Carara and Tarcoles Bridge
(my
own list)
| GREAT TINAMOU |
| GOLDEN-NAPED WOODPECKER |
| PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER |
| CHESTNUT-MANDIBLED TOUCAN |
| RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR |
| SLATY-TAILED TROGON |
| BAIRD'S TROGON |
| BLACK-THROATED TROGON |
| VIOLACEOUS TROGON |
| SCARLET MACAW |
| WHITE-CROWNED PARROT |
| MEALY PARROT |
| GREEN HERMIT |
| LONG-TAILED HERMIT |
| PURPLE-CROWNED FAIRY |
| SPECTACLED OWL |
| FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL |
| GREY-CHESTED DOVE |
| RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE |
| PURPLE GALLINULE |
| SANDERLING |
| BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER |
| KILLDEER |
| SNOWY PLOVER |
| COLLARED PLOVER |
| ELEGANT TERN |
| YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA |
| COLLARED FOREST-FALCON |
| REDDISH EGRET |
| BOAT-BILLED HERON |
| BARE-THROATED TIGER-HERON |
| KING VULTURE |
| WOOD STORK |
| OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCATCHER |
| SLATE-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER |
| COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER |
| YELLOW-BELLIED TYRANNULET |
| NORTHERN BENTBILL |
| GOLDEN-CROWNED SPADEBILL |
| ROYAL FLYCATCHER |
| SULPHUR-RUMPED FLYCATCHER |
| EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE |
| BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER |
| BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA |
| YELLOW-BILLED COTINGA |
| RED-CAPPED MANAKIN |
| WHITE-COLLARED MANAKIN |
| ORANGE-COLLARED MANAKIN |
| BLACK-HOODED ANTSHRIKE |
| SLATY ANTWREN |
| DUSKY ANTBIRD |
| CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTBIRD |
| BUFF-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER |
| SCALY-THROATED LEAFTOSSER |
| PLAIN XENOPS |
| LONG-TAILED WOODCREEPER |
| STREAK-HEADED WOODCREEPER |
| BLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSH |
| STREAK-CHESTED ANTPITTA |
| TAWNY-CROWNED GREENLET |
| LESSER GREENLET |
| RUFOUS-NAPED WREN |
| RUFOUS-BREASTED WREN |
| RIVERSIDE WREN |
| RUFOUS-AND-WHITE WREN |
| PLAIN WREN |
| LONG-BILLED GNATWREN |
| ORANGE-BILLED SPARROW |
| BUFF-RUMPED WARBLER |
| GREY-HEADED TANAGER |
| WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER |
| CHERRIE'S TANAGER |
| YELLOW-CROWNED EUPHONIA |
| SPOT-CROWNED EUPHONIA |
| BAY-HEADED TANAGER |
| BLUE DACNIS |
| GREEN HONEYCREEPER |
| SHINING HONEYCREEPER |
| BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR |
| BLUE-BLACK GROSBEAK |
| PAINTED BUNTING |
| RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD |
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Notes on Specific Birds
I've been to Carara National Park three times on
short visits. I had a guide once specifically for a few birds like
the Scaly-throated Leaf-tosser and Streak-chested Antpitta. Carara
is both accessible and productive as a birding location. It
shouldn't be missed.
Carara can be done is three parts - maybe 4 or 5 if you had the time. First, the very
productive River Trail about 1/2 mile form the headquarters. Good
for trogons, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Scarlet Macaws, Royal
Flycatcher, and near the lagoon, Boat-billed Heron. It has been good
for Orange-collared Manakin if the lek is still there.
The second trail is usually known as
the Headquarters Trail right near the park headquarters. This is deeper
forest and harder birding. But it's good for Black-faced Anthrush,
Streak-chested Antpitta, Scaly-throated Leaf-tosser, Red-Capped and
Blue-crowned Manakins, Spot-crowned Euphonia, and Golden-crowned
Spadebill. A play-back mechanism is good on this trail.
The third part requires a drive to
the Tarcoles River bridge not far up the road from Carara. A few
scattered trees around the bridge might produce a Yellow-billed Cotinga. I've
also seen Yellow-headed Caracara and King Vulture from the bridge as
well as Plain Wren below it. Raptors and marsh birds are also
possible.
Traffic is bad on the bridge, but foot
traffic is common as many people are there to look at crocodiles on
the river banks.
There's a decent lunch spot on the north side of the bridge (a
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl nearly flew into an open window next to my
table).
If you had hired a guide service, you might
also be able to visit the foothills east of Carara which may produce
something like Turquoise Cotinga and a few foothill birds. And finally, if you have time you
might wish to take a short boat trip of the Tarcoles
River where you can pick up some mangrove-specific birds like Panama
Flycatcher, Black-tailed Flycatcher, and Mangrove Vireo.
Occasionally, rails are seen from the boat trip.
Carara is usually worth all the days
you can commit to it. Two good days with a guide would be really
productive.
Carara National Park
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Throughout Costa Rica
All birds here can be included in any list at most locations conditional
to the appropriate habitat
This list includes birds seen commonly throughout
my trips to Costa Rica. These birds were either quite common or easily seen in the appropriate habitat and season.
Admittedly, as a U.S. birder, I became a slacker when it came to listing the
more common North American migrants.
In the case of shorebirds, your best bet is the Tarcoles River mouth near Carara or near the city of Puntarenas. Mudflats
are near the highway.
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK
SQUIRREL CUCKOO
GROOVE-BILLED ANI
ORANGE-CHINNED PARAKEET
WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN
RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
LESSER NIGHTHAWK
PAURAQUE
ROCK PIGEON
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE
MARBLED GODWIT
WHIMBREL
GREATER YELLOWLEGS
LESSER YELLOWLEGS
SOLITARY SANDPIPER
WILLET
RUDDY TURNSTONE
LEAST SANDPIPER
BLACK-NECKED STILT
LAUGHING GULL
ROYAL TERN
OSPREY
WHITE-TAILED KITE
ROADSIDE HAWK
BROAD-WINGED HAWK
SWAINSON'S HAWK
CRESTED CARACARA
TRICOLORED HERON
LITTLE BLUE HERON
SNOWY EGRET
GREAT EGRET
CATTLE EGRET
GREEN HERON
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON |
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
WHITE IBIS
BROWN PELICAN
BLACK VULTURE
TURKEY VULTURE
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA
YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER
TROPICAL KINGBIRD
GREAT KISKADEE
MASKED TITYRA
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO
CLAY-COLORED THRUSH
HOUSE WREN
GREY-BREASTED MARTIN
BARN SWALLOW
HOUSE SPARROW (at gas stations)
TENNESSEE WARBLER
YELLOW WARBLER
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER
WILSON'S WARBLER
BANANAQUIT
SUMMER TANAGER
WESTERN TANAGER
BLUE-GREY TANAGER
GOLDEN-HOODED TANAGER
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT
VARIABLE SEEDEATER
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
INDIGO BUNTING
ORCHARD ORIOLE
EASTERN MEADOWLARK
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE |
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