10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 10, 2022

December birding in Costa Rica is a time of transition. In Costa Rica, the big 7 hundred is always a doable year birding goal but it’s also one that requires a certain degree of effort. Finally, the rains seem to have gone, at least on the Pacific slope and around the urban asphalt ways of the Central Valley.

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Costa Rica Birds Panama North America 147

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 Birds Parrots Sparrows 189

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 27, 2021

Costa Rica is a tropical country but it doesn’t have to be hot. To be honest, I shouldn’t downplay the lower temperatures of Costa Rica’s high elevations. A bird of treeline and paramo habitats in Costa Rica and Panama, this wren is a main target for visiting birders.

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Costa Rica Birds Farming Litter 211

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 12, 2022

White-tailed Kite in action- a classic airport species in Costa Rica. Although Costa Rica is noted for tropical forests and their subsequent wealth of birds and biodiversity, us local birders also have our own, out of the way habitat hotspots. Odd habitats attract odd birds. I wonder where they come from?

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Costa Rica Ecuador North America Peru 162

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2020

In Costa Rica, our July birding news usually consists of interesting sightings during the mid-summer tours. Where can I see Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow followed by a fantastic meal ? Although this robin-sized raptor occurs in quite a few parts of Costa Rica, you would never ever know it.

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Costa Rica Birds Thailand Family 203

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!). Spot-bellied Bobwhite bites the dust.

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Costa Rica Birds Owls South America 196

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

By our good chance, Mary and I began our year of birding in Costa Rica at a place that combined both of these factors, a place with the promising name of “Raptor Ridge” Located in the hills of the southern Nicoya Peninsula , Raptor Ridge is the home of Larry Landstrom, Ruth Rodriguez, and their daughter Elizabeth.

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Costa Rica Birds Falcons Philadelphia 185

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2019

Although it’s feasible and fairly easy to see Great Tinamou at some sites in Costa Rica, in most other places, the time investment needed to see one usually relegates it to the “heard only” category. In no particular order, these are my top 25 picks for target birds of Costa Rica. Why 25 and not ten?

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Costa Rica Panama Birds Eagles 201

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2019

” During migration, I also see Eastern Wood-Pewees in Costa Rica. Living in Costa Rica, June is just as warm as the rest of the year. June in Costa Rica is the half-way point; when I figure out what I need to do, where I need to go to attain birding goals for the rest of the year.

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Costa Rica Species Birds New York 196

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2017

I have just returned from Costa Rica, the country about which I knew very little, despite it coming under my radar all the way back in 1999 when the “Africa – Birds & Birding” magazine published some of John Graham’s experiences from his visit in 1993. Costa Rica, here I come! With its 920 species, Costa Rica has 2.6

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Costa Rica San Jose Serbia Europe 172

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

Recently, I moved to a new place in Costa Rica. Although it was nothing like going from New York to California or even Buffalo, New York to North Carolina, a change of location, however slight, can bring new birds especially in Costa Rica. I also saw the other, most common Columbid in Costa Rica, the Red-billed Pigeon.

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Costa Rica Barn Owls Stray Dog Blackbirds 162

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2018

It’s warm as always in Costa Rica but I know there’s a change of seasons up north. In Costa Rica, the seasons are changing as well, nothing like the drastic turn up north but changes nonetheless. One of many beautiful Baltimore Orioles in Costa Rica for the winter. Gulls on the Niagara.

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Costa Rica Baltimore Tennessee Parrots 135

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 16, 2021

After all, Costa Rica is no small player on the world birding stage. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus; San Joaquin de Heredia, 1-Jan. White-eared Ground-Sparrow – Melozone leucotis; San Joaquin de Heredia, 1-Jan. Black-striped Sparrow – Arremonops conirostris; Tirimbina, 9-Jan.

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Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 158

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. The White-vented Euphonia is more forest based than other euphonia species in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica San Jose Birds Falcons 165

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2020

I don’t know what I will identify but since most or all will be in Costa Rica, there should be a lot. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus; Calle Jocote, 1-Jan. Olive Sparrow – Arremonops rufivirgatus; Raptor Ridge, 5-Jan. Stripe-headed Sparrow – Peucaea ruficauda; Curu, 4-Jan.

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Costa Rica 2020 Morals Farming 256

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 10, 2016

We also feel that unique sense of togetherness by knowing that each of us is out there concentrating on the birds and covering the ground even when our lips ache from pishing, House Sparrows fail to become real sparrows, and we can’t help but wonder to ourselves, “Um, why am I doing this”? Gulls on the cold Niagara.

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Costa Rica 2016 Eagles Belize 235

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. You almost only, ever, see one of those in Costa Rica so when someone mentions “jacamar”, it’s a Rufous-tailed. There are plenty of these in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica Sparrows Birds Eagles 165

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2019

One of the quandaries of birding in Costa Rica is deciding where to go birding. Costa Rica’s small size, ease of access and massive avian diversity promises a wealth of birds in many places. Other dry forest species made appearances, Stripe-headed Sparrows being especially common.

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Costa Rica Morals Panama Parrots 137

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2015

Birders head to Costa Rica to see stunners like Resplendent Quetzal , Three-wattled Bellbird , Orange-collared Manakin , fancy hummingbirds , tanagers, and literally hundreds of other birds. A species that lives in both Costa Rica and South America but might be two separate species. (3). One of them quetzals.

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Costa Rica Species South America America 205

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2019

This year, my main challenge is identifying 700 species within the borders of Costa Rica by December 31st. A male emerald from another day of birding in Costa Rica. The post Looking for Year Birds in the Central Valley of Costa Rica appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

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Costa Rica Tigers Birds Tennessee 168

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2015

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. Lincoln’s Sparrow for example. A rare bird is one we don’t see very often.

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Costa Rica Birds Panama Sparrows 161

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 28, 2017

In Costa Rica, October is our May. While birders up north are pishing up sparrows, digging the Autumn weekend at Cape May, or twitching vagrants, we are busy with kingbird flocks during our height of migration. Some of the Birding Club at Selva Bananito. Some were feeding on the ground. Black Swift!

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Costa Rica Birds Parrots Farming 150

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2015

That may have been why we found most of the birds concentrated in a few gulleys or “washes” Stopping at one such site revealed White-throated Magpie-Jays, Lesser Ground-Cuckoos, Stripe-headed Sparrows , and other dry forest birds. In Costa Rica, Northern Scrub Flycatchers only occur in mangroves.

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Costa Rica Parrots Birds Sparrows 167

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2017

In upstate New York, sparrows, doves, woodpeckers, and cardinals fall into this category and are probably why we see more of those backyard birds (and their semi-psychedelic stylized versions) on Christmas cards, napkins, and other random types of stationary. Separate her from the similar female Black-headed Trogon by her broken eye ring.

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Costa Rica Dominican Republic Kansas Guinea 115

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. Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow.

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Costa Rica Species San Jose Birds 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 15, 2016

It’s one of the top birding hotspots in Costa Rica and Central America. Raptors : Hawks and their like are not all that common in Costa Rica. Baird’s Trogon : Unlike a sparrow of the same name, Baird scored big on beautiful colors with this bird. Fairly common around Carara.

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Costa Rica Birds Malaysia Protection 173

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2017

Are you on your way to Costa Rica? That said, not even 300 of those were identified in an area around the same size as Costa Rica. Red-headed Barbet at the Cafe Colibri, Cinchona, Costa Rica. This big purple hummingbird is a Violet Sabrewing- common in Costa Rica. Yes, hundreds. Expectations.

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Costa Rica 2017 Birds West Virginia 112

10,000 Birds

APRIL 29, 2017

Shorebirds are part of the avian scene in Costa Rica, pretty much all year long. Even more pass through Costa Rica during spring and fall migration, and in summer, you can cross paths with an errant Whimbrel and other shorebirds that opt to extend the vacation in Costa Rica rather than heading way north to the boggy breeding grounds.

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Costa Rica Morals Breeders Sparrows 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 8, 2017

As with any region endowed with bio-rich tropical habitats, the more time you spend in Costa Rica, the more birds you end up seeing. I know, so they evolved that way to stay alive but it would still be kind of nice if a Tawny-faced Quail would give a call or two when I happen to be in its lowland rainforest neighborhood.

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Costa Rica 2017 Birds Tigers 101

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. Just about everybody who visits Costa Rica asks this question and I often ask it myself.

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Costa Rica San Jose Birds Owls 160

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 3, 2018

How many of us have heard that open-ended question while birding in the USA, Canada, and Costa Rica? Like if you feel that seeing a friendly chattering House Sparrow was a good bird, then it indeed was. In Costa Rica, this one counts as a good bird. How many of us aren’t sure how to answer it?

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Costa Rica Birds Italy Sparrows 114

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2015

That 600th species was a Streaked Xenops , an especially uncommon bird in Costa Rica usually seen at Tapanti National Park. I’m actually surprised I haven’t seen one yet this year but then again, viewing a Jabiru in Costa Rica usually requires a visit to the Palo Verde area or Cano Negro. Streaked Xenops.

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Costa Rica 2015 Species West Virginia 154

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2016

Tis the dry season in Costa Rica and on this side of the mountains, we are under the direct rule of the glaring sun. Olive Sparrow, Rufous-capped Warbler, Banded Wrens, Olivaceous Woodcreeper , and several flycatchers all made it into the list along with several migrants.

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Costa Rica Birds Arizona Texas 111

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 26, 2015

I never saw one there but this year, finally caught up with one of several vagrant Arctics on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Brown Noddies are regular summer residents in Costa Rica, I saw mine from the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry. I have seen both in other places but still need them for my Costa Rica list.

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Costa Rica 2015 Eagles Birds 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2019

The latter is how I began 2019 in Costa Rica and I am grateful. Crimson-fronted Parakeets show red and yellow on their underwings as they fly above the towns and cities of Costa Rica’s Central Valley. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus; Santa Barbara, 1-Jan.

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Costa Rica 2019 Parrots Woodpeckers 113

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. In the erstwhile sanctuary, common species like Red-billed Pigeon , Blue-black Grassquit , and Rufous-collared Sparrow abound. Tongues and patches of green space host birds but most birders leave as soon as they can.

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Costa Rica Sparrows Birds Rodents 247

10,000 Birds

MAY 14, 2016

This Yellow Warbler was looking fresh before it left Costa Rica. The Cornell team is no doubt having a fantastic day of birding up there in beautiful spring Colorado while they identify Cassin’s Sparrow, Prairie Falcon, Lazuli Bunting , and other western birds in some of the same places I surveyed in 1997 and 2001.

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Costa Rica 2016 2001 Battery 100