The Birds of Costa Rica

The Birds of Costa Rica

 The birds have been and are in direct contact with the man in many forms, in fact, among the few truly wild animals that share most of our activities and we can easily see.

  

They have also been companions as pets have been fed and delight in many ways. This relationship is so close that in the history of peoples have always been as magical symbols, religious, good and bad omen, as part of their mythology and worldview. Key features and making them so attractive are the beautiful plumage, their flashy songs and the ability to fly, making them absolute masters of the air.Furthermore, the presence of the bird species is closely related to the condition of the housing, as many are very sensitive to minor changes in them, which are regarded as good indicators of disturbance. In addition, hunting, logging of forests, the effects of pollutants and lack of consciousness of man to enter vermin on islands has led to many bird species extinct or on the verge of disappearance. Today, they are making great efforts to conserve birds and their habitats throughout the world, from different institutions, in order to preserve the natural wealth of the land, which is the product of hundreds of millions of years of evolution .

Costa Rica has more than 850 species of birds in just 51,000 km ². This certainly makes it one of the most attractive places in the world for bird watching. Two reasons are given so many species in such a small area is its geographical position, the only land bridge connecting North and South America, and the varied topography and climate provide a corresponding variety of habitats.

 Located in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the east, has avifauna influences both North and South America. Many representatives of the grasslands and dry forests Americans have the limit of its territories in Costa Rica, and migratory classes contribute to nearly 200 bird species in Costa Rica. South America contributes only a few migratory species, but its importance is due to rainforest species whose territories are here its northern limit.

The variety of habitat is the main reason why in Costa Rica as there is a high diversity of species. The Atlantic and Pacific coasts are very different forest types are very diverse, ranging from lowland to high and very wet to very dry, with many combinations in between. Are given pasture, moors, marshes, wetlands, lakes, rivers and swamps. With so many habitats, each with its distinctive group of birds, Costa Rica invites the viewer to increase their list of birds, to make new discoveries about the behavior and ecology of birds, or just enjoy your observation.

The most important habitats or areas to visit for birding in Costa Rica are:

The Pacific coast with sandy beaches and marshes, for its large number of migratory shorebirds. The Atlantic coast has fewer species and individuals as the tidal range is much smaller.Mangroves in the Pacific, including three or four endemic species plus many North American migratory birds.

The dry tropical forest habitat, best represented in the National Parks Santa Rosa and Palo Verde, has resident species ranging from the southwestern United States to Costa Rica.

Tropical rain forests of South and Central Pacific have many of the birds that people considered temperate and tropical, ie toucans, anteaters, macaws (parrots), parrots, trogons and jumping.Atlantic lowlands ranging from the Nicaraguan border to Panama are similar to the Pacific lowlands except without a pronounced dry season and have many additional species.

The average elevation points in both areas are home to many endemic species are the most difficult to reach areas: sites in the Atlantic, for example, with rainfall of up to eight meters per year and steep slopes are accessible only in certain parts. The Umbrella Bird Cuellinudo the Picoagudo, the White-ruffed Manakin and Lomirrufo Antwren characteristic of these areas are very wet and steep.The mountain forests are humid and cloudy in the higher parts of the mountains, trees covered with mosses and epiphytes. These habitats full of oak trees and avocados are home to the most sought Ave of the Americas, the resplendent Quetzal. Find more tours here

The higher the habitat moor. This habitat above the limit of tree vegetation is dominated by grasses and bamboos interspersed with moss mattresses and other herbs. Here we find the Bamboo Wren, the Spark Volcanera, the junco, the Blackbird Blackish and Red-tailed Hawk's American variety.Interspersed in all these areas aquatic habitats found in the form of streams, rivers, lakes and swamps. Depending on the elevation and precipitation, are habitat important. The still waters of the lowlands Cantiles attract ducks, faster waters and home to the highest elevation of the Sun Garza, the Dipper Plumbate to Guardarivera Warbler and Flycatcher Guardarríos. The low-lying marshy areas contain the Garza-Tiger, the mallard, the rails and Jacana.

It is very important that visitors know about the seasons before planning a field trip to Costa Rica. The best time of year for bird watching is from late March through the first week of May. Observation is easier this time because normally northeast trade winds have decreased by then and these winds bring rain to the Atlantic Coast have subsided.  

This is also true for trees laden with epiphytes cloud forest, where observation is difficult even without the complication of the wind. The period at the end of the dry season is an excellent time to observe migratory birds change their plumage U.S. while to return north. Other birds such as the bellbird have migrations that are not synchronized with the climate changes in the temperate zones. Usually found in their breeding between March and June but this varies by year and location. September and October are very beautiful in the Atlantic lowlands. When the rains unleash its force on the Costa Rica Pacific migratory birds arrive in waves along the coast and inland.

The first modern systematic publication on the birds of Costa Rica was made by Melbourne Carriker in 1910. The 713 species listed in the country. Since then, many other researchers have worked in Costa Rica, which has expanded the list in more than one hundred species. These researchers include Charles H. Lankester, Austin Paul Smith, Paul Slud, Alexander F. Skutch and Gary Stiles. The writings that have drawn attention to Costa Rica and their birds are those of Alexander Skutch. Dr. Skutch has written about the birds of Costa Rica from the 30's and continues to do so from his farm in the Valley of San Isidro in Costa Rica. 

 Stiles and Skutch summarized nearly 20 years of work in 1989 when they published their modern bible for birders in Costa Rica. The Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica by Stiles and Skutch written and illustrated by Dana Gardner has made birding in Costa Rica a pleasant and satisfying experience. In the first pages of this guide you can find the names of all those pioneers in research and birding here in Costa Rica.