Birds & Birding in Costa Rica: (Species Blog #18) – 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: Mourning Dove

The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is one of the most abundant bird species in North America. Its distribution varies with seasonal movements. While it is present year-round in the southern parts of its range, in Canada, it is primarily seen during the summer. In Central America, Mourning Doves are found in virtually all of Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize, extending south to Costa Rica and northern Panama. These doves winter throughout much of their breeding range, with the majority wintering in the southern U.S., Mexico, and south through Central America to western Panama. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that there were approximately 161 million doves in the U.S. as of September 2022, with varying abundance among management units.

OBSERVATION ANECDOTES

While the Mourning Dove was NOT observed during our visit in February (2024), it’s range and distribution indicate it is a much expected species and will likely be seen in future trips. I have observed them in the US, Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.

PHOTO GALLERY

View the three most recent Birds & 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