Walking Costa Rica - Central America's Bird Country

Are you a bird lover? If so, did you know that by walking Costa
Rica, the little Central American country located between Panama and
Nicaragua, whose shores are washed by both the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans, you have the opportunity of seeing more species of birds than
have been recorded in the United States and Canada combined? Bird
lovers and scientists have listed about 850 species in Costa Rica. As
a result, birders flock here by the thousands every year. They come
here with cameras and birding books, not only to take pictures and
record sightings, but also to observe for scientific purposes such
important information as size, shape, colouration and behaviour. If
you love bird country, you'll be right at home in Costa Rica.The Stars
of the ShowIf you're a newcomer to walking Costa Rica as a bird
watcher, you will probably be thrilled at your first sight of the
resplendent quetzal, which is a fairly common species here. But the
real stars for birders are the parakeets, parrots, macaws, toucans,
and toucanets. Seeing these beautiful birds in captivity just does not
compare to seeing them in their natural habitat. Among the
lesser-known, but equally fascinating species to be seen here are the
Racket Tailed motmots, and the oropendolas, known for their remarkable
hanging nests. Among the birds of prey are a variety of hawks, kites
and falcons.Colour and SongAmong the most brightly coloured birds you
will see while walking Costa Rica are the quirky Purple Gallinule and
the showy Scarlet Macaw. Euphonies, tanagers, cotingas, manakins, and
trogans are some of the most gorgeously plumed birds here. One might
wonder, then, why the rather plain-looking clay-coloured robin has the
distinction of being Costa Rica's national bird. The answer lies in
its melodious song. The males sing almost continuously toward the end
of the dry season, which is the beginning of their mating season, and
according to legend, they are calling for rain.Big and SmallWhen
you're a birder who is walking Costa Rica, you can't help but notice
the great numbers of humming birds. There are 51 species of them in
the country. Not only are these birds iridescently beautiful, they are
also quite pugnacious. Sit quietly by a hummingbird feeder for a
while, and you will see how, in addition to being aerial acrobats,
they are also aggressive for birds that are only 2.5 inches (6.25 cm)
long, and weigh about two grams. On the other hand, the long-legged
stork called the jabiru can reach four feet (1.2 metres) tall, and
weigh up to 14 pounds (6.3 kg). Costa Rica is a destination for
numerous species of North American birds that migrate south for the
winter, so don't be surprised if you see some familiar feathers if
you're here between October and April. Seasonal visitors make up about
twenty five percent of Costa Rica's bird population. Birds of many
types can be seen all over Costa Rica, especially around seasonal
lagoons which vanish in the dry months. Two of the very best locations
for guided walks with tour leaders are Cano Negro and the swamps of
Palo Verde National Park.