In Costa Rica, there’s a lot of cool birds everywhere. Parakeets and parrots make morning flybys over busy urban roads, Gray Hawks call from above while doing their daily soaring over my minimally green neighborhood, tityras oink from big trees, and so on and so on. Those birds are definitely cool and I’m happy to notice them but if I want to see trogons and quetzals and hundreds more species, I need to move a bit further afield.
One of the great things about Costa Rica is that I don’t need to move very far. It only takes a 30 minute drive to reach cloud forest remnants with fancy chlorophonias and Bare-shanked Screech-Owls, only an hour to get low enough on the Pacific side to reach fantastic Scarlet Macaws. There’s also the other side of the mountains, the wet and mossy habitats on the Caribbean slope. Looking north, I can just about see it, at the edge of where the rain clouds hit way up there on the continental divide.
Go just a bit further and most of that water is destined for the Atlantic. Follow the highland streams and they become rivers that transect middle elevation forest before rushing through foothill rainforest to eventually slow down in the Caribbean lowlands. On the way, a birder also passes through different avian communities, each one more or less related to elevation.
The lowest, hottest parts have some of the highest diversity. Those Caribbean lowlands also have birds that don’t occur in other parts of Costa Rica. These are species that live in the La Selva area, inhabit the beautiful rainforests of Tirimbina, and call from the fantastic forests around and near Laguna del Lagarto. To see the following bird species in Costa Rica, you’ll have to travel to the Caribbean lowlands; they rarely occur above 300 meters in elevation and aren’t usually on the other side of the mountains.
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Costa Rica’s rare tiger-heron likes marshes, usually near rainforest, and forested streams and swamps. It’s a lot easier to see in Panama and South America (where it replaces the Bare-throated Tiger-Heron) but if you need to check it out in Costa Rica, try looking for it in Tortuguero, around Boca Tapada and Laguna del Lagarto, and any suitable habitat in the Caribbean lowlands.
Harpy Eagle
This monster raptor is such a rare bird in Costa Rica, it’s almost not worth mentioning it. You probably won’t see one in the Sarapiqui area nor most other lowland sites but, vigilant birders replete with amazing birding luck could spot one in the Boca Tapada area and perhaps in the lowland forests north of Rincon de la Vieja.
Although individual Harpy Eagles could also feasibly move into foothill rainforests, on the Caribbean slope, they seem to be more of a lowland bird (or “were” since they have largely been extirpated). However, on a bright note, perhaps they could be reintroduced to the Gandoca-Manzanillo area, and, with reforestation, other sites too.
Gray-rumped Swift
For the most part, it seems like these small swifts are lowland birds. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen any in the foothills but I always see them fluttering just above the canopy of lowland forest, even over second growth and remnant forest meandering along lowland waterways.
If you’re birding the Caribbean lowlands and see a group of small, rather low flying swifts, those would be Gray-rumpeds. In migration, there’s also similar Chimney Swifts but they are darker brown, have slightly longer wings, and are typically actively migrating (flying either straight north or directly south). In the summer months, there’s also a rare chance for a couple of Austral migrant Chaeturas but I’ll save that can of worms for another post.
Pied Puffbird
This tanager-sized, sort of batis looking puffbird is a true lowland species. I often find at the edge of rainforest as it calls from some super tall tree, usually after whistling like one. If not, if the small canopy dwelling bird doesn’t call, you’ll need a lot of luck to notice one.
Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
This beautiful woodpecker lives in lowland rainforest and adjacent gardens and second growth habitats. It took me a while to finally see this species, I think because I was mostly birding in foothill habitats. They seem to have a penchant for coconuts; I often see a pair pecking into big green coconuts on the La Selva entrance road.
Olive-throated Parakeet
See some small, long-tailed parakeets flying over or near lowland forest? You’re probably seeing this species. Olive-throated Parakeets are regular in most parts of the Caribbean lowlands but are especially common around Cano Negro.
Compared to the larger, brighter green Crimson-fronted Parakeets, Olive-throateds also lack red, and have scratchier voices.
Purple-throated Fruitcrow
This wonderful bird mostly occurs in South America but also ranges north to Costa Rica and adjacent southeastern Nicaragua. It lives in tall lowland rainforest and, in Costa Rica, seems to be more common near and south of Limon.
They also live in and around La Selva but are much less common north of there. Bird in the right places and it’s not that tough to see especially if you know its vocalizations. Fruitcrows usually occur in small, noisy flocks that swoop through the canopy. I often see them flocking with other medium to large birds like oropendolas, woodpeckers, woodcreepers, and Rufous Mourner.
Snowy Cotinga
Another lowland cotinga, this special bird is one to look for when birding any Caribbean lowland rainforest. They might also be more frequent near and south of Limon but occur in forest throughout the Caribbean lowlands, even in Cano Negro.
Snowy Cotingas don’t seem to be as common as they used to be but are still regular in most forested areas. Watch for a chunky pale bird perched high in a tree.
White-ringed Flycatcher
This Social Flycatcher look-alike is fairly common in any sort of lowland forest habitat, even tall second growth. If you see a “Social Flycatcher” perched high in a tree and making a trilled vocalization, you’ve found a White-ringed Flycatcher.
They usually occur in pairs or small groups, are quite vocal (thankfully), and tend to perch in the canopy. White-winged Flycatchers can also join mixed flocks and are separated from Social Flycatchers by their broader white eyebrow that meets on the back of the head, a white crescent above the eye, pale edging to the tertials, and trilled call.
Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant
This tiny, tricky bird occurs in a few foothill areas but is mostly a lowland bird. Since it loves the canopy and about the same size as a large beetle, you’ll have to learn its bug-like call to find one. Luckily, it usually vocalizes over and over.
Listen for it in any site with Caribbean lowland rainforest.
Honorable Mentions
The following birds are more common in Caribbean lowland habitats but also occur in the foothills. Several have moved upslope in response to warmer temperatures.
Slaty-breasted Tinamou– Although you can see this tinamou at sites like Quebrada Gonzalez and north of Rincon de la Vieja, it’s a lot more common in lowland rainforest. For whatever evasive reason, they do not normally occur south of the Revantazon River in southeastern Costa Rica.
Sungrebe– This funny little waterbird is a lowland species that mostly occurs on the Caribbean slope but since it also locally occurs in and near the Osa Peninsula, it’s much more of a Caribbean lowland species.
Watch for it at Cano Negro, Tortuguero, on the Sarapiqui River, and on any other lowland river, lagoon, or marsh with vegetation that hangs over the water near the bank.
Olive-backed Quail-Dove– This elusive dove is a challenge but it’s probably more common than it seems. Keep an eye out for it in any lowland and foothill rainforest, perhaps especially beneath fruiting trees. Once, I also had perfect views of two or more at an antswarm in Tirimbina.
Blue-chested Hummingbird– This dull hummingbird is fairly common in lowland forest habitats but also occurs in various foothill sites. If you are birding the Caribbean lowland and see a small grayish, plain hummingbird with a grayish tail, its probably a Blue-chested.
Middle American Screech-Owl– Like the quail-dove, this owl is likely more common than most birders realize. It makes a long, quiet trilling (typical screech-owl) call and, to escape larger owls, is pretty skulky and usually sticks to the undergrowth.
Look for it at night in any area with lowland rainforest. You might also find it in more foothill sites; this species seems to be moving upslope in some areas. As a bonus, the local guides at La Selva often know of one or two roosting birds.
Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon– A tough bird anywhere, in Costa Rica, small numbers sneak around lowland and some foothill forest sites. Maybe there’s more around than we know of? Hard to say because, like other Micrasturs, they are mostly detected by voice so if they don’t call, you have no idea they are around.
All of that said, in Costa Rica, they seem to be most frequent in the lowland rainforest near and south of Limon.
Semiplumbeous Hawk– Listen and watch for this Broad-winged sized raptor in any Caribbean lowland rainforest. These days, they also occur in most foothill areas too.
Great Green Macaw– Although primarily a lowland species, in the wet season (like now), Great Greens move into foothill rainforests. Good places to see them from May to perhaps November include Quebrada Gonzalez and nearby, and the area around San Miguel de Sarapiqui.
It’s surreal to stand in a gas station to watch groups of Great Green Macaws do late afternoon flybys over a fairly busy crossroads!
Great Potoo– Happily, this crazy muppet-like bird is fairly common in Caribbean lowland forests. Over the past ten years, it has also been moving into foothill rainforest.
White-fronted Nunbird– Small groups of this rambunctious species haunt mature lowland rainforest at and near La Selva, Hitoy-Cerere, Laguna Lagarto, and other places. They also live in foothill sites, especially near Bijagua and on the Peninsula Road near Arenal.
Although deforestation has made them pretty uncommon, if you look for nunbirds in the right places, they aren’t too tough to find.
Black-crowned Antshrike– Learn the calls of this antshrike to see how common it is. Its antshrike laughing vocalization is a typical sound of lowland rainforest. In several areas, we have also been seeing it in foothill rainforest.
Fasciated Antshrike– Like the antshrike, this cool zebra-like bird is another typical Caribbean lowland bird that has also been moving into the foothills. Watch for them un vine tangles.
White-flanked Antwren– Although this species has become uncommon at La Selva, I routinely find it at most other mature lowland forest sites in the Caribbean lowlands. I also see it at quite a few foothill rainforest sites.
Watch for them in mixed flocks with Streak-crowned Antvireos and other small insectivores. I usually find them by imitating their vocalizations.
Plain-brown Woodcreeper– A regular understory woodcreeper of the Caribbean lowlands, smaller numbers also occur in the foothills.
Yellow-winged Flycatcher (aka Flatbill)– Same goes for this flycatcher although it’s much more common in lowland rainforest.
Long-tailed Tyrant– This cavity-nesting flycatcher species occurs in foothill sites with suitable broken snags but is much more common in the lowlands.
Canebrake Wren– Learn this wren’s calls and you’ll see how common it is in the Caribbean lowlands. You might also find that it has also followed grassy roadside habitat into the middle elevations! Although I’m not sure if they have become established, I have heard this species at sites above the Peace Lodge.
Olive-crowned Yellowthroat– Like the Canebrake Wren, this warbler has also moved upslope. Even so, it’s most common in lowland marshes and wet, marsh-like grass. It can live in the same places as Gray-crowned Yellowthroats and both respond to each other’s vocalizations, certainly for inter-specific competition.
Red-throated Ant-Tanager– Much more common in lowland forest and second growth but, in some areas, you also encounter them in the foothills.
Dusky-faced Tanager– Same as the ant-tanager and usually in the same sort of second-growth habitat.
If you go birding around La Selva, Laguna del Lagarto, and other Caribbean lowland rainforest sites, watch for the birds mentioned above. You probably won’t see them in other parts of Costa Rica! To learn more about the birding sites mentioned in this post and hundreds of other birding sites in Costa Rica, support this blog by purchasing “How to See, Find, and Identify Birds in Costa Rica”.
I hope to see you here, hundreds of birds are waiting!
