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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

Palo Verde OTS and Vicinity
(my own list)
 
CRESTED BOBWHITE
FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK
MUSCOVY DUCK
BLUE-WINGED TEAL
AMAZON KINGFISHER
YELLOW-NAPED PARROT
GREEN-BREASTED MANGO
CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD
PACIFIC SCREECH-OWL
BLACK-AND-WHITE OWL
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL
WHITE-WINGED DOVE
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE
LIMPKIN
PURPLE GALLINULE
NORTHERN JACANA
DOUBLE-STRIPED THICK-KNEE
GREY-HEADED KITE
SNAIL KITE
COLLARED FOREST-FALCON
AMERICAN KESTREL
PEREGRINE FALCON
BARE-THROATED TIGER-HERON
GLOSSY IBIS
WOOD STORK
JABIRU
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER
WHITE-THROATED MAGPIE-JAY
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
STREAK-BACKED ORIOLE
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

Notes on Specific Birds

Palo Verde OTS is a large national park in northwest Costa Rica. The habitat is the Tempisque River basin and includes marshes, mangroves and dry forest habitat. I have been to Palo Verde twice, one in the dry season and once in the wet season. I hired a guide during my dry season trip..

In winter, Palo Verde is one of the better places to see waterfowl, but even in summer the park is home to a wide variety of marsh birds and Guanacaste specialties.

At almost any time of year, one can find Crested Bobwhites calling from the grasses. In early morning, a walk in the dry forest is a good place to see Thicket Tinamou - but hearing them is more likely. Double-striped Thick-knee can sometimes be seen in grassy fields on the way into Palo Verde, and the lagoon in the park may have Jabiru, Limpkin, herons, egrets, jacanas, flycatchers, and other birds.

Close by, is Lomas Barbadal, a smaller refuge with few different species along a nice shaded trail.

Palo Verde is also a good place for mosquitoes, so bring bug repellant.

Palo Verde OTS

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