10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

Go to Hispaniola and a birder has the pleasure of admiring two species of tody for the price of one, checking out the odd, mono familiar Palmchat , and listening to the parrotish calls of the White-necked Crow. Go to Costa Rica and you will be looking at other birds but you can still get in some Caribbean slope birding.

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Costa Rica Puerto Rico Birds Owls 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2022

Today, along with teams in a few other parts of Costa Rica and elsewhere, I will be birding for a cause, watching birds to help one that only lives in Costa Rica, the Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow. To help protect this beautiful sparrow that only occurs in Costa Rica, please see the 2022 Birdathon GoFundMe page.

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Costa Rica Sparrows Raised Protection 243

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2020

In Costa Rica, February is a different birding story. It’s also the high season for birding and with good reason; there are hundreds of birds waiting to be seen, some of them migrants from the north but the majority resident tropical species that are easy on the eyes. that are fairly common in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica Birds Panama Bats 241

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2022

The Talamanca Mountains that lie along the continental divide in the southern half of Costa Rica encompass a variety of habitats, including montane cloudforest and páramo, and contain the highest peaks of the country. I may be in tropical Central America, but at 2100 m / 7000 ft a.s.l.

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Costa Rica Panama Squirrels Nicaragua 232

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2020

In Costa Rica, official, enforced quarantine hasn’t happened yet. At the moment, thanks to the government getting serious about this darn thing earlier rather than later, the number of new cases per day in Costa Rica has been very much linear in nature. Barred Antshrike. Rufous-naped Wren. Flame-colored Tanager.

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Costa Rica Birds Mississippi Woodpeckers 256

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2021

Of the 6 species of quetzal, the one that lives in the cloud forests of Central America usually gets the “most spectacular” badge. And yes, this species lives in Quetzal Valley, a place that actually does exist! Even better, this site near San Ramon, Costa Rica is almost too accessible.

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Costa Rica Birds Eagles America 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

Crimson-fronted Parakeets- one of our city birds in Costa Rica. It’s not like when a birder is visiting Arizona and hoping for “the trogon” (aka Elegant Trogon ) because when a birder walks in Costa Rica, there are nine of these eye-catching beauties to look for. A female Baird’s Trogon.

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Costa Rica Panama Arizona Protection 215

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2021

“Gamebirds” to some, cool, cryptic understory birds to the birding people, grouse crouch protected as unfettered winds sway the top of the tall prairie grass. Even so, he still knew many species and always yearned to learn about the wildlife he encountered. The remaining four species are the most grouse-like of the bunch.

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Costa Rica Chickens Pennsylvania Litter 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2021

In birding circles, Costa Rica is better known for protected areas, quetzal tours, and glittering displays of hummingbirds than the things that fly in urban spots. I mean, who comes to Costa Rica to bird on city streets? Today, in Costa Rica, I’m too far south for the Northern Bobwhite.

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Costa Rica Falcons Farming Woodpeckers 264

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2019

In October, it’s what’s happening in Costa Rica. Our big month of bird movements in Costa Rica, the 10th month of the year, is when most of the swallows, Scarlet Tanagers , thrushes, and other species on the South American express push through. What Scarlet Tanagers look like in October Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica Nicaragua Panama North America 263

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2019

Costa Rica is well known for national parks and other protected areas than offer access to tropical ecosystems dripping with biodiversity. Our birding was particularly productive for the Central Valley but still gives an idea of what can be found in and near urban areas of Costa Rica. Have flowers in Costa Rica?

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Costa Rica Parrots Birds Blackbirds 198

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 29, 2020

Situated well off the beaten track and at the end of long, bumpy roads, Cangreja National Park is one of the less frequently visited protected areas in Costa Rica. The “Choco Screech-Owl” from Costa Rica, this picture is from the La Gamba area and is shown on the Costa Rica Birds Field Guide app.

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Costa Rica Owls Birds Protection 206

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2019

If a list also shows the status for each species, birders on their way to Costa Rica would realize that they shouldn’t really expect vireos with white eyes nor blue heads (but would hopefully know that they should very much report those species on eBird so local birders can chase them!). Juvenile Gray Hawk.

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Costa Rica Owls South America Panama 201

10,000 Birds

MARCH 28, 2020

As the pandemic suddenly gained speed and we saw our first cases in Costa Rica, we realized that we were in for some big changes. In case you happened to be wondering, this is some of what has been happening in Costa Rica birding and otherwise during the past two weeks: We still watch birds. Not anymore.

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Costa Rica Birds Spain New York 231

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

Welcome back to the paradise of birding in the Arenal region of Costa Rica! More than 450 species have been recorded within the Arenal area, and over 250 bird species have been recorded on our private reserve alone. The post Come to Finca Luna Nueva Lodge in Costa Rica! appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

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Costa Rica San Jose Liberia Farming 203

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2019

It would be uber cool to lay eyes on a rare lifer, on species that only seem to live on the pages of a field guide but isn’t that somewhat discriminatory? And why spend time only looking for one or two species when those hours could be used to put binos focused on a few dozen? Aren’t all birds worth watching?

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Costa Rica Panama Birds Nicaragua 203

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

When Costa Rica becomes a topic of conversation, we don’t usually hear the word “extinction” being thrown around. But how about when the Costa Rica conversation involves a birder? It’s easy to bedazzle the bins with this one when birding in Costa Rica. Must be a joke, right?

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Costa Rica Species Panama Falcons 222

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2019

A wonderful variety of bird species are waiting to be seen and among them are many a birder’s favorite avian group, the wood-warblers. Among the most desired bird species during May migration, brightly colored, beautiful and boldly patterned, how can a birder not get hooked on spring warblers? Great Green Macaw!

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Costa Rica Species Belize New Jersey 186

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2018

December is a busy time in Costa Rica. Migrant species are around, rarities are waiting to be found (such as, believe it or not, Lincoln’s Sparrow ), and, most of all, we have Christmas Counts to attend to. We saw five species, all of which at one point came to the same fruiting tree!

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Costa Rica San Jose Falcons Birds 178

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

In Costa Rica, it’s also happening, not as in full force mode as the temperate north but that will change in a month when we see thousands of Eastern Wood-pewees , flocks of Eastern Kingbirds , and other species hurrying their way to South America. Millions of Cliff Swallows pass through Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica Tennessee South America 2019 152

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2017

Belonging to the Caribbean foothills biome, Rancho Naturalista has the fourth longest eBird list among the hotspots of Costa Rica: 478 species, including 36 raptors and 38 hummingbirds. Curious to see what the combined list would show, I used the eBird polygon tool to sum them all up to 502 bird species. I did, of course.

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Costa Rica Woodpeckers Farming Owls 164

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 28, 2015

In Costa Rica, although I did spend a memorable one years ago in the Osa Peninsula where flocks of parrots flew into the mangroves while we feasted on turkey, pie, and the works, we have no actual Wild Turkeys , nor an official Thanksgiving. That last little bit is also why we call it “Turkey Day”! Ain’t I great?

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Costa Rica Turkey Ecuador Hunting 176

10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2019

Costa Rica is a small yet very birdy country (readers may have gotten that impression on previous posts I have written for 10,000 Birds, at least I hope that has been the case!). With that in mind, it’s always a pleasure to see more books and information available about birds and birding in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica Parrots West Virginia Birds 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2017

In Costa Rica, we have more than our fair share. In keeping with high diversity in other aspects of the avian kingdom, including falcons and excluding owls, this small country has a raptor list that tops fifty species. There might be a lot of species, but competition and other factors result in fewer individuals of each species.

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Costa Rica West Virginia Eagles Monkeys 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2017

That was my first ever beach on the Pacific Ocean (Costa Rica offered me so many easy ways out of that molesting question that I sometimes ask myself: When was the last time I did something for the first time?). Beside macaws, Carara eBird hotspot has a bird list of 424 species. Part one: An Absolute Beginner in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica Pelicans Owls Woodpeckers 161

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2014

Thanks to fortunate foresight, a lot of land was set aside in Costa Rica as national parks and protected areas (and some of these are easily accessed) but the best forest still happens to be at the terminus of the road and en route, you will be treated to species deficit birding in plenty of pastures.

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Costa Rica San Jose Sharks Monkeys 248

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 15, 2016

Carara National Park isn’t just any old protected area. It’s one of the top birding hotspots in Costa Rica and Central America. That’s alright because given the wealth of bird species all over, you can begin with the binos wherever you want and always see a lot. So, what can you see?

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Costa Rica Malaysia Birds Protection 173

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 28, 2017

In Costa Rica, October is our May. We might not get the variety of a New Jersey autumn but we do get major numbers of species that winter in South America. However, this year, we opted for a site that could also give a chance at Great Jacamar and a few other key resident species in addition to migrants.

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Costa Rica Parrots Farming Birds 163

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2017

As for myself, since I live in Costa Rica, I usually put the focus on birding and/or birds in this small yet very bio-rich country. These disclosures are related to a recent Christmas Bird Count that took place in Costa Rica, the 2017 Arenal Bird Count to be exact. The Lanceolated Monklet is a living plush toy.

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Costa Rica Owls Birds Tennessee 150

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 29, 2016

Costa Rica is situated right between two oceans. The proximity of both slopes also facilitates seeing a lot of different species in a short span because the montane barrier has resulted in differences in terms of species and habitats. To the north of this mountainous isthmus, we have the Atlantic.

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Costa Rica San Jose Panama Nicaragua 165

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2020

Costa Rica is a country situated well south of the Tropic of Cancer and like most places without a winter, parrots are an essential part of the local avifauna. With 18 species of native Psittacids to choose from, birding in Costa Rica is always a thrill, especially for someone who grew up in parrotless Niagara Falls, New York!

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Parrots Costa Rica San Jose Endangered Species 272

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2020

Speaking of Costa Rica, any purchase of tracks, the digital album, tee-shirts and other merchandise will help with conservation of the Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager. An endemic species restricted to southern Costa Rica, the tiny range of this local bird makes it susceptible to any alterations to its already limited habitat.

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Costa Rica Nicaragua Cuba Mexico 240

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2015

In Costa Rica, since winter doesn’t exist, June is kind of like every other month except that it rains more and the little summer of San Juan is right around the corner. This break from the rain coincides with two weeks off from school, and also makes a perfect excuse for visiting Costa Rica during the summer.

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Costa Rica San Jose Birds Owls 162

10,000 Birds

APRIL 16, 2016

Then I wake up, eventually realize that I am back in Costa Rica, and find myself thinking about birding here and birding there. Here are some: Mega migration : We bear witness to some serious migration in Costa Rica. In tropical Costa Rica, we have our fair share of exotic, cool-looking creatures.

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Costa Rica Israel Jordan Birds 103

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2016

In the northern hemisphere, the combination of migrants, resident species, and higher frequency of bird song makes it much easier to identify more birds, compared to say, August, so if you want to get really crazy and go for a Big Day record, spring is the time to go for it. They got all three potoo species in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica Birds Israel Research Center 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

When looking for birds in Costa Rica, the Central Valley isn’t the first place that comes to mind. Some call them trash, tours might not visit, but they can host more than the expected and common species. Some such vegetated spots can also attract oddball birds, species that wander to find a home in urban circumstances.

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Costa Rica Sparrows Rodents Rats 257

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 21, 2018

Our trip to Costa Rica has come to an end, and sadly, it ended with one of the best weeks of birding in the entire year. There is no way this week could have been as excellent as it was without a huge amount of help from the Costa Rica Birders and their “network”. I am saving the quetzal story for the end of this posting.

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Costa Rica San Jose Chinchillas Family 189