimulgus saturatus | |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | |
| Green Violet-ear | Colibri thalassinus | |
| Fiery-throated Hummingbird | Panterpe insignis | |
| Magnificent Hummingbird | Eugenes fulgens | |
| Volcano Hummingbird | Selasphorus flammula | |
| Resplendent Quetzal | Pharomachrus mocinno | Near-threatened |
| Acorn Woodpecker | Melanerpes formicivorus | |
| Ruddy Treerunner | Margarornis rubiginosus | |
| Buffy Tuftedcheek | Pseudocolaptes lawrencii | |
| Spot-crowned Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes affinis | |
| Mountain Elaenia | Elaenia frantzii | |
| Black-capped Flycatcher | Empidonax atriceps | |
| Barred Becard | Pachyramphus versicolor | |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Pygochelidon cyanoleuca | |
| Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher | Phainoptila melanoxantha | |
| Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher | Ptilogonys caudatus | |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys | |
| Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush | Catharus gracilirostris | |
| Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush | Catharus frantzii | |
| Sooty Robin | Turdus nigrescens | |
| Mountain Robin | Turdus plebejus | |
| Silvery-throated Jay ? | Cyanolyca argentigula | |
| Yellow-winged Vireo | Vireo carmioli | |
| Flame-throated Warbler | Parula gutturalis | |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Dendroica virens | |
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | |
| Collared Redstart | Myioborus torquatus | |
| Black-cheeked Warbler | Basileuterus melanogenys | |
| Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus pileatus | |
| Slaty Flowerpiercer | Diglossa plumbea | |
| Yellow-thighed Finch | Pselliophorus tibialis | |
| Large-footed Finch | Pezopetes capitalis | |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | |
| Volcano Junco | Junco vulcani | |
| Yellow-billed Cacique | Amblycercus holosericeus |
Dominical is a very small beach town known best for surfing. We stayed here for 2 nights mainly as a break from birding. Cheap, basic accomodation is available at Cabinas Coco (about $11 for a double). Dominical can be reached by an hour and a half bus ride from San Isidro. It is nothing special as a birding spot but did have a few shore birds around the estuary and a few birds not seen at other sites. I saw 39 species.
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | |
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | |
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea | |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | |
| White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | |
| Crested Caracara | Caracara cheriway | |
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | |
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | |
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | |
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | |
| Laughing Gull | Larus atricilla | |
| Royal Tern | Sterna maxima | |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | |
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Mangrove Swallow | Tachycineta albilinea | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
| Clay-colored Robin | Turdus grayi | |
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | |
| Passerini's Tanager | Ramphocelus passerinii | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus |
Golfito is a fairly small harbour town on the Golfo Dulce. We stayed here for 3 nights at Hotel Delfinas (about $11 for a double) but it was fairly run down. The Hotel Golfito nearby at the same price would probably be a better bet. Golfito can be reached by a 4 hour bus ride from San Isidro. I birded an area about 10km away from Golfito next to a supposed small village called Las Gambas. The road to las Gambas starts from the Zona Libre or duty free area which is about 3km from the centre of town and is reached by regular buses. From here there is no public transport and traffic is light. However hitching is quite easy and any car passing is likely to stop. There is a sign at a left turning for Esquinas Rainforest Lodge. This expensive lodge has trails through good forest. The staff are friendly and don't charge admission. It was midday when we arrived so birding was slow. We did however see Baird's Trogon which appeared to be quite common at the forest edge. The following day we birded a place called Tropenstation (before Esquinas) which had a 5 dollar entrance fee. It also had some trails though forest where I saw Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager. On the last morning I checked mangroves accross from the new courthouse between Golfito and Zona Libre. I had met some other birdwatchers previously that had seen Mangrove Hummingbird here although I did not find it. I saw 109 species including 19 lifers.
| Great Tinamou h | Tinamus major | |
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Fregata magnificens | |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | |
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea | |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | |
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | |
| White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | |
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo magnirostris | |
| Crested Caracara | Caracara cheriway | |
| Yellow-headed Caracara | Milvago chimachima | |
| Northern Jacana | Jacana spinosa | |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | |
| Laughing Gull | Larus atricilla | |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia | Introduced species |
| Pale-vented Pigeon | Patagioenas cayennensis | |
| Short-billed Pigeon h | Patagioenas nigrirostris | |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti | |
| Inca Dove | Columbina inca | |
| Blue Ground-Dove | Claravis pretiosa | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
| Gray-headed Dove ? | Leptotila plumbeiceps | |
| Ruddy Quail-Dove | Geotrygon montana | |
| Crimson-fronted Parakeet | Aratinga finschi | |
| Olive-throated Parakeet | Aratinga nana | |
| Orange-chinned Parakeet | Brotogeris jugularis | |
| White-crowned Parrot | Pionus senilis | |
| Mealy Parrot | Amazona farinosa | |
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | |
| Band-tailed Barbthroat | Threnetes ruckeri | |
| Little Hermit | Phaethornis | |
| Western Long-tailed Hermit | Phaethornis longirostris | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | |
| Charming Hummingbird | Polyerata decora | |
| Purple-crowned Fairy | Heliothryx barroti | |
| Baird's Trogon | Trogon bairdii | Near-threatened |
| Violaceous Trogon | Trogon violaceus | |
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | |
| Ringed Kingfisher | Ceryle torquata | |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | |
| Black-mandibled Toucan | Ramphastos ambiguus | |
| Olivaceous Piculet | Picumnus olivaceus | |
| Black-cheeked Woodpecker | Melanerpes pucherani | |
| Red-crowned Woodpecker | Melanerpes rubricapillus | |
| Rufous-winged Woodpecker | Piculus simplex | |
| Black-hooded Antshrike | Thamnophilus bridgesi | |
| Orange-collared Manakin | Manacus aurantiacus | |
| Yellow Tyrannulet | Capsiempis flaveola | |
| Yellow-bellied Elaenia | Elaenia flavogaster | |
| Ochre-bellied Flycatcher | Mionectes oleagineus | |
| Paltry Tyrannulet | Zimmerius vilissimus | |
| Northern Bentbill | Oncostoma cinereigulare | |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum cinereum | |
| Northern Royal-Flycatcher | Onychorhynchus mexicanus | |
| Rufous Mourner | Rhytipterna holerythra | |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | |
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | |
| Gray-capped Flycatcher | Myiozetetes granadensis | |
| Piratic Flycatcher | Legatus leucophaius | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Rose-throated Becard | Pachyramphus aglaiae | |
| Masked Tityra | Tityra semifasciata | |
| Black-crowned Tityra | Tityra inquisitor | |
| Gray-breasted Martin | Progne chalybea | |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | |
| Black-bellied Wren | Thryothorus fasciatoventris | |
| Riverside Wren | Thryothorus semibadius | |
| Rufous-and-white Wren | Thryothorus rufalbus | |
| Plain Wren | Thryothorus modestus | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
| White-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucosticta | |
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | |
| Clay-colored Robin | Turdus grayi | |
| Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | |
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | |
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | |
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager | Habia atrimaxillaris | Endemic Endangered |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | |
| Crimson-collared Tanager | Ramphocelus sanguinolentus | |
| Passerini's Tanager | Ramphocelus passerinii | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Spot-crowned Euphonia ? | Euphonia imitans | |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | |
| Golden-hooded Tanager | Tangara larvata | |
| Green Honeycreeper | Chlorophanes spiza | |
| Shining Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes lucidus | |
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | |
| Slate-colored Seedeater | Sporophila schistacea | |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Thick-billed Seed-Finch | Oryzoborus funereus | |
| Orange-billed Sparrow | Arremon aurantiirostris | |
| Black-striped Sparrow | Arremonops conirostris | |
| Buff-throated Saltator | Saltator maximus | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | |
| Bronzed Cowbird | Molothrus aeneus | |
| Giant Cowbird | Molothrus oryzivorus | |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | |
| Scarlet-rumped Cacique | Cacicus uropygialis | |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Introduced species |
The Corcovado National Park is a phenomenal place. It is accessed from the town of Puerto Jimenez which is the best place to plan and buy supplies for the trip. All reservations for the park must be made at the office. They are very helpful and can suggest itineraries. Entry to the park is $8 per day and camping an extra $4 per day. A special 5 day pass is available for $17. Rustic accomodation is only available at Sirena. Flights or water taxis to the Sirena ranger station are available but are expensive. We took a communal taxi to Carate which left at 6am. This is organised by Tonsa travel and leaves from outside a Soda (cafeteria) in town. Tonsa also rents camping equipment. From Carate it is a 3.5km walk along the beach to the La Leona ranger station where entry and camping fees can be paid. From here it is a further 16km to the Sirena ranger station partly through forest and partly along beaches. This is a very tough (8-9 hour) hike especially with food and camping equipment. Some parts are impassable at high tide so tide charts must be checked before leaving (available at the national park office in Puerto Jimenez). We stayed 2 nights at Sirena which has many trails through forest and is good for birdwatching (Great Currasows are common) and even better for mammals. Tapirs can be seen in the nearby river at dusk. We saw anteaters, coatis, peccaries, agoutis and 4 species of monkeys. After the second night we hiked a further 20km (8-9 hours) to the Los Patos ranger station. On this hike, we saw many Three-wattled Bellbirds and Black-cheeked Ant-Tanagers. From Los Patos it is a further 13km to La Palma from where buses run back to Puerto Jimenez. I saw 132 species including 18 lifers.
| Great Tinamou | Tinamus major | |
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Fregata magnificens | |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | |
| Tricolored Heron | Egretta tricolor | Seen in Purto Jimenez |
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea | |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | |
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | |
| Boat-billed Heron | Cochlearius cochlearius | |
| Bare-throated Tiger-Heron | Tigrisoma mexicanum | |
| White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | |
| Double-toothed Kite ? | Harpagus bidentatus | |
| Crane Hawk | Geranospiza caerulescens | |
| White Hawk | Leucopternis albicollis | |
| Mangrove Black-Hawk | Buteogallus subtilis | |
| Great Black-Hawk ? | Buteogallus urubitinga | |
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo magnirostris | |
| Crested Caracara | Caracara cheriway | |
| Yellow-headed Caracara | Milvago chimachima | |
| Crested Guan | Penelope purpurascens | |
| Great Curassow | Crax rubra | Near-threatened |
| Marbled Wood-Quail | Odontophorus gujanensis | |
| Northern Jacana | Jacana spinosa | |
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | |
| Wilson's Plover ? | Charadrius wilsonia | |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | |
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | |
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | |
| Laughing Gull | Larus atricilla | |
| Sandwich Tern | Sterna sandvicensis | |
| Royal Tern | Sterna maxima | |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia | Introduced species |
| Pale-vented Pigeon | Patagioenas cayennensis | |
| Short-billed Pigeon | Patagioenas nigrirostris | |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti | |
| Blue Ground-Dove h | Claravis pretiosa | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
| Gray-chested Dove | Leptotila cassini | |
| Ruddy Quail-Dove | Geotrygon montana | |
| Scarlet Macaw | Ara macao | |
| Crimson-fronted Parakeet | Aratinga finschi | |
| Orange-chinned Parakeet | Brotogeris jugularis | |
| Brown-hooded Parrot | Pionopsitta haematotis | |
| White-crowned Parrot ? | Pionus senilis | |
| Mealy Parrot | Amazona farinosa | |
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | |
| Striped Cuckoo | Tapera naevia | |
| Crested Owl h | Lophostrix cristata | |
| Pauraque | Nyctidromus albicollis | |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | |
| Gray-rumped Swift | Chaetura cinereiventris | |
| Costa Rican Swift | Chaetura fumosa | |
| Band-tailed Barbthroat | Threnetes ruckeri | |
| Little Hermit | Phaethornis | |
| Western Long-tailed Hermit | Phaethornis longirostris | |
| Blue-throated Goldentail | Hylocharis eliciae | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | |
| Charming Hummingbird | Polyerata decora | |
| Long-billed Starthroat | Heliomaster longirostris | |
| Black-throated Trogon | Trogon rufus | |
| Slaty-tailed Trogon | Trogon massena | |
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | |
| Ringed Kingfisher | Ceryle torquata | |
| Amazon Kingfisher ? | Chloroceryle amazona | |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | |
| Blue-crowned Motmot | Momotus momota | |
| White-whiskered Puffbird | Malacoptila panamensis | |
| Fiery-billed Aracari | Pteroglossus frantzii | |
| Keel-billed Toucan | Ramphastos sulfuratus | |
| Black-mandibled Toucan | Ramphastos ambiguus | |
| Golden-naped Woodpecker | Melanerpes chrysauchen | |
| Red-crowned Woodpecker | Melanerpes rubricapillus | |
| Rufous-winged Woodpecker | Piculus simplex | |
| Pale-billed Woodpecker | Campephilus guatemalensis | |
| Plain Xenops | Xenops minutus | |
| Scaly-throated Leaftosser | Sclerurus guatemalensis | |
| Tawny-winged Woodcreeper | Dendrocincla anabatina | |
| Long-tailed Woodcreeper | Deconychura longicauda | |
| Wedge-billed Woodcreeper | Glyphorynchus spirurus | |
| Northern Barred-Woodcreeper | Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae | |
| Buff-throated Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus guttatus | |
| Black-striped Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus | |
| Black-hooded Antshrike | Thamnophilus bridgesi | |
| Chestnut-backed Antbird | Myrmeciza exsul | |
| Immaculate Antbird | Myrmeciza immaculata | |
| Scaled Antpitta | Grallaria guatimalensis | |
| Rufous Piha h | Lipaugus unirufus | |
| Three-wattled Bellbird | Procnias tricarunculata | Vulnerable |
| Blue-crowned Manakin | Pipra coronata | |
| Ochre-bellied Flycatcher | Mionectes oleagineus | |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum cinereum | |
| Golden-crowned Spadebill | Platyrinchus coronatus | |
| Bright-rumped Attila | Attila spadiceus | |
| Rufous Mourner | Rhytipterna holerythra | |
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | |
| Gray-capped Flycatcher | Myiozetetes granadensis | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Thrush-like Schiffornis h? | Schiffornis turdinus | |
| Masked Tityra | Tityra semifasciata | |
| Mangrove Swallow | Tachycineta albilinea | |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | |
| Black-bellied Wren | Thryothorus fasciatoventris | |
| Riverside Wren | Thryothorus semibadius | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons | |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | |
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| White-throated Shrike-Tanager | Lanio leucothorax | |
| Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager | Habia atrimaxillaris | Endemic Endangered |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | |
| Passerini's Tanager | Ramphocelus passerinii | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Golden-hooded Tanager | Tangara larvata | |
| Red-legged Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes cyaneus | |
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Thick-billed Seed-Finch | Oryzoborus funereus | |
| Orange-billed Sparrow | Arremon aurantiirostris | |
| Black-striped Sparrow | Arremonops conirostris | |
| Blue-black Grosbeak | Cyanocompsa cyanoides | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | |
| Scarlet-rumped Cacique | Cacicus uropygialis |
Rincon is fairly easily reached by bus from San Jose or Puerto Jimenez. It is about 1 hour from the latter and 4 buses leave every day (2 early morning, 2 afternoon). The bus passes Cabinas Golfo Dulce which has basic rooms ($20). The manageress can also cook meals on request. The main reason for coming here was to look for the Mangrove Hummingbird which I found next to the mangroves behind the cabins. It is possible to walk/wade along the mangroves depending on the tide. Canoes can also be rented. I didn't see the Yellow-billed Cotinga which is apparently found in the area. I saw 63 species including 2 lifers.
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Fregata magnificens | |
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea | |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | |
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | |
| White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Laughing Falcon | Herpetotheres cachinnans | |
| White-throated Crake h | Laterallus albigularis | |
| Northern Jacana | Jacana spinosa | |
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | |
| Wilson's Plover | Charadrius wilsonia | |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | |
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | |
| Western Sandpiper ? | Calidris mauri | |
| Laughing Gull | Larus atricilla | |
| Pale-vented Pigeon | Patagioenas cayennensis | |
| Short-billed Pigeon h | Patagioenas nigrirostris | |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
| Scarlet Macaw | Ara macao | |
| Orange-chinned Parakeet | Brotogeris jugularis | |
| Mealy Parrot | Amazona farinosa | |
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | |
| Striped Cuckoo h | Tapera naevia | |
| Bronzy Hermit | Glaucis aenea | |
| Band-tailed Barbthroat | Threnetes ruckeri | |
| Little Hermit | Phaethornis | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | |
| Mangrove Hummingbird | Polyerata boucardi | Endemic Endangered |
| Long-billed Starthroat | Heliomaster longirostris | |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | |
| Black-mandibled Toucan | Ramphastos ambiguus | |
| Olivaceous Piculet | Picumnus olivaceus | |
| Red-crowned Woodpecker | Melanerpes rubricapillus | |
| Yellow-bellied Elaenia | Elaenia flavogaster | |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum cinereum | |
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | |
| Gray-capped Flycatcher | Myiozetetes granadensis | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Masked Tityra | Tityra semifasciata | |
| Gray-breasted Martin | Progne chalybea | |
| Mangrove Swallow | Tachycineta albilinea | |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
| Clay-colored Robin | Turdus grayi | |
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | |
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | |
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | |
| Passerini's Tanager | Ramphocelus passerinii | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Palm Tanager | Thraupis palmarum | |
| Red-legged Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes cyaneus | |
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Black-striped Sparrow | Arremonops conirostris | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | |
| Giant Cowbird | Molothrus oryzivorus | |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | |
| Scarlet-rumped Cacique | Cacicus uropygialis |
The Wilson Botanical Gardens are 6km from the town of San Vito, near the Panamanian border. They are easily reached by bus and there is a good choice of cheap accomodation. We stayed in the Hotel Musuco which was 2000 colones per person. The gardens officially open at 8am but it is possible to enter a little earlier. It may also be possible to stay here. Entry to the gardens costs $6. Birding was quite good but I didn't see my target species, the Turquoise Cotinga. I saw 67 species including 5 lifers.
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | |
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo magnirostris | |
| Yellow-headed Caracara | Milvago chimachima | |
| Marbled Wood-Quail | Odontophorus gujanensis | |
| Gray-necked Wood-Rail | Aramides cajanea | |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia | Introduced species |
| Short-billed Pigeon h | Patagioenas nigrirostris | |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti | |
| Gray-chested Dove | Leptotila cassini | |
| Crimson-fronted Parakeet ? | Aratinga finschi | |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | |
| Green Hermit | Phaethornis guy | |
| Scaly-breasted Hummingbird | Phaeochroa cuvierii | |
| Violet Sabrewing | Campylopterus hemileucurus | |
| Violet-crowned Woodnymph | Thalurania colombica | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | |
| Charming Hummingbird | Polyerata decora | |
| Magnificent Hummingbird | Eugenes fulgens | |
| Blue-crowned Motmot | Momotus momota | |
| Black-mandibled Toucan | Ramphastos ambiguus | |
| Red-crowned Woodpecker | Melanerpes rubricapillus | |
| Streak-headed Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes souleyetii | |
| Dot-winged Antwren | Microrhopias quixensis | |
| White-ruffed Manakin | Corapipo altera | |
| Lesser Elaenia ? | Elaenia chiriquensis | |
| Olive-striped Flycatcher | Mionectes olivaceus | |
| Paltry Tyrannulet | Zimmerius vilissimus | |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | |
| Bright-rumped Attila | Attila spadiceus | |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | |
| Boat-billed Flycatcher | Megarynchus pitangua | |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | |
| Gray-capped Flycatcher | Myiozetetes granadensis | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Masked Tityra | Tityra semifasciata | |
| Rufous-breasted Wren | Thryothorus rutilus | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
| Clay-colored Robin | Turdus grayi | |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons | |
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | |
| Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | |
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | |
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| Common Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus ophthalmicus | |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | |
| Passerini's Tanager | Ramphocelus passerinii | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Thick-billed Euphonia | Euphonia laniirostris | |
| Silver-throated Tanager | Tangara icterocephala | |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | |
| Golden-hooded Tanager | Tangara larvata | |
| Scarlet-thighed Dacnis | Dacnis venusta | |
| Green Honeycreeper | Chlorophanes spiza | |
| Yellow-faced Grassquit | Tiaris olivacea | |
| Black-striped Sparrow | Arremonops conirostris | |
| Streaked Saltator | Saltator striatipectus | |
| Buff-throated Saltator | Saltator maximus | |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus |