Birds & Birding in Costa Rica: – 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 in Costa Rica, there is certainly lots to enjoy! With 12 of the world’s 18 life zones, its diverse landscapes, including tropical rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, and savannas, provide habitat for a wide range of iconic birds A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
SOUTHERN LAPWING – (Species Account Blog #58)
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Charadriiformes,
- FAMILY: Charadriidae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Vanellus chilensis
A large, crested lapwing, the Southern Lapwing has gray brown upperparts with a bronze sheen, a black breast band that extends up to the bird’s forehead, wing spurs, and a white belly and undertail coverts. (from Birds of the World)
SIMILAR SPECIES
Southern Lapwings are not easily confused with other species in its range.
DISTRIBUTION
PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
My personal “Lifer” was in Costa Rica near the confluence of the Tárcoles River and the Gulf of Nicoya along the banks of the river. We also saw them later on not far from Sarapiqui.
PHOTO GALLERY
RECENT BLOG POSTS
View the five 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
Reflections of the Natural World 
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