The Birds of Costa Rica: A Field Guide »

Richard Garrigues is one of the preeminent birding guides in Costa Rica, with more than twenty years' experience leading birding and natural history tours. Robert Dean is an avid birder and natural history illustrator. Both live in Costa Rica.

Graced with bounteous natural beauty, a stable democratic government, and friendly citizens, Costa Rica has become a popular destination for travelers from all over the world. Birds play a prominent role in attracting visitors, too. The shimmering quetzals, gaudy macaws, and comical toucans only begin to hint at the impressive avian diversity to be found throughout this small country."-from the Introduction

This is the one field guide the novice or experienced birder needs to identify birds in the field in the diverse habitats found in Costa Rica. It features descriptions and illustrations of more than 820 resident and neotropical migrant species found in Costa Rica, all in a compact, portable, user-friendly design. The detailed full-color illustrations show identifying features-including plumage differences among males, females, and juveniles-and views of birds in flight wherever pertinent. Additional features of this all-new guide include:

Introduction     VII
Anatomical Features     XIV
Acknowledgements     XXIII
About the Author and Illustrator     XXV
Species Accounts and Illustrations
Tinamous     2
Ducks     4
Grebes     8
Curassows, Chachalacas, & Guans     10
Quails     12
Boobies     14
Pelicans     16
Cormorants     16
Anhingas     16
Frigatebirds     18
Storks     18
Hetons     20
Spoonbills & Ibises     26
Sunbittern     28
New World Vultures     30
Hawks & Eagles     32
Falcons     48
Crakes & Rails     54
Jacanas     60
Sungrebes     62
Limpkin     62
Thick-knees     62
Plovers     64
Oystercatchers     66
Stilts     68
Sandpipers     68
Gulls & Terns     80
Skimmers     84
Pigeons & Doves     84
Parrots     94
Cuckoos     100
Barn Owls     104
Owls     104
Nightjars     110
Potoos     114
Oilbird     114
Swifts     116
Hummingbirds     120
Trogons     140
Motmots     146
Kingfishers     148
Puffbirds     150
Jacamars     152
Barbets & Toucans     152
Woodpeckers     156
Ovenbirds & Woodcreepers     162
Typical Antbirds     174
Ground Antbirds     184
Tapaculos     186
Tyrant Flycatchers     188
Becards, etc.     214
Cotingas     218
Manakins     220
Sharpbill     224
Vireos     224
Jays     230
Swallows     232
Gnatwrens & Gnatcatchers     236
Wrens     238
Thrushes     246
Dippers     250
Mockingbirds     252
Silky-Flycatchers     252
Waxwings     254
Wood-Warblers     254
Bananaquit     276
Tanagers     276
Seedeaters, Finches, & Sparrows      294
Old World Sparrows     306
Saltators, Grosbeaks, & Buntings     306
Blackbirds & Orioles     312
Munias     322
Euphonias & Goldfinches     324
Additional Species     328
Glossary     331
Taxonomic Notes     335
Costa Rica Bird List     341
Index of Scientific Names     365
Index of English Common Names     375
Adult Vultures and Raptors in Flight     386