All birds are good birds; experiencing the avian kind is a guaranteed win. Folks who partake in the birding way, who felt the spark and started walking the avian appreciation path know what I mean. Non-birding folks may not but, you take some time to check out a bird or two with binoculars, go on a local birding walk, and you might get it too.
Another thing that birders get is the concept of “quality birds”. Although some very open-minded birders insist that House Sparrows are just as cool as Cerulean Warblers, deep down inside, we all know they most definitely are not. Sure, levels of bird appreciation are subjective but, if we’re honest with ourselves, even the most eco-expunged Zen birding master knows they see far more House Sparrows than Ceruleans, that looking for Cerulean Warblers involves a lot more driving or walking (and neck straining), and that the sky blue warbler occurs in much smaller numbers.
In other words, the Cerulean fits the bill for being a “quality bird”. It’s a bird species we don’t get to see very often, and one that gets rarer with each passing spring. In Costa Rica, we’re fortunate to have Cerulean Warblers pass through these tropical lands. We’re also fortunate to have lots of other birds too, including several uncommon species that rightly earn the same “quality bird”.
Per their nature, you don’t see quality birds very often, at least you don’t if you don’t know where to see them. Even then, they are easily missed during a few hours or one day of birding. They’re just rare or naturally hard to see or both. Use the best birding site guide for Costa Rica and you still need to pay a lot of attention, still need to get lucky.
On a recent tour, we got pretty lucky. Better yet, we were enveloped by the birding luck on our very first day. Nothing like starting a tour with quality birds, these were highlights from one particularly lucky day of 122 species:
Yellow-naped Amazon
Any day with views of a critically endangered species is a good birding day. You don’t have to be near Tarcoles either. Keep a close morning watch and you might see this big parrot flying near Alajuela, Sabana Park in San Jose, or other areas. We had a pair treat us to flyover views at a regular site for this species; Villa San Ignacio.
Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow
Next on the morning birding list was this fine species. As large areas of green space in the core of its small range have been destroyed for housing, this cool bird has become increasingly challenging to see.
I was very pleased when one treated our group to excellent views at Villa San Ignacio. I hadn’t seen this uncommon endemic there for some time, I hope a few stick around!
Long-tailed Manakin
Some birds get that “quality” tag because they are rare, others earn the stamp by way of fancy plumage. The Long-tailed Manakin is in the latter category. Although it is common in many places with dry forest habitats, this red-capped beauty can be challenging at Villa San Ignacio.
Luckily, a calling male decided to perch at close range for fantastic views!
Tiny Hawk
Kicking up the quality birds a notch, we hit the jackpot with this one! One can only assume Tiny Hawks live in many parts if Costa Rica but it’s just an assumption because you almost never see them. They don’t call very often, and would rather hide and wait to ambush small birds than gleefully soar over the forest.
Although you can increase your chances of seeing a Tiny Hawk by scanning rainforest canopy in the morning, it’s one of those birds you have to more or less chance upon. Chance was with us during our visit to San Luis Canopy.
While watching the tanager action, I heard the birds give some alarm calls and noticed a bull-headed, thrush-like bird flying overhead. A pint-sized raptor with a shortish tail can only be one thing- Tiny Hawk! With low expectations, I figured I should check out front, maybe I’d get lucky and find it by scanning.
But nope, didn’t need to scan, the bird was perched in a bare tree in plain view, right above the roof! Even better, the rufous juvenile stayed there long enough for prolonged scope views and photos. It reminded me a bit of the only Tiny Hawk I have seen at Cinchona; a tame and unwary juvenile attracted to the feeders.
Blue-and-Gold Tanager
This choice, rarest tanager in Costa Rica was another sweet bird from San Luis. Expected there but always good, always quality.
Lattice-tailed Trogon
After San Luis, we paid a visit to the Manuel Brenes Road. I was hoping that some extra quality birds might still be around, notably, Sharpbill, umbrellabird, and yellow-eared Toucanet. Although the trees they had been feeding on were out of fruit, we still had some other quality species.
The best were at least 3 Lattice-tailed Trogons. This local and rarely accessible foothill species treated is to fantastic singing views.
Brown-billed Scythebill
While watching the first trogon, I whistled like a scythebill and sure enough, one came in. Although this distinctive bird is easier to see than various other quality species, it’s always a treat!
Fasciated Tiger-Heron
We ended the day at Arenal Observatory Lodge and on the drive in, saw one at the stream just before the lodge entrance. Good thing too because that’s the only time we saw it.
Great Curassow
This fancy turkey is expected at the Observatory Lodge and many other sites in Costa Rica but you won’t see it in most other parts of its range. It’s always quality bird. We had a male on the drive in and then saw several at the feeders and on the Waterfall Trail.
Black and white Owl
We ended our first day with this species, a fantastic Black and white Owl. One or two often come out at night by the Observatory Lodge reception or near the Casona. We had wonderful looks as it perched on roadside wires to hunt around the street lights.
Seeing these and more than 100 hundred species on our first full day was an excellent way to start the tour. In subsequent days, we continued seeing various quality species, some of which I’ll probably write about in future blog posts. Although good birding fortune was with us, we would have never seen these challenging birds without knowing where or how to look for them. Learn more about birding sites in Costa Rica at this blog and in my Costa Rica bird finding guide. Lots of birds are waiting in Costa Rica, I hope to see you here!
