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
FIERY-BILLED ARACARI – (Species Account Blog #115)
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Piciformes – Woodpeckers, Barbets, Toucans and Honeyguides
- FAMILY: Ramphastidae – Toucans,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Pteroglossus frantzii
The Fiery-billed Aracari’s beak is large, with the upper part being fiery-orange and black on the lower portion; bill is unique in that it is green at the base. The bare facial skin is black, turning to a reddish-brown color behind the yellow eye. The head and chest are black, with upper body being deep olive-green. The thighs are reddish-brown; the upper tail and rump are red, with a red collar on the back neck; legs are green. The bright yellow underparts are highlighted with a red band crossing the abdomen and a round black spot centered on the breast. (from Birds of the World)
GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION
PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
In Costa Rica we observed Fiery-billed Aracari several times while in the Punta Leona area.
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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