Guide to the World’s Avian Paradise
Costa Rica packs over 900 bird species into a landmass smaller than West Virginia, making it one of the planet’s most bird-rich countries per square kilometer. From lowland mangroves to cloud forests and paramo peaks, Costa Rica’s mosaic of habitats hosts both resident wonders and seasonal migrants. Whether you’re a veteran lister or a curious beginner, here’s a deep dive into how to plan, where to go, and what you’ll see in this birding utopia.

Why Costa Rica Is a Birder’s Dream
- Exceptional Diversity in Bite-Sized Territory
Just 0.03% of Earth’s land area, yet home to ~5% of all bird species. Short travel distances mean you can chase both toucans and tanagers in a single day.
- Habitat Variety
Coastal mangroves, dry tropical forests, wet lowland rainforest, cloud forest, montane oak woods, páramo grasslands—and even cold-climate ridgelines above 3,000 m.
- Conservation Success
With over 25% of its land protected in parks, reserves and biological corridors, Costa Rica ensures reliable habitat and healthy populations.
- Bird-Friendly Infrastructure
A robust network of guiding services, eco-lodges with feeders and canopy platforms, plus citizen-science platforms like eBird already mapped out for you.

Key Birding Regions & Hotspots
1. Caribbean Lowlands
- Tortuguero National Park
Canals edged with palms and heliconias. Expect Boat-chapels of caciques: Prothonotary Warblers, Green Kingfishers, Collared Aracaris, Montezuma Oropendolas and—if you’re lucky—the elusive Keel-billed Toucan gliding overhead.
- Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Seasonal lagoons attract Jabiru Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks and migrating ducks. Paddling along shaded waterways, you may glimpse Zone-tailed Hawks perched on mangrove limbs.
2. Pacific & Dry Forests
- Carara National Park
Transition zone between dry and wet forest. Home to Scarlet Macaws that roost noisily at dawn, plus the tiny Lesson’s Motmot flashing turquoise plumage through the understory.
- Palo Verde National Park
Vast wetlands draw egrets, herons, ibis flocks by the thousands. Highlights: Snail Kites skimming water surfaces, and Roseate Spoonbills dusting shallow pools.
- Guanacaste Dry Forests
Look for Turquoise-browed Motmot, Rufous-capped Warbler, and Great Curassow. Late dry-season fruiting trees can concentrate birds, making fruit-feeder lodges especially productive.
3. Central Highlands & Cloud Forest
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
A mist-shrouded cathedral of moss-draped oaks. Must-see: Resplendent Quetzal (November–April), Three-wattled Bellbird, Emerald Toucanet, and a dazzling suite of hummingbirds—Fiery-throated, Green Hermit, and Volcano Hummingbird among them.
- San Gerardo de Dota & Los Quetzales Trail
Prime quetzal country. Bird blinds overlook fruiting wild avocados where pairs of Quetzals perform aerial courtship dances at first light. Also search for Black-cheeked Warbler and Dull-mantled Antbird.
- Tapantí National Park
Rainforest corridors with specialized understory species such as the Ruddy Treerunner, Slaty-tailed Trogon, and rare Barred Hawk circling above.
4. Southern Pacific & Osa Peninsula
- Corcovado National Park
Unfiltered wilderness—scarlet macaws roar in the canopy, and troops of White-headed Capuchins forage beneath giant ceibas. In the understory, watch for Crimson-collared Tanager, Black-faced Solitaire and Great Green Macaw in the Dagua Valley.
- Drake Bay / Caño Island
Sea vistas with coastal scrub attract the White-winged Dove and Yellow-naped Parrot. Off-shore, Brown Pelicans wheel and Magnificent Frigatebirds patrol the skies.
5. High-Elevation Paramo & Talamanca Range
- Chirripó National Park
Above 3,100 m, the alpine páramo is home to Timberline Wren, Volcano Junco and the sky-diving Collared Redstart. If conditions align, guarded slopes host migrating hawks funneling through the mountain pass.
- Talamanca Cloud Forests
Near San Isidro de El General, the oak-laurel mix shelters rare endemics: the Peg-billed Finch, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, and perhaps the shy Black Guan.

Spotlight on Signature Species
Common Name; Scientific Name; Where to Find Most Reliably
Resplendent Quetzal; Pharomachrus mocinno; Monteverde, San Gerardo de Dota
Three-wattled Bellbird; Procnias tricarunculatus; Monteverde, Bosque Nuboso de San Luis
Scarlet Macaw; Ara macao; Carara, Corcovado
Great Green Macaw; Ara ambiguus; Talamanca foothills, Dagua Valley
Turquoise-browed Motmot; Eumomota superciliosa; Palo Verde, Guanacaste lodges
Mangrove Hummingbird; Amazilia boucardi; Tarcoles River mangroves
Snowcap Hummingbird; Microchera chionura; Talamanca highlands
Fiery-throated Hummingbird; Panterpe insignis; Monteverde trails, Heliconia feeders

Timing Your Trip: Seasons & Phenology
- Resident Birds – Year-round species like toucans, tanagers and hummingbirds can be seen anytime.
- Winter Migrants (Nov–Apr) – Neo-tropical migrants arrive from North America: warblers (Wilson’s, Blackburnian, Magnolia), orioles, tanagers and the occasional Prothonotary Warbler.
- Breeding Season (Mar–Jul) – Bird courtship peaks; bellbirds drum their calls, trogons chase mates, and quetzals court by hovering displays.
- Rainy (“Green”) Season (May–Nov) – Lower crowds and lush foliage. Consider short daily excursions (dawn–late morning) to avoid heavy afternoon showers.

Essential Gear & Fieldcraft
- Optics: 8×42 binoculars as a baseline; a 10×42 for distant canopy species.
- Field Guide: “A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica” by Stiles & Skutch remains the gold standard.
- Audio Recorder or App: Many rare species reveal themselves by call—Merlin Bird ID or eBird’s sound recognition can be invaluable.
- Clothing: Quick-dry layers, long sleeves/pants to deter ticks, a lightweight rain jacket, and sturdy trail shoes or boots.
- Ethical Practices: Observe the Code of Birding Ethics—minimize playback, keep distance, never disturb nests.

Check the Top-Rated Birding Lodges & Guides
Lodge / Reserve; Region; Key Features
Savegre Mountain Lodge; San Gerardo de Dota; On-site hummingbird and fruit feeders with quetzal viewing blinds
La Selva Biological Station; Sarapiquí; Expert-led morning bird walks and diverse lowland habitats
Bosque del Rio Tigre; Osa Peninsula; Guided forest hikes; beachfront Scarlet Macaw feeding station
Rancho Naturalista; Turrialba; Specialized 50+ hummingbird garden and expert guides
El Silencio Lodge & Spa; Bajos del Toro; Cloud-forest trails and towhee hideouts
Engaging local, certified guides not only amplifies your sightings but also supports community-based conservation.

Conservation Engagement and Citizen Science
- eBird Hotspots: Log your sightings to contribute to global datasets—many lodges have year-round monitoring programs.
- Tree Nursery Volunteering: Help grow native canopy species used in reforestation corridors around Monteverde or Rincón de la Vieja.
- Sea-Turtle Hatchling Releases: In Tortuguero and Ostional, seasonal turtle projects fund anti-poaching patrols that also protect nesting shorebirds.

This is a sample 10-Day Birding Itinerary that you can use as the base of your trip
Day 1–2: Sarapiquí / La Selva
• Dawn and dusk canoe trips; target Sunbittern, Agami Heron and Fasciated Tiger-Heron.
Day 3–4: San Gerardo de Dota
• Early quetzal stakeouts; midday exploration of trout-pond fringes for Yellow-thighed Finch and Flame-throated Warbler.
Day 5–6: Monteverde Cloud Forest
• Pre-dawn bellbird drumming tours; mid-morning hummingbird feeder sessions.
Day 7–8: Carara & Tarcoles
• Scarlet Macaw roost visits; afternoon boat rides for Mangrove Hummingbird and Jabiru Stork.
Day 9–10: Osa Peninsula (Corcovado)
• Multi-day ranger-led trek; target Black-headed Trogon, Scarlet Macaw and Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle.

Practical Tips and Final Thoughts
- Language & Culture: Learning basic Spanish phrases warms local rapport. Bird names often translate literally—“pájaro Diquis” for Talamanca’s unique honeyeaters, for instance.
- Health & Safety: Bring malaria prophylactics if visiting Tortuguero; carry personal first-aid kits for remote trails.
- Pura Vida Mindset: Embrace early starts and slow pacing—bird watching rewards patience as much as preparation.

Birding in CR. Guide to Birds of Costa Rica. Find the best birding sites and photos. Info on who to talk to in specific areas about seeing birds. Finding Birds and Quetzals in Costa Rica
Quetzal and the Macaw: The Story of Costa Rica's National Parks -
Photographic guide to the Birds of Costa Rica - The best photos in Costa Rica.
A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica - One of the most diverse bird populations anywhere with detailed species, descriptions of birding localities. Know avifauna of Costa Rica Over 1, 000 species illustrated on color plates. Follows the sequence and taxonomy of the American Ornithologists Union.
Costa Rica Birding