|
Costa Rica's 4 Bird Zones
Crowned Pigeon
There are four major "bird zones,"
which roughly
correspond
to the major geographic subdivisions
of the
regions
in Costa Rica: the Northern Pacific lowlands, the
Southern Pacific lowlands, the Caribbean
lowlands and
the interior highlands.
Guanacaste's dry habitats
(Northern Pacific lowlands)
share relatively few species with other
parts of the country.
This is a superlative
place, however, for waterfowl:
the estuaries, swamps and lagoons which make up the
Tempisque Basin support the richest freshwater
fowl... in
all Central America and Palo Verde National Park at the mouth
of the Tempisque, is a birdwatcher's Mecca.
(About an 8 hour
drive... from San Jose).
Crested Snowy Egret and
Baby Chickadee...
Kingfisher Family
The Southern Pacific lowland region is home to many
South American neo-tropical species, such as:
Jacamars, Ant Birds, and, of course,
Parrots and the "Fruit
Eaters", Pacific
Screech Owls, the Sea Birds, White Terns,
Boobies, Noddies, Puff Birds and Frigate Birds.
Here, within the dense rainforests, the air is cool and dank
and underwater green and alive with the sounds of exotic
tropical birds. (Two hours... from San Jose).
Ant Bird and Rainbow Lorikeet!
In fact, many birds are easily heard, but not seen.
The three-wattled
bellbird, which inhabits the cloud
forests, is rarely seen in the mist-shrouded treetops,
though the male's eerie call, described as a "ventriloqual
bonk!'
haunts the rainforest... as long as the sun is shining.
Three-wattled Bellbird
And the lunatic laughter... that goes on compulsively
at dusk, in lowland jungles is the "Laughing Falcon".
The Laughing Falcon
(Herpetotheres cachinnans) is
a snake-eating specialist. Several tropical raptors...
include many "reptiles and serpents" in their diets, even
the venomous "fer-de-lance" serpent (Bothrops asper).
"Laughing Falcon"
"Ornate" Hawk-Eagles and
"Collared"
Forest-Falcons, (Micrastur semitorquatus) include
many "Keel-billed Toucans", (Ramphastos sulfuratus), in their diets.
Hawk Eagle and Baby Chickadee...
Fortunately other species, like the colorful
Tanagers, brighten
up the
jungle and you are likely to spot
their bright plumage,
as you hike along the rainforest trails.
The Tanagers' short, stubby wings enable them to
swerve
and dodge at high speed, through the
undergrowth, as they
chase after
insects.
Beautiful Blue
Tanager and Green Tanagers... there are also
lovely, Yellow and Bright Orange Tanagers, they range in many colors.
You can also attract many Tanagers and Yellow
Fly
Catchers, Parrots and other Tropical Birds to
your garden,
by
placing a fruit stand in your
garden, they
love
bananas
and
eat all kinds of fruit and you should also add a
"dripping" water fountain.
All birds love the
"sound" of trickling water and don't
forget... a "Hummingbird Feeder".
Caribbean Lowlands: Places like Tortuguero and Punta Uva,
in the humid and hot Caribbean rainforests,
attract a huge
variety of the strange and unique:
Water Fowl, Toucans, Parrots, Macaws, Umbrella Cockatoos, Kiskadee, Manakins, Bird of Paradise... Kingfishers, Egrets,
Tiger Herons, Roseate Spoonbills, Green Herons, Snake Birds,
Birds of Prey,
Boatbill
Herons, Hacbaru Birds, Hadeda Ibis,
Scarlet
Ibis, Jabiru Storks, Painted Storks, Shoebill
Storks,
and Wooley-neck Storks... to name a
few. (About a 4 or 5
hour drive from San Jose... depending on traffic).
Orange Collared
Manikin and Umbrella Cockatoo...
The Caribbean side... also attracts nearly all the "fruit eaters", because of the huge banana and pineapple plantations. The Caribbean is wilder and breeds more
diversity.
And Costa Rica Vultures abound... munching on
several "land
crabs" a day.
Costa Rica "Land Crab" and it's mortal enemy... the Vulture.
Interior Highlands:
Places like... heading up toward
Poas Volcano and San Juan Norte, high
in the mountains,
you will see "less tropical
types of birds",
because it gets
quite cool... even sometimes downright cold. This area is
called the "Switzerland" of
Costa Rica. (One hour and a
half...
from San Jose).
A "fine" watery mist... and gusty cool winds, permeate the
air and create a mystique atmosphere on the high mountain
tops. Here
you will see more "Birds
of Prey", Swallows, Woodpeckers, Owls, Cow Birds, Humming
Birds, Jays,
Finches, Neck-laced "Laughing Thrushes".
Volcano Birds:
In high, volcanic "dead
zones", like
the
conditions that exist, in Irazu Volcano Park... there are
very
few
bird species... who can survive in such
harsh
terrain. But
one who can and does, is the "Volcano Junco".
Volcano Junco
The sheer size of Costa Rica's bird population...
has prompted some intriguing food-gathering methods. The Jacamar snaps up insects on the wing... with an audible
click of its beak.
One species of Epicurean Kite... has a
bill like an
escargot fork, which it uses to pick snails from their shells.
The Attila, like its namesake, a ruthless killer... devours its
"frog" victims, whole... after bashing them against a tree.
Other birds you might expect to see, include:
the
Boobies (Sea Birds), the rare Harpy Eagle, (the largest
of all eagles, renowned for twisting and diving through the
treetops in pursuit of monkeys... Barbets, Motmots, Tody,
Fruit Doves, Honey Creepers, Green Bee-eaters, Leaf Birds,
and Hoatzin Birds.
There are: Pelicans, Parakeets, Montezuma Oropendolas,
Woodpeckers and a host of birds... you
may not recognize,
but whose names... you will never forget:
Scarlet-thighed
Dacnis, Violaceous Trogons, Tody, Motmots, Laneolated
Monlets, Lineated Foliage-gleaners and Black-capped Pygmy Tyrants.
*If you have found these
graphics fun & rewarding,
we would appreciate a reciprocal link on your link site.
We will gladly include your website, on our Birding Links Page.
Thank you in advance. Link Information is below:
Title:
Costa
Rica Birding Directory
Description:
Tropical Bird Delight!
Birds of Costa Rica,
Tropical bird care & breeding, Bird Clipart & Animations.
Website Url:
http://www.strayreality.com/birdingdirectory.htm
Email:
webpromotioncr@gmail.com
"Tropical" Toucans of Costa Rica 1B
Laughing Toucan, Costa
Rica's 6 Marvelous Toucan
Species,
The Flying
Banana, Chestnut Mandible Toucan, Cute & Playful Antics, Toucanette,
Toucana, Rufous-neck Hornbill,
Rincon Birds, Rhino Hornbill,
Cock of the
Rock, Fiery beak Aricari, Lady Ross, Toucan Barbet.
Back to Costa Rica Bird Directory
Costa Rica Portal
Stray Reality
Home
|
