High and Low

This group includes the high flyers like Swallows & Swifts, Sparrows that stay close to the ground and Wood birds (Woodcreepers & Woodpecker) that stick to tree trunks. An interesting conglomeration but I like the way they fit together

Swallows & Swifts - If your spot a tiny bird way up in the sky it is probably a Swallow, Martin or Swift. Swifts have long narrow wings, Swallows are a little chunkier of body and wing. The one Martin I was looking for looks more like a Swallow, but its bigger. Identifying individuals in this group really benefits from a good guide - luckily I usually had one.

Gray-breasted Martin - this is from the first stop on the trip, very cooperative hanging on a wire!

Mangrove Swallow - This cooperative bird was perched by the bay on the coast. We also saw them on both boat trips.

Blue-and-white Swallow - The best look I got at this species was on my last morning in the country as I left breakfast, they were swarming above the trees.

Ground Sparrows & Chlorobirds - The Chlorophonia & Chlorospingus used to be thought of as Tanagers but are now being recognized as closer to Sparrows -- although they are more colorful!

White-eared Ground-Sparrow - This was spotted on my first walk with the VENT tour -- it was likely the only place we would see it and we did. Interestingly in all my photos its not on the Ground, its in a tree/bush!

Sooty-capped Chlorospingus - This beauty was just outside my room at the Savegre Lodge -- so convenient.

Common Chlorospingus - This "Common" bird was a regular at the feeder at Savegre Lodge!

Sparrows - Although the sparrow are a little duller than the Chlorobirds, they definitely have their charm.

Stripe-headed Sparrow - This photos was from the first stop of the trip, but we saw this species a number of times.

Volcano Junco - A lot of pieces needed to fall into place in order for us to see this high altitude bird, not the least of which were decent weather & winds. This is now my favorite Junco and I'm very happy we got to the top and saw it!

Rufous-collared Sparrow - This was probably the most common species we saw -- seemed like it was EVERYWHERE! I think its very pretty and there were a lot of them right by my room at Savegre Lodge.

Woodpeckers - this is a lovely group of birds, some spectacular, but all truly beautiful to watch. They all are insect eaters and spend a lot of time on trees.

Pale-billed Woodpecker - Likely a cousin of our Pileated Woodpecker, but lacks any facial striping. I only saw this species once after our boat trip in Tarcoles.

Lineated Woodpecker - Also a cousin of the Pileated, but it does have one facial stripe. Same size and profile as the Pale-billed but this one was at a higher (although not the highest) altitude.

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker - This is my favorite Costa Rica Woodpecker. Just a beautiful bird and very cooperative -- got to see both genders. This is the male.

Female - Chestnut Colored Woodpecker

Golden-naped Woodpecker - Another mid-altitude woodpecker near the coast. It was right next to the road and gave us some good long looks.

Black-cheeked Woodpecker - This was the most common Woodpecker on the VENT tour - we did not see it on the coast.

Hoffmann's Woodpecker - Saw this species almost everywhere we went on the coast and in the Central Valley.

Rufous-winged Woodpecker - I saw this Woodpecker when I was birding the feeders at our lodge in the early morning, then had a better look on the Tram later that day.

Woodcreepers - Do not hammer at a tree like Woodpeckers. Woodpecker tend to have colorful flamboyant plumage but Woodcreepers are all basically brown and sometimes need to be identified by their call. Woodcreepers like to travel alone.

Northern Barred-Woodcreeper - Lucky to see this one across what would have normally been a busy highway, but it was closed due to a landslide just above the tram entrance.

Streak-headed Woodcreeper - This bird liked the tree outside of my room at Savergre Lodge.

Spinetails, Woodhunters and such - A little more colorful than the Woodcreepers, but pretty much the same sort of birds.

Northern Plain-Xenops - I love these photos because it shows the bird's personality & its cute bill, unfortunately it is the only species on this page that I saw.