Resplendent Quetzal
With over 800 documented avian species in Costa Rica, it comes as no surprise that bird watching in the country is unparalleled. Here is a list of our top places to see for phenomenal Costa Rican birding:
- Cano Negro National Park - Because of its rather isolated location, Cano Negro National Park is one of the most biologically diverse protected areas in the country. Its soggy mangroves are hotbeds for birds like wood stork, roseate spoonbill, neotropic cormorant, sparrow hawk and kingfisher.
- Cerro de la Muerte – Cerro de la Muerte is renowned for its legendary bird watching, and birders flock here from around the world in search of the precious and rare resplendent quetzal. The best time to come is between December and June. You can also hope to find the resplendent quetzal in the Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest Reserve, Los Angeles Cloud Forest Reserve, Tapanti National Wildlife Refgue and Chirripo National Park.
- La Selva Biological Station - Almost half of Costa Rica’s bird species fly through La Selva Biological Station, situated in the wetlands near Puerto Viejo de la Sarapiqui on Costa Rica’s Caribbean side. Species include the black cheeked woodpecker, purple throated fruitcrow, snowy cotinga, emerald tanager and olive backed euphonia.
- Corcovado National Park – Corcovado National Park is what National Geographic dubbed the most “biologically intense” place on earth, and it is a bird watcher’s paradise. Populations of species like the toucan, motmot, boat-billed heron, currassow and the endangered scarlet macaw are healthy, thriving and plentiful.
