Birds of Costa Rica - 2011
Kenny and I went on a photography tour of Costa Rica from Feb. 22 - Mar. 3, 2011 with a group from Strabo Tours. We were amazed at at the beautiful birds we saw there. I made this collage of the Birds of Cloud forest.
"Reinita Mielera" Coereba flaveola Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 27, 2011 Hummingbirds are not the only nectar feeders! We saw this Bananaquit at the Children's Eternal Forest.
Hylocichla mustelina La Fortuna, Costa Rica Feb. 24, 2011 This little guy is a good example of why it is so important for the tropical forests to be protected. Many birds from the US overwinter in Central America.
"Pájaro Arcoiris" (Rainbow bird) La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Ecocentro Danaus) Feb. 25, 2011
"Mosquero Cabecigrís" Myiozetetes granadensis La Fortuna, Costa Rica Feb. 25, 2011 This is a very common bird in Costa Rica, we saw it everywhere we went. It was fun to watch them fly out and catch an insect in mid-air.
Green-crowned Violet Hummingbird
male "Brillante Frentiverde" Heliodoxa jacula Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011 The male of this species has a small violet patch of feathers on his gorget (neck).
"Ala de Sable Violáceo" Campylopterus hemileucurus Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011 These were the largest and easiest hummingbirds to photograph at the garden. They would hover for much longer than the other birds.
"Rascón Cuelligrís" Aramides cajanea San José, Costa Rica Feb. 23, 2011 We saw this elusive bird at the INBio Parque as we were touring the grounds. It was only briefly in the sunhine.
adult female "Zopilote de Mar" (sea vulture) Fregata magnificens Quepos, Costa Rica Feb. 28, 2011
immature "Garza-tigre Cuellinuda" Tigrisoma mexicanum La Fortuna, Costa Rica Feb. 24, 2011 We spotted this juvenile heron standing on the bank of the lake in front of the restaurant of the hotel.
"Caracara Cabecigualdo" Milvago chimachima Quepos, Costa Rica We saw lots of these birds along the western coast of Costa Rica. Feb. 28, 2011
"Momoto Común" Momotus momota Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011 This stunning bird sat a posed on a tree branch for a long time at El Sapo Dorado Lodge. We were able to get some great photos of him! I love those crazy tail feathers!
"Tanagara Azuleja" Thraupis episcopus La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Ecocentro Danaus) Feb. 25, 2011 We were surprised how many birds in Costa Rica like bananas! Maybe I should try putting some in my feeder at home! :)
"Mirlo Pardo" Turdus grayi La Fortuna, Costa Rica Feb. 24, 2011 This is the National Bird of Costa Rica. Of all the beautiful birds to choose from, I don't understand why this one was chosen! It is not very attractive and it has a nasty temper with the other birds! :(
"Chachalaca Cabecigrís" Ortalis cinereiceps La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Ecocentro Danaus) Feb. 25, 2011
"Bienteveo Grande" (big good-to-see) Pitangus sulphuratus La Fortuna, Costa Rica Feb. 25, 2011 I got a kick out of seeing this bird lift its crest as it sat on the gutter of the hotel restaurant.
female "Estrellita Gorgimorada" Calliphlox bryantae Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011 It is easy to see by this photo why hummingbirds can't walk, their legs are too short!
"Colibrí Verde Orejivioláceo" Colibri thalassinus Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 27, 2011 It is not hard to see how this beautiful little bird gets its name!
pair (female - left, male - right) "Martín Pescador Amazónico" Chloroceryle amazona Lago Arenal, Costa Rica Feb. 25, 2011 Wouldn't you know it, I'd have to travel all the way to Costa Rica to get a good photo of a kingfisher! It was great to get a pair! The Amazons are larger than the Belted Kingfishers that we have in east Tennessee.
I got this shot of the Brown Pelicans flying in formation from the bus window as we were leaving Quepos. What luck!
Melozone leucotis Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011
"Guacamaya Roja" Ara macao Near Tárcoles, west coast of Costa Rica Feb. 28, 2011 We were thrilled to get so close to a flock of wild macaws! These beautiful birds look like "flying rainbows" due to their colorful feathers!
"Trogón vientrianaranjado" Harpactes oreskios Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 27, 2011 This gorgeous fellow was perched in a tree near the restaurant where we ate lunch one afternoon in Monteverde. Besides posing for our group, he also stuck around when a large group of French tourists swarmed the windows near the tree! We were happy to see this bird, the Resplendent Quetzal, a close relative, eluded us on the trip.
"Saltator Gorgianteado" Saltator maximus La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Ecocentro Danaus) Feb. 25, 2011
female "Mielero Verde" Chlorophanes spiza La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Ecocentro Danaus) Feb. 25, 2011 This is the mate of the previous bird, she nearly disappeared before our eyes when she flew into the trees because she was so well camouflaged.
"Pava Crestada" Penelope purpurascens La Fortuna, Costa Rica Feb. 25, 2011 We saw these large birds near our hotel in La Fortuna. They are the size of a small turkey. I never could get close enough to get a good photo.
Costa Rica is famous for its variety of hummingbirds. This was a rare moment at the Selvatura Hummingbird Garden when these different species of hummers landed on a feeder at the same time! Most of the time they were zooming around fighting for their territory. We spent over an hour in the hummingbird garden, what a treat that was.
male "Estrellita Gorgimorada" Calliphlox bryantae Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011 This little hummingbird looks a lot like the Ruby-throated hummingbird we are familiar with in the southeast US.
"Jacana Centroamericana" Jacana spinosa La Fortuna, Costa Rica Feb. 24, 2011 This is a bird I have wanted to see for many years! I wish the feet were easier to see in this photo, the toes are enormous!!! Their extremely long toes are used for walking on aquatic vegetation, as seen here.
"Caracara Cargahuesos" (bone-carrier Caracara) Polyborus plancus La Fortuna, Costa Rica Feb. 25, 2011 This is a common bird in Costa Rica. I had seen them in Texas and Florida too.
pair "Oropéndola de Montezuma" Psarocolius montezuma La Fortuna, Costa Rica Feb. 24, 2011 These birds build large, hanging nests (which we never did see). It looks as though this pair is ready to start a family! :)
"Saltarín Cuelliblanco" (White-collared dancer) La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Ecocentro Danaus) Feb. 25, 2011 To be so small, these birds sure can make a lot of noise. As we walked through the forest at the preserve we heard a fast clicking sound like the popping of static electricity. Our guide, Willy, stopped to see where the sound was coming from. We were surprised to see this little black, white and yellow bird! Unfortunately, I didn't have my telephoto lens with me at the time. :(
"Bolsero Norteño" Icterus galbula Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011 Someone in our group spotted these gorgeous birds in a nearby tree as we were eating breakfast one morning.
"Tangara Lomiescarlata" Ramphocelus passerinii La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Ecocentro Danaus) Feb. 25, 2011 Unfortunately, it was beginning to get a bit too dark for good shots when this gorgeous fellow came to eat the bananas.
male "Mielero Verde" Chlorophanes spiza La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Ecocentro Danaus) Feb. 25, 2011 We all gasped when this incredible fellow landed near the banana feeder! He was one of the most beautiful birds I've ever seen!
"Tucancillo Piquianaranjado" Pteroglossus frantzii Quepos, Costa Rica (Manuel Antonio National Park) This was the closest we could get to this bird. We saw it from the trail at the park as we were walking to the beach. Aracaris are closely related to toucans. We didn't see a toucan on this trip, unfortunately. We heard they were in a tree at the Parador Hotel, but we didn't get up at the crack of dawn to see them. I guess we'll have to return to Costa Rica!
Green-crowned Violet Hummingbird
female "Brillante Frentiverde" Heliodoxa jacula Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011 Note the pollen on this hummingbird's beak.
Purple-throated Mountain-gem Hummingbird
male "Colibrí Montañés Gorgimorado" Lampornis calolaema Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011 What a beautiful little hummingbird this is! It was amazing to see the brilliant turquoise head and violet gorget when the light hit him just right! He really was a "gem"!
"Garceta Grande" Casmerodius albus Lago Arenal, Costa Rica Feb. 25, 2011 We enjoyed seeing this egret and many other birds as we traveled on the lake.
adult male "Zopilote de Mar" (sea vulture) Fregata magnificens Quepos, Costa Rica Feb. 28, 2011 Magnificent Frigate birds are the "pirates of the tropical skies", they will often steal fish from other sea birds. We got a laugh when our Costa Rican guide, Willy, told us a man on one of his earlier trips thought he called this a "Freakin' Bird" with his thick Spanish accent! :) It is too dark to see the red pouch under this bird's neck. Males enflate the pouch during mating displays to attract a female.
"Comemaiz" (Corn-eater) Zonotrichia capensis Monteverde, Costa Rica Feb. 26, 2011 This little guy was singing his heart out in front of our hotel!
"Carpintero Carinegro" Melanerpes pucherani La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Ecocentro Danaus) Feb. 25, 2011 Even the woodpeckers in Costa Rica eat bananas! This fellow was waiting his turn before flying to the feeder.