March is a major birding month in Costa Rica. Up in this birdy nation, every month is a good month but the third month never fails to rock. We got an excellent mix of cool resident birds, wintering species, and a few of the first migrants. Birds are also starting to sing more, and the weather is nice too.
Birding Costa Rica in March? Here’s some of what to expect and target species.
Very little rain
Normally, the dry season starts back in December. This winter, the rains barely tapered off in January and we still got unheard showers in February. By March, the height of the dry season is usually in full force but what about this year? Anything’s possible but it looks like this March is going to stay dry.
That’ll make travel and birding easier but midday birding will probably be a challenge. Get up and out there early, by 6 at the latest!
Other birders
March being a high time for birding in Costa Rica, expect to run into a fair number of birders, especially at hotspots like La Selva, Carara, Monteverde, and Arenal.
It’s all good, the more birders out there the better! Hopefully those extra eyes will find a ground-cuckoo, Crested Eagle, and Sharpbills.
Flocks of American Swallow-tailed Kites
More birders aren’t the only aspect of March birding in Costa Rica. Tis also the season for migrating Swallow-tailed Kites. Good numbers are already here and we can expect more passing through.
This means that if you think you see a hundred Swallow-tailed Kites soaring together, you aren’t hallucinating. Enjoy the elegance defined and see if you can pick out some Mississippi Kites.
Shorebirds on the move
Shorebirds have also started to move. More pass through these lands in April but we do have migration happening! There be rare birds out there too. A reminder came in the form of two American Avocets seen at the Punta Morales salt ponds this past week, and a Hudsonian Godwit from Nicaragua.
If you see any shorebirds that don’t seem to fit, that seem subtle out of places, take pictures and post them! Maybe you’ll find Costa Rica’s first Little or Red-necked Stint, Siberian Sand-Plover, or Bar-tailed Godwit. Other birdies are possible too, I bet all have landed here once in a great while.
Quetzal songs
Resplendent Quetzals can sing throughout the year but they may sing more in February and March. I say “sing”, and that is technically true but, this ain’t no Nightingale melody.
Quetzal vocalizations are more like mellow whistles, cackles, and weird barks. In any case, visit Costa Rica now and you’ll probably hear them. That’s good because it also helps you find and see this magnificent bird!
Three-wattled Bellbirds!
Another sonorous March bird is one of Costa Rica’s major targets; the Three-wattled Bellbird. Visit now and you have an excellent chance of seeing this wild and crazy cotinga (aren’t they all?). You still have to go to the right places but, the males will be calling.
The best way to see them is to go with local birders who have them tracked down, or by visiting Monteverde, Las Tablas, Manuel Brenes Road, or a few other spots. Even then, you’ll have to be patient to locate a visible calling male.
Great birding in the usual places
There’s also the usual, fun birding at any number of sites. Go birding in places with good habitat and you’ll see a lot! You’ll also see quite a bit in various hotel gardens but, many of those birds will be common edge species. To see more, visit sites with mature forest at different elevations and on both sides of the mountains (as well as a marsh or two).
Hit the best spots and you could find yourself parsing out a mixed flock rushing through the canopy, watching high flying hawk-eagles, glimpsing quail-doves, and encountering ant swarms. If you are wondering where to go birding in Costa Rica, while eBird does give some good ideas, always remember that birds are where the habitat is.
In my bird finding guide for Costa Rica, I provide a local perspective for a high percentage of those sites (along with identification and tips to find birds in Neotropical habitats). It’s especially helpful for birders doing Costa Rica on their own but birders on tours might like it too.
Happy birding, I hope to see you here!