Golden-naped Woodpeckers (Melanerpes chrysauchen) can only be found in the south-Pacific region of Costa Rica. This female of the species, which lacks the red cap that the males sport, was photographed on the Osa Peninsula.
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Named for its forehead and cap, the White-crowned Parrot (Pionus senilis) is common in most lowland and middle elevations, except in the northwest Pacific region. These multi-colored, bright-eyed birds are very noisy too!
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It’s not difficult to find Squirrel Cuckoos (Piaya cayana) in Costa Rica, as they live all over the country, except at the highest elevations. These rufous colored birds with long tails do indeed seem squirrel-like as they hop about on tree branches, hunting for caterpillars.
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The Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens) looks a bit like a large chicken or perhaps a turkey, and so it is surprising to see one hopping and flying in trees overhead. Crested Guans are fairly common in Costa Rica’s protected regions, and are distinguished by the red flap of skin on the throat and white flecks on the breast. This Crested Guan was photographed in Serena.
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Collared Araçari (Pteroglossus torquatus) can be found on the Caribbean and north-Pacific coasts. They have black bands across their breasts and white on their upper mandibles, which differ from the Fiery-billed Araçari (Pteroglossus frantzii) native to the south-Pacific region. This Collared Araçari was photographed in Selva Verde.
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Yellow-crowned Night-herons (Nyctanassa violacea) are common all along Costa Rica’s coasts, both Caribbean and Pacific. They like to roost during the day near streams and mangroves. This one was photographed at the Tortuguero River in 2004.
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This young Northern Jaçana (Jacana spinosa) was so adorable that I wanted to take it home. The little bird and its companions were unafraid of the boat, and just kept hunting for water bugs as we slowly drifted past snapping pictures. Their extraordinarily long toes allow Northern Jaçana to walk on the web of plant life that floats on the Tortuguero river. Adults of the species have black bellies instead of white, and no stripe above the eye.
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Scarlet Macaws, like this pair, mate for life. I’m amazed by how loving and affectionate these gentle, giants of the rainforest can be. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Male Orange-collared Manakins (Manacus aurantiacus) are easy to identify by their yellow bodies, black caps, and orange throats. Females and juveniles, however, are olive green, and difficult to distinguish from females and juveniles of other manakin species. The little woodland birds are fairly common and endemic to the southern-Pacific region of Costa Rica and western Panama.
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Male Pale-billed Woodpecker
The characteristic double-rap sound made by Pale-billed Woodpeckers (Campephilus guatemalensis) drilling for wood-boring insects is often heard before the birds are seen. While both the males and females of the species have red heads, the females are distinguished by black on their foreheads. Long, stiff tail feathers provide support for Pale-billed Woodpeckers as they hang vertically on tree trunks while hunting bugs. This pair was photographed along the hiking trail between La Tarde and Serena on the Osa Peninsula.
Females of the Pale-billed Woodpecker species have a black forehead, as seen on the bird on the right.
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