Costa Rica guide

List of birds of Costa Rica

Although Costa Rica is a small country, it is in the bird-rich neotropical region, and has a huge number of species for its area. 894 bird species have been recorded in the on the country (including Cocos Island), with seven endemics. 19 species are globally threatened. The Official List of the Asociación Ornitológica de Costa Rica contains 857 species.

About 600 species are resident, with most of the other regular visitors being winter migrants from North America.
Part of the diversity stems from the range of habitats, ranging from Caribbean mangrove swamps to chains of muntains down the spine of the country rising to more than 3,500 m. This chain forms a geographical barrier, which has enabled speciation to take place so that closely-related but different species may occur on either side of the chain - a good example is the White-collared Manakin of the Caribbean side, which is now distinct from the Orange-collared Manakin of the Pacific slope.

In the past, higher sea levels left the mountains as highlands, and isolation again led to distinct species developing, with over thirty now endemic to the mountains, especially the Talamanca range which extends from southern Costa Rica into Panama.

Costa Rica's national bird is the ubiquitous Clay-colored Robin.

Tinamidae
Great Tinamou Tinamus major
Highland Tinamou Nothocercus bonapartei
Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui
Slaty-breasted Tinamou Crypturellus boucardi
Thicket Tinamou Crypturellus cinnamomeus

Podicipedidae
Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

Diomedeidae
Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata Outlying islands only Vulnerable

Procellariidae
Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata Rare/Accidental Endangered
Galapagos Petrel Pterodroma phaeopygia
Parkinson's Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni Vulnerable
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea Rare/Accidental
Pink-footed Shearwater Puffinus creatopus Vulnerable
Greater Shearwater Puffinus gravis Rare/Accidental
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus
Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris Rare/Accidental
Audubon's Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri

Hydrobatidae
Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus
White-vented Storm-Petrel Oceanites gracilis Data deficient
White-faced Storm-Petrel Pelagodroma marina Rare/Accidental
Least Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma microsoma
Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma tethys
Band-rumped Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma castro Rare/Accidental
Leach's Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Markham's Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma markhami Rare/Accidental Data deficient
Black Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma melania

Phaethontidae
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus Outlying islands only

Pelecanidae
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Rare/Accidental
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Sulidae
Blue-footed Booby Sula nebouxii
Masked Booby Sula dactylatra
Red-footed Booby Sula sula
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster

Phalacrocoracidae
Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus

Anhingidae
Anhinga Anhinga anhinga

Fregatidae
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens
Great Frigatebird Fregata minor Rare/Accidental

Ardeidae
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Great Egret Ardea alba
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Striated Heron Butorides striata Rare/Accidental
Green Heron Butorides virescens
Agami Heron Agamia agami
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea
Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma mexicanum
Fasciated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma fasciatum
Rufescent Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma lineatum
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
Pinnated Bittern Botaurus pinnatus
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Rare/Accidental

Ciconiidae
Wood Stork Mycteria americana
Jabiru Jabiru mycteria

Threskiornithidae
Green Ibis Mesembrinibis cayennensis
White Ibis Eudocimus albus
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi Rare/Accidental
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja

Anatidae
Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata
American Wigeon Anas americana
Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis Rare/Accidental
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Rare/Accidental
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Rare/Accidental
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
Greater Scaup Aythya marila Rare/Accidental
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Masked Duck Nomonyx dominica
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Rare/Accidental

Cathartidae
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus
King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa

Pandionidae
Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Accipitridae
Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis
Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis
Double-toothed Kite Harpagus bidentatus
Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississippiensis
Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
Tiny Hawk Accipiter superciliosus
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
Bicolored Hawk Accipiter bicolor
Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens
Barred Hawk Leucopternis princeps
Semiplumbeous Hawk Leucopternis semiplumbeus
White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis
Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus
Mangrove Black-Hawk Buteogallus subtilis
Great Black-Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga
Savanna Hawk Buteogallus meridionalis
Harris's Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus
Black-collared Hawk Busarellus nigricollis
Solitary Eagle Harpyhaliaetus solitarius
Gray Hawk Asturina nitida
Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus
Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni
White-tailed Hawk Buteo albicaudatus
Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Crested Eagle Morphnus guianensis Near-threatened
Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja Near-threatened
Black-and-white Hawk Eagle Spizastur melanoleucus
Black Hawk Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus
Ornate Hawk Eagle Spizaetus ornatus

Falconidae
Red-throated Caracara Ibycter americanus
Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway
Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima
Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans
Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis
Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon Micrastur mirandollei
Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis Rare/Accidental
Merlin Falco columbarius
Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis
Orange-breasted Falcon Falco deiroleucus Rare/Accidental
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Cracidae
Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula
Grey-headed Chachalaca Ortalis cinereiceps
White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra
Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens
Black Guan Chamaepetes unicolor Near-threatened
Great Curassow Crax rubra Near-threatened

Rallidae
Ocellated Crake Micropygia schomburgkii Rare/Accidental
Ruddy Crake Laterallus ruber Rare/Accidental
White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis
Gray-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis
Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
Rufous-necked Wood-Rail Aramides axillaris
Gray-necked Wood-Rail Aramides cajanea
Uniform Crake Amaurolimnas concolor
Sora Porzana carolina
Yellow-breasted Crake Porzana flaviventer
Paint-billed Crake Neocrex erythrops Rare/Accidental
Spotted Rail Pardirallus maculatus
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
American Coot Fulica americana

Aramidae
Limpkin Aramus guarauna

Jacanidae
Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa
Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana Rare/Accidental

Charadriidae
Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis Rare/Accidental
American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Wilson's Plover Charadrius wilsonia’‘
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Rare/Accidental
Collared Plover Charadrius collaris

Scolopacidae
Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica Rare/Accidental
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Rare/Accidental
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
Eskimo Curlew Numenius borealis Rare/Accidental Critically endangered (possibly extinct)
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus Near-threatened
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia
Wandering Tattler Heterosceles incanus
Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Surfbird Aphriza virgata
Red Knot Calidris canutus
Sanderling Calidris alba
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Rare/Accidental
Dunlin Calidris alpina Rare/Accidental
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis Near-threatene$
Ruff Philomachus pugnax Rare/Accidental
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius Rare/Accidental

Laridae
Gray Gull Larus modestus Rare/Accidental
Heermann's Gull Larus heermanni Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus
Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia Rare/Accidental
Laughing Gull Larus atricilla
Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan
Sabine's Gull Xema sabini
Swallow-tailed Gull Creagrus furcatus Outlying islands only

Sternidae
Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
Elegant Tern Sterna elegans Near-threatened
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
Royal Tern Sterna maxima
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri Rare/Accidental
Least Tern Sterna antillarum
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus
Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata Rare/Accidental
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Black Noddy Anous minutus Rare/Accidental
Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
White Tern Gygis alba Rare/Accidental

Psittacidae
Military Macaw Ara militaris Vulnerable
Great Green Macaw Ara ambigua Vulnerable
Scarlet Macaw Ara macao
Crimson-fronted Parakeet Aratinga finschi
Olive-throated Parakeet Aratinga nana
Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis
Sulphur-winged Parakeet Pyrrhura hoffmanni
Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola
Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis
Red-fronted Parrotlet Touit costaricensis Vulnerable
Brown-hooded Parrot Pionopsitta haematotis
Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus
White-crowned Parrot Pionus senilis
White-fronted Parrot Amazona albifrons
Red-lored Parrot Amazona autumnalis
Yellow-crowned Parrot Amazona ochrocephala
Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata
Mealy Parrot Amazona farinosa

Cuculidae
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor
Cocos Island Cuckoo Coccyzus ferrugineus Cocos Islands only Vulnerable
Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris
Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia
Pheasant Cuckoo Dromococcyx phasianellus
Lesser Ground-Cuckoo Morococcyx erythropygus
Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo Neomorphus geoffroyi

Strigidae
Western Screech-Owl Megascops kennicottii
Pacific Screech-Owl Megascops cooperi
Tropical Screech-Owl Megascops choliba
Bare-shanked Screech-Owl Megascops clarkii
Guatemalan Screech-Owl Megascops guatemalae
Vermiculated Screech-Owl Megascops vermiculatus
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata
Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata
Crested Owl Lophostrix cristata
Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata'
Costa Rican Pygmy Owl Glaucidium costaricanum
Central American Pygmy Owl Glaucidium griseiceps
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl Glaucidium brasilianum
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Rare/Accidental
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl Aegolius ridgwayi
Striped Owl Pseudoscops clamator
Stygian Owl Asio stygius Rare/Accidental
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Rare/Accidental

Alcedinidae
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon
Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquatus
Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona
Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana
Green-and-rufous Kingfisher Chloroceryle inda
American Pygmy Kingfisher Chloroceryle aenea

Also see:
• Wildlife of Costa Rica
• List of birds of Costa Rica

See:
• Costa Rica information
• Guanacaste Province
• Liberia, Costa Rica
• San José, Costa Rica

• Tamarindo
• Manuel Antonio
• Arenal Volcano
• Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park
• Monteverde

• Kayaking
• Beaches
• Adventure Tours are in Costa Rica
• Costa Rica Luxury Real Estate Agents
• Costa Rica Scuba Diving Paradise
• travel to costa rica
• real estate in costa rica

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of birds of Costa Rica".