Costa Rica is a popular destination, especially during the winter. Warm and welcoming weather instead of slushy driveways? Toucans, parrots, macaws, and manakins? Throw in a few dozen hummingbirds and it’s a sweet combination!
Although most birders visit Costa Rica in the winter, we’ve also got a second, mini high season. That would be this month, July. Yes, it’s the summer in the northern half of the globe but no, it’s not any hotter in Costa Rica. Weather just doesn’t work that way.
If anything, cloud cover makes Costa Rica cooler now than sun-drenched February and March! This second high season started happening some years ago when bird tour companies realized that Costa Rica’s brief wet season break might work for tours.
The pause in rains happens most years, usually during the first two or three weeks of July. It does make for some easier birding and although you won’t see wintering birds from backyards up north, everything else is around. If you are headed to Costa Rica soon, here’s some of what’s in store!
A Better Time for Some Birds?
July birding in Costa Rica is just as good for resident species as the high season. For some birds, July might even be easier.
This month and other parts of the wet season seem to be better for wetland species like Masked Duck and Paint-billed Crake. Both of those sneaky birds are always around but in the dry season, they aren’t nearly as accessible.
Now is a good time to look for both species in the Ciudad Neily area.
July also marks the return of Oilbirds! Yeah, they are pretty rare but if you take a night tour in the Monteverde area, you might see one. Another good place to look for Oilbirds is Cerro Paraguas near San Vito. They might even live in that area all year long.
Last but not least, July is also a fine time to study Austral migrants like Yellow-green Vireo, and Piratic and Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers.
Weather
July can be dry but then again…maybe not! This is Costa Rica after all, a nation with mountains that trap huge amounts of moisture from two different oceans.
Hopefully, it won’t rain as much as other times of the year but to be honest, in 2024, it’s hard to say what might happen. Hot water in the Caribbean has already spawned one hurricane and more are likely to come.
Although Beryl didn’t hit us, we still got heavy side effect rains that caused landslides and flooding. We could still get more; keep a close eye on weather advisories, be aware that landslides can close mountain roads, and that flooding is very possible near lowland rivers.
Lately, the Pacific lowlands have been especially hard hit with flooding happening near Jaco, Parrita, Quepos, and near Ciudad Neily.
A Few Birds to Watch For
Bellbirds are calling and are mostly still in their highland haunts. Umbrellabirds are still in cloud forest areas but some have already moved into foothill zones.
Other resident species are in their usual spots although there might be more Green-fronted Lancebills and Black-bellied Hummingbirds in foothill forests.
See any big, funny looking Bank Swallow? Take pictures, you’re probably looking at vagrant Brown-chested Martin!
Think you see a funky looking Purple Martin? Take more pictures, those could be another vagrant hirundine- the Southern Martin!
Can You Still See Quetzals in Costa Rica?
In a word, “yes”. A lot of folks ask when they can see quetzals in Costa Rica, or when is the best time to see them. For me, it’s any time of the year. While many do nest in March and April, Resplendent Quetzals don’t exactly fly away.
Those incredible birds are in Costa Rica all year long, you just have to bird the right habitat and places.
A Great Time for DYI Birding in Costa Rica
July is also a good time for some DYI birding in Costa Rica. In other words, it’s a good time to visit Costa Rica on your own. There’s a lot more vacancy, more elbow room, and always plenty to see!
If you want to hire guides, more are also available in July than during the high season. To find the birds, yes, eBird will give you some good ideas but don’t count on it as the only option. Just remember, birds don’t live where people go eBirding, they live in places with the right habitat. To learn how to see more birds in Costa Rica and about hundreds of sites to see them, get “How to See, Find, and Identify Birds in Costa Rica”.
To prepare for your birding trip to Costa Rica, don’t forget to bring a good field guide (I like Garrigues and Dean), and customize your target lists with the Costa Rica Birds Field Guide app.
As always, I hope to see you in Costa Rica!