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
BARE-THROATED TIGER-HERON – (Species Account Blog #79)
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Pelecaniformes,
- FAMILY: Ardeidae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Tigrisoma mexicanum
The Bare-throated Tiger-Heron is a large but rather short-legged, primal-looking heron of mangroves and freshwater marshes in tropical lowlands. Often in areas with trees, but also around ponds in rather open marshes. All plumages have naked yellow throat skin (not always easy to see), greenish legs. Adult has gray cheeks, finely barred plumage, and rusty thighs; immature is boldy barred blackish and warm brown (hence the name ‘tiger-heron’). (from Birds of the World)
SIMILAR SPECIES
It is distinguished from the Fasciated Tiger-Heron by its black cap, yellow face and throat, and vermiculated brown (chestnut) neck.
GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION
PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
In Costa Rica we observed Bare-throated Tiger-Herons near the lowlands around Punta Leona, while on the boat tour at the mouth of the Tárcoles River and near the Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat.
PHOTO GALLERY
**Some of these Photo Gallery images (all taken by me) have been taken in other nearby countries.
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 