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Birds of Costa Rica
Section II

Go to the Passerines
Check out the Endemic Species

TINAMIDAE

Great Tinamou

Tinamus major

Highland Tinamou

Nothocercus bonapartei

Little Tinamou

Crypturellus soui

Thicket Tinamou

Crypturellus cinnamonmeus

Slaty-breasted Tinamou

Crypturellus boucardi

PODICIPEDIDAE

Least Grebe

Tachybaptus dominicus

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

Eared Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

PROCELLARIIDAE

Black-capped Petrel

Pterodroma hasitata

Galapagos Petrel

Pterodroma phaeopygia

Parkinson's Petrel

Procellaria parkinsoni

Pink-footed Shearwater

Puffinus creatopus

Greater Shearwater

Puffinus gravis

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Puffinus pacificus

Sooty Shearwater

Puffinus griseus

Short-tailed Shearwater

Puffinus tenuirostris

Audubon's Shearwater

Puffinus lherminieri

HYDROBATIDAE

Wilson's Storm-Petrel

Oceanites oceanicus

White-faced Storm-Petrel

Pelagodroma marina

Least Storm-Petrel

Oceanodroma microsoma

Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel

Oceanodroma tethys

Band-rumped Storm-Petrel

Oceanodroma castro

Leach's Storm-Petrel

Oceanodroma leucorhoa

Markham's Storm-Petrel

Oceanodroma markhami

Black Storm-Petrel

Oceanodroma melania

PHAETHONTIDAE

Red-billed Tropicbird

Phaethon aethereus

SULIDAE

Blue-footed Booby

Sula nebouxii

Masked Booby

Sula dactylatra

Brown Booby

Sula leucogaster

Red-footed Booby

Sula sula

PELECANIDAE

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

PHALACROCORACIDAE

Neotropic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

ANHINGIDAE

Anhinga

Anhinga anhinga

FREGATIDAE

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Great Frigatebird

Fregata minor

ARDEIDAE

Pinnated Bittern

Botaurus pinnatus

American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

Least Bittern

Ixobrychus exilis

Rufescent Tiger-Heron

Tigrisoma lineatum

Fasciated Tiger-Heron

Tigrisoma fasciatum

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

Green Heron

Butorides virescens

Striated Heron

Butorides striatus

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Reddish Egret

Egretta rufescens

Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

Great Egret

Ardea albus

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Agami Heron

Agamia agami

THRESKIORNITHIDAE

Green Ibis

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

Glossy Ibis

Plegadis falcinellus

White-faced Ibis

Plegadis chihi

PLATALEINAE

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

CICONIIDAE

Wood Stork

Mycteria americana

Jabiru

Jabiru mycteria

CATHARTIDAE

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

King Vulture

Sarcoramphus papa

ANATIDAE

Dendrocygninae

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-faced Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Anatinae

Muscovy Duck

Cairina moschata

American Wigeon

Anas americana

Green-winged Teal

Anas crecca

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Pintail

Anas acuta

Blue-winged Teal

Anas discors

Cinnamon Teal

Anas cyanoptera

Northern Shoveler

Anas clypeata

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Lesser Scaup

Aythya affinis

Greater Scaup

Aythya marila

Masked Duck

Oxyura dominica

ACCIPITRIDAE

Pandionidae

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Accipitrinae

Gray-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Pearl Kite

Gampsonyx swainsonii

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Snail Kite

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Plumbeous Kite

Ictinia plumbea

Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Crane Hawk

Geranospiza caerulescens

Northern Harrier

Circus cyaneus

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Tiny Hawk

Accipiter superciliosus

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

Bicolored Hawk

Accipiter bicolor

Barred Hawk

Leucopternis princeps

Semiplumbeous Hawk

Leucopternis semiplumbea

White Hawk

Leucopternis albicollis

Gray Hawk

Asturina nitida

Common Black-Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

Mangrove Black-Hawk

Buteogallus subtilis

Great Black-Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Savanna Hawk

Buteogallus meridionalis

Solitary Eagle

Harpyhaliaetus solitarius

Black-collared Hawk

Busarellus nigricollis

Bay-winged Hawk

Parabuteo unicinctus

Roadside Hawk

Buteo magnirostris

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

White-tailed Hawk

Buteo albicaudatus

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Crested Eagle

Morphnus guianensis

Harpy Eagle

Harpia harpyja

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle

Spizastur melanoleucus

Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus ornatus

Black Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus tyrannus

FALCONIDAE

Micrasturinae

Barred Forest-Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon

Micrastur mirandollei

Collared Forest-Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Caracarinae

Red-throated Caracara

Ibycter americanus

Crested Caracara

Caracara cheriway

Yellow-headed Caracara

Milvago chimachima

Falconinae

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Merlin

Falco columbarius

Bat Falcon

Falco rufigularis

Aplomado Falcon

Falco femoralis

Orange-breasted Falcon

Falco deiroleucus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

CRACIDAE

Plain Chachalaca

Ortalis vetula

Gray-headed Chachalaca

Ortalis cinereiceps

Crested Guan

Penelope purpurascens

Black Guan

Chamaepetes unicolor

Great Curassow

Crax rubra

ODONTOPHORIDAE

Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge

Dendrortyx leucophrys

Spot-bellied Bobwhite

Colinus leucopogon

Crested Bobwhite

Colinus cristatus

Marbled Wood-Quail

Odontophorus gujanensis

Black-eared Wood-Quail

Odontophorus erythrops

Spotted Wood-Quail

Odontophorus guttatus

Black-breasted Wood-Quail

Odontophorus leucolaemus

Tawny-faced Quail

Rhynchortyx cinctus

RALLIDAE

Spotted Rail

Pardirallus maculatus

Uniform Crake

Amaurolimnas concolor

Gray-necked Wood-Rail

Aramides cajanea

Rufous-necked Wood-Rail

Aramides axillaris

Sora

Porzana carolina

Yellow-breasted Crake

Porzana flaviventer

Black Rail

Laterallus jamaicensis

White-throated Crake

Laterallus albigularis

Gray-breasted Crake

Laterallus exilis

Ruddy Crake

Laterallus ruber

Paint-billed Crake

Neocrex erythrops

Ocellated Crake

Micropygia schomburgkii

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrula martinica

American Coot

Fulica americana

HELIORNITHIDAE

Sungrebe

Heliornis fulica

EURYPYGIDAE

Sunbittern

Eurypyga helias

ARAMIDAE

Limpkin

Aramus guarauna

BURHINIDAE

Double-striped Thick-Knee

Burhinus bistriatus

CHARADRIIDAE

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Black-bellied Plover

Pluvialis squatarola

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Wilson's Plover

Charadrius wilsonia

Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus

Snowy Plover

Charadrius alexandrinus

Collared Plover

Charadrius collaris

HAEMATOPODIDAE

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

RECURVIROSTRIDAE

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

JACANIDAE

Northern Jacana

Jacana spinosa

Wattled Jacana

Jacana jacana

SCOLOPACIDAE

Hudsonian Godwit

Limosa haemastica

Marbled Godwit

Limosa fedoa

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Long-billed Curlew

Numenius americanus

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Willet

Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularia

Wandering Tattler

Heteroscelus incanus

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinago

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Surfbird

Aphriza virgata

Red Knot

Calidris canutus

Sanderling

Calidris alba

Western Sandpiper

Calidris mauri

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Dunlin

Calidris alpina

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Tryngites subruficollis

Ruff

Philomachus pugnax

Red Phalarope

Phalaropus fulicarius

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Wilson's Phalarope

Steganopus tricolor

LARIDAE

Stercorariinae

South Polar Skua

Catharacta maccormicki

Long-tailed Jaeger

Stercorarius longicaudus

Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinus

Larinae

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

Laughing Gull

Larus atricilla

Franklin's Gull

Larus pipixcan

Bonaparte's Gull

Larus philadelphia

Gray Gull

Larus modestus

Heermann's Gull

Larus heermanni

Sabine's Gull

Xema sabini

Sterninae

Black Tern

Chlidonias niger

Gull-billed Tern

Sterna nilotica

Caspian Tern

Sterna caspia

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Forster's Tern

Sterna forsteri

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaea

Bridled Tern

Sterna anaethetus

Sooty Tern

Sterna fuscata

Least Tern

Sterna antillarum

Royal Tern

Sterna maxima

Sandwich Tern

Sterna sandvicensis

Elegant Tern

Sterna elegans

Brown Noddy

Anous stolidus

Black Noddy

Anous minutus

White Tern

Gygis alba

Rynchopinae

Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger

COLUMBIDAE

Rock Dove

Columba livia

White-crowned Pigeon

Columba leucocephala

Scaled Pigeon

Columba speciosa

Band-tailed Pigeon

Columba fasciata

Pale-vented Pigeon

Columba cayennensis

Red-billed Pigeon

Columba flavirostris

Ruddy Pigeon

Columba subvinacea

Short-billed Pigeon

Columba nigrirostris

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Common Ground-Dove

Columbina passerina

Plain-breasted Ground-Dove

Columbina minuta

Ruddy Ground-Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Inca Dove

Columbina inca

Blue Ground-Dove

Claravis pretiosa

Maroon-chested Ground-Dove

Claravis mondetoura

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Gray-fronted Dove

Leptotila rufaxilla

Gray-chested Dove

Leptotila cassinii

Purplish-backed Quail-Dove

Geotrygon lawrencii

Buff-fronted Quail-Dove

Geotrygon costaricensis

Chiriqui Quail-Dove

Geotrygon chiriquensis

Olive-backed Quail-Dove

Geotrygon veraguensis

Violaceous Quail-Dove

Geotrygon Violácea

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

PSITTACIDAE

Arinae

Scarlet Macaw

Ara macao

Great Green Macaw

Ara ambigua

Crimson-fronted Parakeet

Aratinga finschi

Olive-throated Parakeet

Aratinga nana

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Aratinga canicularis

Brown-throated Parakeet

Aratinga pertinax

Sulfur-winged Parakeet

Pyrrhura hoffmanni

Barred Parakeet

Bolborhynchus lineola

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Red-fronted Parrotlet

Touit costaricensis

Brown-hooded Parrot

Pionopsitta haematotis

White-crowned Parrot

Pionus senilis

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

White-fronted Parrot

Amazona albifrons

Red-lored Parrot

Amazona autumnalis

Yellow-naped Parrot

Amazona auropalliata

Mealy Parrot

Amazona farinosa

CUCULIDAE

Coccyzinae

Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Mangrove Cuckoo

Coccyzus minor

Cocos Cuckoo

Coccyzus ferrugineus

Squirrel Cuckoo

Piaya cayana

Neomorphinae

Striped Cuckoo

Tapera naevia

Lesser Ground-Cuckoo

Morococcyx erythropygius

Pheasant Cuckoo

Dromococcyx phasianellus

Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo

Neomorphus geoffroyi

Crotophaginae

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

Smooth-billed Ani

Crotophaga ani

TYTONIDAE

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

STRIGIDAE

Tropical Screech-Owl

Otus choliba

Pacific Screech-Owl

Otus cooperi

Vermiculated Screech-Owl

Otus guatemalae

Bare-shanked Screech-Owl

Otus clarkii

Crested Owl

Lophostrix cristata

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Spectacled Owl

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Central American Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium griseiceps

Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium costaricanum

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Burrowing Owl

Athene cunicularia

Mottled Owl

Ciccaba virgata

Black-and-white Owl

Ciccaba nigrolineata

Striped Owl

Asio clamator

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus

Unspotted Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius ridgwayi

CAPRIMULGIDAE

Chordeilinae

Short-tailed Nighthawk

Lurocalis semitorquatus

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Caprimulginae

Common Pauraque

Nyctidromus albicollis

Ocellated Poorwill

Nyctiphrynus ocellatus

Chuck-will's-widow

Caprimulgus carolinensis

Rufous Nightjar

Caprimulgus rufus

Whip-poor-will

Caprimulgus vociferus

Dusky Nightjar

Caprimulgus saturatus

White-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus cayennensis

NYCTIBIIDAE

Great Potoo

Nyctibius grandis

Common Potoo

Nyctibius griseus

Northern Potoo

Nyctibius jamaicensis

STEATORNITHIDAE

Oilbird

Steatornis caripensis

APODIDAE

Cypseloidinae

Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

White-chinned Swift

Cypseloides cryptus

Spot-fronted Swift

Cypseloides cherriei

Chestnut-collared Swift

Streptoprocne rutila

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Chaeturinae

Chimney Swift

Chaetura pelagica

Vaux's Swift

Chaetura vauxi

Band-rumped Swift

Chaetura spinicauda

Gray-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

Apodinae

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift

Panyptila cayennensis

Great Swallow-tailed Swift

Panyptila sanctihieronymi

TROCHILIDAE

Phaethornithinae

White-tipped Sicklebill

Eutoxeres aquila

Bronzy Hermit

Glaucis aenea

Band-tailed Barbthroat

Threnetes ruckeri

Long-billed Hermit

Phaethornis longirostris

Green Hermit

Phaethornis guy

Little Hermit

Phaethornis striigularis

Trochilinae

Green-fronted Lancebill

Doryfera ludoviciae

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

Phaeochroa cuvierii

Violet Sabrewing

Campylopterus hemileucurus

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Brown Violet-ear

Colibri delphinae

Green Violet-ear

Colibri thalassinus

Green-breasted Mango

Anthracothorax prevostii

Veraguan Mango

Anthracothorax veraguensis

Violet-headed Hummingbird

Klais guimeti

White-crested Coquette

Lophornis adorabilis

Black-crested Coquette

Lophornis helenae

Rufous-crested Coquette

Lophornis delattrei

Green Thorntail

Discosura conversii

Canivet's Emerald

Chlorostilbon canivetii

Garden Emerald

Chlorostilbon assimilis

Violet-crowned Woodnymph

Thalurania colombica

Fiery-throated Hummingbird

Panterpe insignis

Sapphire-throated Hummingbird

Lepidopyga coeruleogularis

Blue-throated Goldentail

Hylocharis eliciae

White-bellied Emerald

Amazilia