Birds & Birding in Costa Rica: (Species Blog #5) – Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded here, there is certainly lots to enjoy! Join with me as I guide you through the scenic wonderland that is Costa Rica. From the slow-moving waters of the Coastal Mangrove Wetlands to the heights of the Talamanca Páramo, over 300 species of birds will be featured in this blog series. **Some of this Blog Series photos (all taken by me) may have been taken in other nearby countries.

A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

BIRDS & BIRDING IN COSTA RICA WEBSITE LINK: Gray-headed Chachalaca

The Gray-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis cinereiceps) is a medium-sized bird found from Honduras to Colombia. It inhabits various humid landscapes characterized by dense vegetation, such as thickets, secondary forests, and brushy abandoned fields. Although it adapts well to habitat disturbance, populations in some areas have been significantly impacted by hunting. The IUCN has classified it as Least Concern due to its fairly common to common status throughout its range.

OBSERVATION ANECDOTES

When Jim Ross, Richard Brown and I discussed our anticipated “First Lifer” for Costa Rica, I picked this species expecting to see it along the side of the road as dawn broke on our drive up to Rancho Naturalist. While the Violet-headed Hummingbird won top honors as my first Costa Rica “Lifer”, the Gray-headed Chachalaca soon made an appearance at the feeders during our breakfast and peptalk by Steven Montenegro. With the Eagle-eyes Tour group we would also see them outside of Sarapiqui and again at Arenal.

PHOTO GALLERY

View the three most recent Birds and Birding in Costa Rica series blog posts below.

• A Streak-headed Woodcreeper Feeds its Offspring Near the Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica
• PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
• SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
• HOFFMANN’S WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
• BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding