Costa Rica is a favorite destination for many naturalists from all over the world, and its bird population is one of the main attractions. Over 850 species have been identified, far more than have been seen in North America, Europe or Australia.
Full of trees, flowers and bushes, our garden is particularly attractive to birds. Hummingbirds, Blue crowned Motmots, Palm Tanagers, Tropical Kingbirds; Boat-Billed Flycatchers among many others are frequently sighted in our backgrounds.
The national bird, the yiguirro is one of the most common birds seen in our gardens. The most exotic, fascinating bird is the colibrí, the tiny hummingbird which is in constant motion. Another often sighted species in the Bougainvillea is the rufous-tail, a medium sized bird whose throat and breast are glittering green and the tail is reddish brown. The back gardens area behind the tennis court is the best place to find the blue-crowned motmot which has a bluish green throat and a very long tail. Finally, a further variety of birds easily seen is the tropical kingbird with its gray head and olive-yellow breast. Next, a recently-seen bird checklist:
Spanish name | English name | Latin name |
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Zanate Grande | Great-tailed grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus |
Viudita | Blue Gray Tanger | Thraupis episcopus |
Tangara Palmera | Palm Tanager | Thraupis palmarum |
Yiguirro | Clay-Colored Robin | Turdus grayi |
Golongrina Azuliblanca | Blue And White Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca |
Tortolita Colilarga | Inca Dove | Columbina inca |
Pecho Amarillo | Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus |
Saltador Grisáceo | Grayish Saltator (Sesontle) | Saltator coerulescens |
Comemaiz, Pirris | Rufous-Collared Sparrow | Zonotrichi capencis |
Amazilia Rabirrufa | Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl |
Perico Frentirrojo (Cotorra) | Crimson-Fronted Parakeet | Aratinga finschi |
Elaenia Copetona (Bobillo) | Yellow-Bellied Elaenia | Elaenia flavogaster |
Garrapatero (Tijo, Zopilotillo) | Groove-Billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostis |
Mosquenon Picudo | Boat-Billed Flycatcher | Megarhynchus pitangua |
Carpintero | Hoffmann's Woodpecker | Melanerpes hoffmannii |
Zopilote Cabecirrojo | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura |
Zopilote Negro (Zoncho) | Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus |
Esmeralda Rabihorcada | Fork-Tailed Emerald | Chlorostilbon canivetii |
Pajaro Bobo | Blue -Crowned Motmot | Momotus momota |
Paloma Piquirroja o Morada | Red-Billed Pigeon | Columba flavirostris |
Soterrey Chinchiriqui | Plain Wren | Thryothorus modestus |
Soterrey Cucarachero | House Wren | Throglodytes aedon |
Manguito Pechiverde | Green-Breasted Mango | Anthracothorax prevostii |
Saltón, Comepuntas, Purisco | White-Naped Brush-Finch | Atlapetes guturalis |
Ala De Sable Violaceo | Violet Sabrewing | Campylopterus hemileucurus |
Buho comun, mahafierro | Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium brasilianum |
Vaquero Ojirrojo (Pius) | Bronzed Cowbird | Molothrus aeneus |
Paloma doméstica, de Castilla | Rock Dove | Columba livia |
Pinzon Cafetalero | Prevost's Ground-Sparrow | Melozone biarcuatum |
Pinzon Orejiblanco (Cuatro Ojos) | White-Eared Ground-Sparrow | Melozone leucotis |
Elanio Tijereta (Tijerilla, Gavilan) | Swallow-Tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus |
Amazilia Culiazul | Steely-Vented Hummingbird | Amazilia saucerrottei |
Vencejo común o grisáceo | Vaux's Swift | Chaetura vauxi |
Bienteveo Grande (Cristofué) | Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus |
Paloma Rabuda | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura |
Paloma Ala Blanca | White-Winged Dove | Zenaida asiatica |
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