Chestnut-capped Warbler (Basileuterus delattrii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Basileuterus ("kingly") delattrii (for naturalist Adolphe Delattre)

Chestnut-capped Warbler (Basileuterus delattrii) at Location, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Basileuterus delattrii mesochrysus
Weight: ?  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

At time of writing, a very recently recognised species - only split in 2021 from the similar rufous-capped warbler whose range is largely within Mexico. The Chestnut-capped has a more southerly range and is instead distributed from Honduras to Venezuela.

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Basileuterus
SUBSPECIES: B. r. delattrim B. r. mesochrysus, B. r. actuosus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Reinita Coronicastaña ("Red-crowned Warbler")

Found in Western Costa Rica
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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White-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis castaneoventris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Lampornis ("bright bird") castaneoventris ("chestnut brown belly")

White-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis castaneoventris) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Lampornis castaneoventris castaneoventris
Weight: 5-6g/kg  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A Talamancan Montane Forest endemic with unresolved taxonomy - some consider the Grey-tailed Mountaingem of Southern Costa Rica to be a subspecies of the White-throated while other consider then to be a species in their own right. The male and female are very visually distinct with the the male having a bright white throat while the female has an orange throat and chest, and is extremely similar to females of certain other species in Lampornis. It is found from 1500m altitude and replaced at lower ones by the closely related purple-throated mountain-gem.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Lampornis
SUBSPECIES: either none or  L. c. castaneoventris, L. c. cinereicauda
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish -  Colibrí Ventricastaño ("Chestnut bellied Hummingbird")

Endemic to Talamancan Montane Forest Ecozone.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Leptotila ("delicate feather") verreauxi (for the two Verreaux brothers)

 

White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Leptotila verreauxi verreauxi
Weight: 155g  /  Length: 28cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread pigeon species found from the US Southern Border to Argentina with a range that includes most of Brazil. Despite this, for a pigeon it is a shy and wary species that I heard more than saw. They are a fairly solitary species and are usually only seen alone or in pairs.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Leptotila
SUBSPECIES: L. v. capitalis, L. v. angelica, L. v. fulviventris, L. v. bangsi, L. v. nuttingi, L. v. verreauxi, L. v. tobagensis, L. v. hernandezi, L. v. decolor, L. v. brasiliensis, L. v. approximans, L. v. decipiens, L. v. chlorauchenia

 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Paloma Montaraz Común

Found on the West Coat
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Zenaida (named for Princess Zénaïde Bonaparte) asiatica (Asian - erroneously)

 

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Zenaida asiatica australis
Weight: 150g/kg  /  Length: 29cm  /  Wingspan: 48-58cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread and common species whose core range forms a triangle between Southern California, the Lesser Antilles and Costa Rica. They are are versatile species habitat wise with them adapting well to human habitation, but also deserts through to tropical forests. They are a popular target for hunters, being the second most shot bird species in the USA with over a million shot annually in Texas alone, but despite this their range is expanding.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Zenaida
SUBSPECIES: Z. a. asiatica, Z. a. australis, Z. a. mearnsi
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Paloma de alas blancas ("White-winged Dove")

Found on West Coast
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Columbina ("dove like") talpacoti ("red dove" from Nahuatl)

 

Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Columbina talpacoti rufipennis
Weight: 47g  /  Length: 17cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite not being the species known as the common ground dove, it is actually the most widely distributed member of columbina, being found across most of South America East of the Andes as well as Central America as far North as Northern Mexico. They have generally adapted well to human caused habitat change, although they do experience competition from other pigeon species.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columbina
SUBSPECIES: C. t. caucae, C. t. talpacoti, C. t. rufipennis, C. t. talpacoti
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
Common and widespread outside Highlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Inca Dove (Columbina inca)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Columbina ("dove like") inc (named for the Inca people - erroneously)

 

Inca Dove (Columbina inca) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 30-58g  /  Length: 16.5-23cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the name, the Inca Dove has nothing to do with the Inca people but rather has a range of the Southern US Border States down to Costa Rica where it is common and has adapted well to human habitation, often frequenting farmland and other urban settings. They are currently expanding their range in both the North and South.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columbina
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Tórtola Inca
Found in North West Costa Rica
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Columbina ("dove like") passerina ("sparrow like")

 

Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Columbina passerina neglecta
Weight: 26-40g  /  Length: 15-18cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A very small species of dove found from the Southern US to Brazil and one of the lightest weight of all columbiforme species. They favour open habitats with room for them to forage on the ground, which as their name suggests is their prefered feeding method, particularly of seeds and fruits. They mate for life and can have 2-3 broods a year. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columbina
SUBSPECIES: C. p. passerina, C. p. pallescens, C. p. socorroensis, C. p. neglecta, C. p. bahamensis, C. p. exigua, C. p. insularis, C. p. umbrina, C. p. jamaicensis, C. p. portoricensis, C. p. nigrirostris, C. p. trochila, C. p. antillarum, C. p. aflavida, C. p. parvula, C. p. nana, C. p. quitensis

 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Tortolita Azul ("Blue Dove")
A widespread and common species
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons)

OTHER NAMES: White-fronted Parrot, Spectacled Amazon Parrot
Latin Etymology: Amazona ("Amazon") albifrons ("white-forehead")

 

Two White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons) at San Jose, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Amazona albifrons nana
Weight: 190-250g/kg  /  Length: 25cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The smallest species of amazon parrot, it is also the only amazon species to be strongly sexually dimorphic enough for easy differentiation in the field with the males having red shoulders that the females lack. As with many parrot species they are long lived and have been recorded living 40 years in the wild and over 50 in captivity. Native to Central America, there are some feral populations in places like Puerto Rico and Texas.

Related Species: 
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Amazona
SUBSPECIES: A. a. albifrons, A. a. nana, A. a . saltuensis

 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Loro frente Blanca ("white fronted parrot")
Found in the North West of the Country
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and San Jose  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Amazilia (for a character in a novel) rutila ("auburn")

 

Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Amazilia rutila corallirostris
Weight: 5-5.5g  /  Length: 9.5-11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite it being one of the most common of the hummingbirds seen at Tarcoles during my visit, this is right near the Southernmost edge of its range. A distinctive species found at lower elevations, particularly associated forests, its terracotta coloured tail, pink beak and pale orange throat are distinctive and make it fairly easy to pick out compared to other species in its range.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Amazilia
SUBSPECIES: A. r. diluta, A. r graysoni, A. r. rutila, A. r. corallirostris
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 

Found in North West of Country.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Orange-chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis)

OTHER NAMES: Tovi Parakeet
Latin Etymology: Brotogeris ("with human voice") jugularis ("throat")

Orange-chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Brotogeris jugularis jugularis
Weight: 53-65g  /  Length: 18-19cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small parrot of Central and South America, they are skilled mimics able to replicate human voices well, hence the latin name. Primarily frugivorous, they are sometimes regarded as a pest as they damage commercially grown fruit, though generally has a vegetarian diet plus insects. As with many parrots, they supplement their diet with the ingestion of mineral rich soil to ensure their nutritional needs are met. 
 

Related Species: 

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Brotogeris

SUBSPECIES: B. j. jugularis, B. j. exsul

 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
Found in Northern and Western Lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Large-footed Finch (Pezopetes capitalis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Pezopetes ("foot flyer") capitalis ("of the head")

Large-footed Finch (Pezopetes capitalis) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 56g  /  Length: 20cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the name it is actually a member of the New World Sparrows in it's own unique genus Pezopetes. An endemic of the Talamancan Montane Ecozone it is found over 2150m where it uses a unique feeding method where it kicks leaf litter away with it's large powerful feet to exposure invertibrates underneath.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Pezopetes
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

 COSTA RICA - Spanish - Cerquero Patigrande
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

Endemic to Talamancan Montane Forest Ecozone

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Nyctanassa ("night queen") violacea ("violet coloured")

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Unclear
Weight: 650-850g  /  Length: 55-70cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely ranging species found from the Great Lakes to near the Southern edge of Brazil including across the Caribbean, although it mainly favours coastal sites  particularly mudflats and mangroves. The subspecies aren't clearly understood how they intergrade and this bird falls within the border range of three and thus hasn't been identified. They are specialists in feeding on crustaceans and the bill sizes of the different populations correleate to the prey species within that range. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Nyctanassa
SUBSPECIES: N. v. violacea, N. v. bancrofti, N. v. caliginis, N. v. cayennensis, N. v. pauper
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Martinete Coronado
Coastal resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: One seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Double-striped Thick-knee (Hesperoburhinus bistriatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Hesperoburhinus ("western rhino nose") bistriatus ("two stripe")

Double-striped Thick-knee (Hesperoburhinus bistriatus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Hesperoburhinus bistriatus bistriatus
Weight: 780g  /  Length: 46-50cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A larger cousin of the eurasian stone curlew, their range is widespread but extremely patchy with populations on the Pacific Coast of Central America, the Southernmost point of the gulf of Mexico, Hispaniola and the Caribbean edge of South America. They are largely nocturnal and crepuscular, and they sing at night.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Burhinidae
Genus: Hesperoburhinus
SUBSPECIES: H. b. bistriatus, H. b. vocifer, H. b. pediacus, H. b. dominicensis
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - ?
Found in North West of Country
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Jacana (from Tupi name for bird) spinosa ("thorny")

 

Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) at San Jose, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 91-161g  /  Length: 21-24cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A common resident of Caribbean and Central American Wetlands, the Northern Jacana is an unusual bird in several respects - while most initially the most obvious feature may be its huge splayed feet which allow it to spread its weight to walk on floating water plants easily. However, it also has spurs on its wings which can be used for defense. There is also the unusualy behaviour where an adult jacana can carry its clutch of chicks under its wings to escape safety, however the plethora of dangling ffet from a single bird does lend to an element of eldritch horror.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Jacanidae
Genus: Jacana
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Jacana Centroamericana

Widespread and common in wetlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and San Jose

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Great Curassow (Crax rubra)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Crax ("head") rubra ("red")

 

Female Great Curassow (Crax rubra) at Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Crax rubra rubra
Weight: 3.1-4.8kg  /  Length: 78-100cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

The heaviest and most Northerly of the currasows, they primarily feed by taking windfall fruit from the forest floor. They are a monogamous species which can live over 20 years in the wild althoguh are slow to reproduce. They can have a somewhat aggressive temprament, even having been known to attack humans, in which instance they target the eyes. These birds I saw had moved into the environs of Rescarte Wildlife Rescue Centre, seemingly lured by the prospect of easy food, if somewhat baffled by their counterparts in cages. 

Related Species: 
Order: Galliformes
Family: Cracidae
Genus: Crax
SUBSPECIES: C. r. rubra, C. r. griscomi
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Paujil

A widespread but scarce resident of lowland forest
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Yellow-olive Flatbill (Tolmomyias sulphurescens)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Tolmomyias ("courageous flycatcher") sulphurescens ("sulphur yellow")

 

Yellow-olive Flatbill (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Tolmomyias sulphurescens cinereiceps
Weight: 14.5-15g  /  Length: 12.5-14cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely distributed species found from the Yucatan to Argentina, mostly only absent from high mountain ranges in between. There is some suggestion it may be split it in the future due to the number and variation among the subspecies. It joins mixed species feeding flocks, but seemed to be more timid than other species found in that context.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Tolmomyias
SUBSPECIES: T. s. cinereiceps, T. s. flavoolivaceus, T. s. berlepschi, T. s. exortivus, T. s. asemus, T. s. confusus, T. s. duidae, T. s. aequatorialis, T. s. cherriei, T. s. peruvianus, T. s. insignis, T. s. mixtus,T. s. inornatus, T. s. pallescens, T. s. grisescens, T. s. sulphurescens

 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Picoplano Sulfuroso
A widespread and fairly common species.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Panterpe ("all delightful") insignis ("marked")

 

Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Panterpe insignis insignis
Weight: 4.9-5.2g  /  Length: 10.5-11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Another endemic hummingbird of the Talamancan Montane Forest, in this instance with the vast majority of their range being within Costa Rica. Much of the colouration visible in the picture is the result of irridescence and thus not visible at all angles, with even the namesake fiery-throat not always being readily visible at all angles.

 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Panterpe
SUBSPECIES: P. i. eisenmannim P. i. insignis
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Colibrí Insigne 

Endemic to the Talamancan Montane Forest Ecozone
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Cabanis's Wren (Cantorchilus modestus)

OTHER NAMES: Plain Wren
Latin Etymology: Cantorchilus ("sing wren") modestus ("moderate, reserved")

Cabanis's Wren (Cantorchilus modestus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 16-19g  /  Length: 12.5-14cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Up until 2016, it was considered that the species of the plain wren was found throughout Costa Rica, however, with evidence from genetics and analysis of vocalisations it was discovered that there were in fact three species present! Cabani's wren is the most widely distributed of the three, as while it reaches the edge of it's range in Costa Rica, it is found as far as Mexico, while the Canebrake Wren is near endemic to Costa Rica's Carribean coast, and the Isthmian Wren has the bulk of its range in Panama.   

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Cantrorchilus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rican) - Soterrey Chinchirigüí
Found in the Northern part of the country on the Pacific Side
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Sooty-capped Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus pileatus)

OTHER NAMES: Sooty-capped Bush Tanager
Latin Etymology: Chlorospingus ("yellow-green finch") pileatus ("capped")  

Sooty-capped Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus pileatus) at San Gerardo de Dota - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Chlorospingus pileatus pileatus
Weight: 20g  /  Length: 13.5cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Found only in the Talamancan Montane Forests of Costa Rica and Panama, this bird is very distinctive within its range thanks to the four bright sections formed on its face by the supercillium and moustache. They are found in mossy forests but will frequent feeders nearby. Formerly considered a member of the tanagers, more recent studies have placed the species of chlorospingus inside the new world sparrows.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Chlorospingus
SUBSPECIES: C. p. pileatus, C. p. diversus
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - clorospingo cejiblanco
Found in central Montane Forests
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles
 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

OTHER NAMES: Mexican Grackle
Latin Etymology:  Quiscalus (unclear origin) mexicanus ("of Mexico")

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) at Hotel Robledal, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Quiscalus mexicanus peruvianus
Weight: 115-265g  /  Length: 38-46cm  /  Wingspan: 58-54cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A bold, rowdy species of bird that has adapted well to human habitation, often being one of the most conspicuous birds in more urban parts of Costa Rica. They are highly social and are often found in flocks near water. Though not corvids, they somewhat fulfil a similar niche as crows do in Europe being highly intelligent omnivores that are adaptable to food sources including hunting, scavenging and eating fruit or grain.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Quiscalus
SUBSPECIES: Q. m. nelsoni, Q. m. graysoni, Q. m. obscurus, Q. m. prosopidicola  Q. m. mexicanus, Q. m. loweryi, Q. m. peruvianus
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Zanate Mexicano

Widespread and Common
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles, San Jose and Alajuela

 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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