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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

Tapanti Area
(my own list)
 
RED-HEADED BARBET
BLACK-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD
TORRENT TYRANNULET
TUFTED FLYCATCHER
DARK PEWEE
YELLOWISH FLYCATCHER
GOLDEN-BELLIED FLYCATCHER
SPOT-CROWNED WOODCREEPER
SOOTY THRUSH
BLACK-AND-YELLOW SILKY-FLYCATCHER
WHITE-NAPED BRUSH-FINCH
WHITE-WINGED TANAGER
ELEGANT EUPHONIA
TAWNY-CAPPED EUPHONIA
CRIMSON-COLLARED TANAGER
BAY-HEADED TANAGER
BLACK-THIGHED GROSBEAK
CHESTNUT-HEADED OROPENDOLA

Notes on Specific Birds

Tapanti is a National Park south of San Jose. Its high mountain habitat can add a lot of species that might be difficult to find elsewhere. I only spent about 1/2 day here and did not record several species at lower elevations.

This is a good location for birds like Black-and-Yellow Silky-Flycatcher, Black-bellied Hummingbird, Golden-bellied Flycatcher, Dark Pewee, White-winged Tanager, Sooty Thrush, Elegant Euphonia, and Spot-crowned Woodcreeper.

This park and Cerro de la Muerte are perhaps the most accessible parks for really high mountain birds (above Cloud Forest). This park has the advantage of walking through several elevational zones.

A Shaprbill was discovered on a nest here in 2009 - one of very few known nest sites of this very uncommon species.

Tapanti

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