|
 The
country is a birdwatcher’s delight, with more than 850
recorded species (875, according to the Birding Club of Costa
Rica) of which 630 resident and just under 80 endemic and
hardly found elsewhere. This is more than for the whole of North
America, and covers a wide diversity of raptors, water birds,
seabirds, and birds of the cloud- and rain forests. Even the resplendent
quetzal can be found, albeit with much patience and luck.
The
country is unique for birding thanks to the large number of birds
resident part or all of the year, or migrants passing through briefly.
What is particularly thrilling is the sheer number of highly
attractive tropical species (for example, trogons, parrots,
toucans, and tanagers) which can be seen in Costa Rica. Duller birds,
such as woodcreepers and antbirds, attract birders worldwide thanks
to their limited distribution and unusual behaviour.
In
simple terms, the four main birding regions are the southern Pacific
lowlands, the northern Pacific plains, the interior highlands, and
the Caribbean lowlands. Aaron Sekerak (see below), author of an
excellent birding book, distinguishes 22 regions, into which the
distribution of birds can be broken down. For example, 275 species
can be found all around the country with the exception of high mountains,
and 86 bird species can only normally be found above 1,000 m high.
The two best birding books to buy are "A
Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica"
by Gary Stiles and Alexander Skutch, and "Travel
& Site Guide to Birds of Costa Rica With Side Trips to Panama"
by Aaron Sekerak. The second book has excellent coverage of where
to go in Costa Rica, what can be seen, and a comprehensive breakdown
of distribution by region.
Main
locations:-
- Rainforest around La Selva (around 400 species)
-
Chirripo
and La
Amistad parks (400)
- Corcovado
park
(360)
-
Braulio
Carrillo park (350)
- Wilson Botanical Gardens (330)
-
Tortuguero
park
(300)
-
Palo Verde Park
(300)
-
Caņo Negro
and Ostional
parks (200)
- Cerro de la Muerte (about 40 birds are only in the highlands)
For more information, look at the website of the Birding
Club of Costa Rica
|
