We saw a Broad-Billed Motmot at the Arenal Hanging Bridges. (Before our Costa Rica cruise, one of the places we stayed at in Costa Rica was Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa near Arenal Volcano National Park.) The Cracidae are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments. Toucans are easily recognizable by their bright colored bodies and long beaks.Personally, they are my favorite bird to spot in Costa Rica. I just find them so amazing to look at. Behavior

Somehow, we expected them to be flying around at face level. Guess we’ve been spoiled by watching too many National Geographicshows!Hacienda La Ensenada is a National Wildlife Refuge located in the province of Puntarenas, on the Gulf of Nicoya. It’s just 2.5 hours from San José and 1.5 hours from Liberia. It is an ideal place for naturalists, bird watchers, and nature lovers. The taxonomy in this book follows the IOC except for oceanic species, where Steve Howell has adopted the classification that he used in his recent photo guide, Oceanic Birds of the World. You may already have Birds of Central America, which was published by Princeton in 2018. That is a hefty book weighing 1.4 kg while this new book weighs, are 900 g. My favorite fact about Scarlet Macaws is that they appear to all be left-footed! Believe it or not, observations show that every individual favors their left foot for peeling fruit and other tasks that require precise movements. Maybe I’m biased because I’m left-handed, but I think that’s pretty amazing! 🙂 Stunning markings make it easy to identify this very handsome Brush Finch. Look for the white crown stripe and bright yellow throat. This Brush Finch likes to forage through secondary growth and weedy areas through the Central and Talamanca Mountains.

The Quetzal is not just the most beautiful Trogon, it’s one of the most beautiful birds in the world. With its stunning emerald colored feathers, ruby red chest and belly, and four long tail coverts that stream down up to 30 inches beyond the tip of the tail, the Quetzal is truly a must see for all bird watchers. Quetzals can be found in the cloud forests of Costa Rica, predominantly in San Gerardo de Dota and Monteverde. The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. Tityridae are suboscine passerine birds found in forest and woodland in the Neotropics. The species in this family were formerly spread over the families Tyrannidae, Pipridae, and Cotingidae. They are small to medium-sized birds. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, have plain coloring. There are chapters explaining the habitats available and the typical birds that can be seen. Costa Rica has benefitted from a number of species splits in recent years, and potentially there are many more to come. Two obvious examples are the Clapper Rail and the Nutting’s Flycatcher, which are both likely to be different species. This is a particular study area for Steve Howell and Dale Dyer, and in an appendix, they outline the potential splits to look out for. The population of this lovely bird is sadly declining, although they are not yet a species of concern. This bird breeds only in southern Costa Rica and western Panama, making habitat loss a grave threat.

2- Monteverde

Enjoy your meals on the patio surrounded by lush gardens and watch the hummingbirds dart throughout the area. Each room is rustic but comfortable with comfortable bedding and hot water showers. The hotel has a lovely spa as well if you want to pamper yourself after a day of hiking and bird watching. Due to the mountain climate, air conditioning is not needed at Hotel Savegre, in fact, be sure to bring a sweater, evenings and early mornings in the Talamanca Mountains are quite chilly.