10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 24, 2022

December is not the ideal month for bird counts, at least not in Costa Rica. Yes, we do have warm, tropical weather and a fancy assortment of resident and wintering species. However, in Costa Rica, despite being wonderfully warm in December, the birding isn’t as straightforward as one might expect.

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Costa Rica Eagles Species Blackbirds 232

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2021

Similar to 2020, more than 32,000 people participated, 78,000 checklists were submitted, and more than 7,200 bird species were identified. Here’s some of what I learned and was reminded of from an October 9th of birds in Costa Rica: Major Birding Doesn’t Stop During a Pandemic. The birding keeps on a happening.

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Costa Rica Species 2020 Falcons 249

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 260

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. Ornate Hawk-Eagle. Black-and-white Ow.

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Costa Rica Birds Panama Woodpeckers 224

10,000 Birds

JUNE 26, 2021

If the avian realm had self-conscious, talking ambassadors, “spokebirds”, which species would partake in birding conferences? Without careful attention paid to the needs of the shyer birds, such conventions would run the risk of being overrun with the bolder species, the birds that love the spotlight. Ditto for the Kea.

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Costa Rica Belize Guatemala Protest 223

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2021

She also makes a mark with her small size, one of the smallest birds in Costa Rica. When you see a photo of a Snowcap, it’s easy to see why this species is a perennial top target for birding trips to Costa Rica. King Vulture is regular and various other species are also possible, hawk-eagles included.

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Costa Rica San Jose Birds Farming 264

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2020

In Costa Rica, Thanksgiving isn’t an official holiday but on account of the many people from the USA who live there, a birder can enjoy turkey, mashed potatoes and authentic stuffing at any number of places. Even so, I rarely celebrated this special holiday in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica Turkey Iceland Eagles 218

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

I don’t know if I can make these happen but I’m making some 2021 Costa Rica birding resolutions anyways! The more birds the better and there’s a lot to see in Costa Rica! It would be nice to visit sites that are little birded and the few places in Costa Rica I have never been.

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Costa Rica Liberia 2020 Birds 203

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2019

It doesn’t get cold in Costa Rica. Located a bit north of the equator, it is understandably warm in Costa Rica but since we also have elevation, it does get cool and sometimes sort of cold high up there and especially during the night. Hard to beat the cool factor of a Crested Eagle.

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Costa Rica Birds Owls Bats 240

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2021

A male Turquoise Cotinga from southern Costa Rica. Many Red-eyed Vireos have seen Harpy Eagles , have kept still upon hearing the haunting calls of forest-falcons. As they make their incredible, biannual winged trek, they also pass through Costa Rica. Literally in the millions. For birds, there are no borders.

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Costa Rica Nicaragua Ohio Honduras 257

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2020

Those wishes came true with the inauguration of the October GBD and just as we had hoped, in Costa Rica, we saw many of the migrants that tend to leave our shores by May. In the meantime, these are some of the highlights from Costa Rica: Good Coverage. 744 Species. Species Missed. GRAY-HOODED GULL.

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Costa Rica 2020 Birds Morals 198

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2020

There are three species of crow-like cotingas with odd hairdos known as umbrellabirds, the Bare-necked Umbrellabird is the one that lives in Costa Rica. Ruffs from Israel, the one in Costa Rica kind of looked like the top bird. Three days, three hawk-eagles. These are some of mine: The umbrellabird.

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Costa Rica 2019 San Jose Eagles 178

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? This is what a Black Hawk-Eagle shape looks like.

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Costa Rica Panama Birds Eagles 201

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2021

In Costa Rica, they can take the form of everything from toucans (think crows with giant shark inspired beaks) to herons and monkeys. It was created by Jose (aka Cope ), a talented, salf-taught Costa Rican artist and naturalist who lives in the Caribbean lowlands of his birdy nation.

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Costa Rica Investigation Shelters Illinois 250

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 Birds 211

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 173

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. Black Hawk Eagle from Cangreja. We saw five species, all of which at one point came to the same fruiting tree!

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Costa Rica San Jose Birds Falcons 165

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 10, 2016

In Costa Rica, we sometimes deal with constant rain but never have to worry about numb toes or seeing just a few birds. But enough of that, now for some highlights from the first count of the season in Costa Rica, the 2016 Arenal Christmas Count !: Our eBird list from the count morning at Finca Luna Nueva.

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Costa Rica 2016 Eagles Belize 235

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Flying in to Costa Rica is accompanied by porthole views of the Central Valley and the mountains that flank it. I sample birding on Poas more often than at other sites in Costa Rica because it’s close to home and makes for a worthwhile guided day trip from the San Jose area. This Red-faced Spinetail was one of them.

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Costa Rica Species San Jose Birds 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

In 2022, the 10,000 Birds eBird Collaborative submitted 1,837 checklists from 9 countries ( Australia , China , Costa Rica , Mexico , Saint Lucia , Serbia , Trinidad and Tobago , United Kingdom , and the United States ) and observed 1,273 species. The Collaborative life list increased to 4,140.

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Saint Lucia Costa Rica United Kingdom Trinidad 187

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2015

Each year, I hope to identify at least 600 species. That 600th species was a Streaked Xenops , an especially uncommon bird in Costa Rica usually seen at Tapanti National Park. That’s where I saw mine for 2015 but there are still plenty of other species lacking from the year list. I hope I see them again soon.

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Costa Rica 2015 Species West Virginia 154

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

JULY 21, 2018

Northern Emerald Toucanets in Costa Rica are sometimes considered a separate species known as the Blue-throated Toucanet. I was reminded of that fact on June 23rd during the first official bird count at the Locos por el Bosque Reserve in Montserrat de Coronado, Costa Rica. This bad boy beauty isn’t even rare!

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Costa Rica San Jose Birds Eagles 128

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 24, 2016

Another year is about to come to an end and for us birders who can’t help but keep a year list, it means that there are precious few days to add a few more species. Now for my top ten species identified by moi over the course of 2016 and not in any real order: 1 Jabiru. 2 Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle. What am I missing?

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Costa Rica 2016 Species Birds 100

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 163

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2015

In Costa Rica, when speaking English, we use a combination of words associated with both North American and UK birding communities. ”, he or she is talking hawk, hawk-eagle, kite, and so on. Jacamar : In the guide book, there are two jacamar species. There are plenty of these in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica Sparrows Birds Eagles 165

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 16, 2021

After all, Costa Rica is no small player on the world birding stage. We have nearly 930 species on the official list and with some effort, 700 in a year is a feasible goal. Black Hawk-Eagle – Spizaetus tyrannus; Tirimbina, 9-Jan. The post Pat’s Costa Rica Bird List, 2021 appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

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Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 158

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2015

However, that doesn’t mean that the bird species in question is necessarily endangered. For example, in Costa Rica, we have Eastern Phoebe on the list because one lone, very lost (or extremely adventurous) individual took a really big detour at Pismo Beach instead of making a short flight to wintering grounds much closer to home.

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Costa Rica Birds Panama Sparrows 161

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2018

I’m sure we also saw some cool birds although the memories of his birthday species are understandably eclipsed by that of America’s biggest cat. Although you would be very lucky to glimpse the spotted feline with the large head in Costa Rica, giving the birding birthday hypothesis a try is always worth a shot.

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Costa Rica Birds Sparrows Ecuador 117

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 237

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2016

There is a regular birding route in Costa Rica that hits every major habitat in the country and makes an easy, logistical friendly loop. Those time honored sites are always good and result in fantastic, birdy trips but they aren’t the only places in Costa Rica for birding.

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Costa Rica Birds Owls Litter 166

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2017

Knowing that I wouldn’t yell for him to come quick if we were seeing regular species like the endangered Great Green Macaw , toucans, or even a Bare-crowned Antbird , Robert wasted no time in racing down the stairs. The high mountains of Costa Rica and Panama are the realm of this royal bird.

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Costa Rica Albuquerque Eagles Panama 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2018

That might not sound like much but trust me, in Costa Rica, this is major. If you can drag yourself away from the feeder, walk the trail and you might get lucky with Uniform Crake while looking at Rufous-tailed Jacamars , wrens, Olivaceous Piculet , wintering wood warblers, Barred Antshrike and various other species.

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Costa Rica Owls Eagles Birds 117

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2018

In Costa Rica, it’s not hard to find birds. With hundreds of bird species to look for, us birders know the best reason for visiting Costa Rica and that’s why we put San Jose in the rear-view mirror shortly after arrival. In Costa Rica, we grow coffee. Really good coffee!

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Costa Rica San Jose Birds Eagles 126

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2017

Are you on your way to Costa Rica? If not, I hope the following tips will convince you to come on down to this easy birding paradise: 100s of bird species are closer than you think. That said, not even 300 of those were identified in an area around the same size as Costa Rica. Planning a trip for later this year?

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Costa Rica 2017 Birds West Virginia 112

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2014

Complain on a birding trip to Costa Rica? Without further ado, the following are the five most common annoyances and gripes that birders have when doing their thing in Costa Rica, along with my personal solutions: 1. Not the case in Costa Rica. Not possible! Fogged optics! :

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Costa Rica San Jose Birds Owls 160

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2018

It was October 6, Global Big Day part dos and birders in Costa Rica were stoked. A birder can of course celebrate open days of constant birding however he or she wishes, in Costa Rica, the birding community did so on October 6th with dawn to dusk birding in several corners of the country. A Snowy Cotinga from another day.

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