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AR=Arenal Vicinity

GR=Guanacaste Region Throughout

PO=Poas Volcano

BC=Braulio Carillo

GU=Guanacaste National Park

PV=Palo Verde and Vicinity

CA=Carara and Tarcoles River

HL=Heliconias Lodge Area

RN=Rancho Naturalista and Vicinity

CI=Cinchona and Waterfall Gardens

LS= La Selva Area

SR=Santa Rosa NP Vicinity

CM=Cerro de la Muerte

MA=Manuel Antonio

TA=Tapanti

CN=Canos Negro Refuge

MO=Monteverde

TH=Throughout or Widespread within Range

DO=Dominical, Uvita lowlands    

Links above are my own sightings at each location

Heliconias Lodge
(my own list)
 
GREAT CURRASOW
HOFFMANN'S WOODPECKER
GOLDEN-OLIVE WOODPECKER
CINNAMON WOODPECKER
LINEATED WOODPECKER
KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN
CHESTNUT-MANDIBLED TOUCAN
SLATY-TAILED TROGON
BLACK-THROATED TROGON
VIOLACEOUS TROGON
BROWN-HOODED PARROT
BROWN VIOLET-EAR
STEELY-VENTED HUMMINGBIRD
BLACK-AND-WHITE OWL
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE
SCALE-CRESTED PYGMY-TYRANT
NORTHERN BENTBILL
BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER
SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER
THRUSH-LIKE SCHIFFORNIS
LONG-TAILED MANAKIN
WHITE-RUFFED MANAKIN
RUSSET ANTSHRIKE
CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTBIRD
SPOTTED ANTBIRD
WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER
BARRED WOODCREEPER
SPOTTED WOODCREEPER
STREAK-HEADED WOODCREEPER
TAWNY-CROWNED GREENLET
LESSER GREENLET
WHITE-THROATED MAGPIE-JAY
SOUTHERN R.-WINGED SWALLOW
BARN SWALLOW
BLACK-HEADED NIGHTINGALE THRUSH
WOOD THRUSH
RUFOUS-NAPED WREN
BLACK-THROATED WREN
WHITE-BREASTED WOOD-WREN
STRIPE-HEADED SPARROW
GREY-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT
GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER
OLIVE TANAGER
GREY-HEADED TANAGER
HEPATIC TANAGER
GREEN HONEYCREEPER
RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER
THICK-BILLED SEED-FINCH
YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT
BLACK-HEADED SALTATOR
GREYISH SALTATOR
MONTEZUMA OROPENDOLA
BALTIMORE ORIOLE

Notes on Specific Birds

The Heliconias Lodge is in northern Costa Rica amid the central cordillera. It's not particularly far from Liberia towards the east. This is a reasonable lodge with a couple of very good trails around the property. They also have some hanging suspension bridges which make it possible for a little canopy birding.

Many birders coming here are looking for the Tody Motmot (a much better chance here than elsewhere) and the Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo - a very difficult bird to see. Unfortunately, I missed both birds on my trip, but I enjoyed the habitat.

Birding here is fairly difficult, but that's to be expected in forest habitat. The idea is to find an ant swarm where you can pick up some antbirds and perhaps the ground-cuckoo. But you may also find Great Currasow, Long-tailed Manakin, White-ruffed Manakin, Spotted Antbird, and Olive Tanager with minimal luck.

There is a restaurant at the lodge. A couple of other lodges close by, all with good habitat, make this an interesting and under-birded area.

Heliconias Lodge Website

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