The last trip to Costa Rica (5-18.12.2024) gave me and my guests lots of joy, smiles and unforgettable moments, but also amazing photography possibilities. Below you can find the list with all the creatures which we captured with our cameras. Some of them were very cooperative photo models, some others were more shy.

We travel from high mountains, thru river valleys, plains, rain forests, clouded forests and reach down to the Pacific coast. From 2700 m above sea level to 0 m. And every single habitat which we visited, reveal it’s beauty and presented us the huge biodiversity.

Birds -153 species

1. Sooty-capped Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus pileatus)
2. Yellow-thighed Finch (Pselliophorus tibialis)
3. Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
4. Buff-fronted Quail-Dove (Geotrygon costaricensis)
5. White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
6. Inca Dove (Columbina inca)
7. Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti)
8. White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)
9. Spotted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus guttatus)
10. Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus)
11. Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus)
12. Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)
13. Yellow-throated Toucan / Black-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus)
14. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
15. Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani)
16. Hoffmann’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes hoffmannii)
17. Pale-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis)
18. Chestnut-colored Woodpecker (Celeus castaneus)
19. Sooty Thrush (Turdus nigrescens)
20. Clay-colored Thrush (Turdus grayi)
21. Blue-grey Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)
22. Slaty Flowerpiecer (Diglossa plumbea)
23. Flame-colored Tanager (Piranga bidentata)
24. Golden-browed Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia callophrys)
25. Yellow-throated Euphonia (Euphonia hirundinacea)
26. Yellow-crowned Euphonia (Euphonia luteicapilla)
27. Melodious blackbird (Dives dives)
28. Shining Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes lucidus)
29. Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza)
30. Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus)
31. Blue dacnis (Dacnis cayana)
32. Scarlet-thighed Dacnis (Dacnis venusta)
33. Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata)
34. Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
35. Silver-throated Tanager (Tanagra icterocephala)
36. Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum)
37. White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus)
38. Plain-colored Tanager (Tangara inornata)
39. Scarlet-rumped Tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii)
40. Cherrie’s Tanager (Ramphocelus costaricensis)
41. Crimson-collared Tanager (Ramphocelus sanguinolentus)
42. Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrinus)
43. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
44. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
45. King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa)
46. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
47. House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
48. Bay Wren (Cantorhilus nigricapilius)
49. Rufous-naped Wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha)
50. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
51. Black-cowled Oriole (Icterus prosthemelas)
52. Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
53. Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)
54. White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauci)
55. Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulpuratus)
56. Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis)
57. Green Violetear (Colibri thalassinus)
58. Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus)
59. Bronzy Hermit (Glaucis aenius)
60. Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy)
61. Stripe-throated Hermit (Phaethornis striigularis)
62. Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis longirostris)
63. Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula)
64. Magnificent Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens)
65. Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis)
66. Scaly-breasted Hummingbird (Phaeochroa cuvierii)
67. Purple-crowned Fairy (Heliothryx barroti)
68. Blue-chested Hummingbird (Amazilia amabilis)
69. White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora)
70. Crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica)
71. Black-bellied Hummingbird (Eupherusa nigriventri
72. Blue-throated Goldentail (Hylocharis eliciae)
73. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)
74. Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii)
75. Brown Violetear (Colibri delphinae)
76. Violet-headed Hummingbird (Klais guimeti)
77. Volcano Hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula)
78. White-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis castanoventris)
79. Common pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis)
80. Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias)
81. Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
82. Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris)
83. Common Black-Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus)
84. Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)
85. Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima)
86. Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans)
87. Scarlet-rumped Cacique (Cacicus uropygialis)
88. Great green Macaw (Ara ambiguus)
89. Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
90. Brown-hooded Parrot (Pyrilia haematotis)
91. Orange-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga canicularis)
92. White-crowned Parrot (Pionus senilis)
93. Red-headed Barbet (Eubucco bourcierii)
94. Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)
95. Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina)
96. Nicaraguan Seed-Finch (Oryzoborus nuttingi)
97. Large-footed Finch (Pezopetes capitalis)
98. Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
99. Black and White Owl (Ciccaba nigrolineata)
100. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum)
101. Black Guan (Chamaepetes unicolor)
102. Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens)
103. Great Curassow (Crax rubra)
104. Grey-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis cinereiceps)
105. Spotted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus guttatus)
106. Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
107. Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
108. Bare-throated Tiger Heron (Tigrisoma mexicanum)
109. Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
110. Little blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
111. Great egret (Casmerodius albus)
112. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
113. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
114. Snowy Heron (Egretta thula)
115. Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)
116. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacaea)
117. Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)
118. White Ibis (Eudicimus albus)
119. Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis cayennensis)
120. Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)
121. Wood stork (Mycteria americiana)
122. Double-striped Thick-knee (Burhinus bistriatus)
123. Collared Plover (Charadrius collaris)
124. Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
125. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
126. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
127. Willet (Tringa semipalmata)
128. Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
129. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
130. Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa)
131. Reslendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)
132. Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus)
133. Gartered Trogon (Trogon caligatus)
134. Turquise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa)
135. Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana)
136. Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona)
137. American Pigmy Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea)
138. Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
139. Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
140. Neotropic Cormoran (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
141. Tropical Pewee (Contopus cinereus)
142. White-throated Magpie Jay (Calocitta formosa)
143. Costa Rican Swift (Chaetura fumosa)
144. Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea)
145. Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)
146. Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
147. Squirel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana)
148. Striped cuckoo (Tapera naevia)
149. Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris)
150. Masked Tityra (Tityra semifasciata)
151. Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)
152. Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
153. Elegant tern (Thalasseus elegans)

Amphibians – 10

1. Dry forest Toad (Incilius coccifer)
2. Gulf coast Toad (Incilius valliceps)
3. Atlantic Mexican Tree Frog (Smilisca manisorum)
4. Masked Tree Frog (Smilisca phaeota)
5. Common Dink Frog (Diasporus diastema)
6. Olive Long-snouted Tree Frog (Scinax elaeochroa)
7. Sylvia’s Splendid Leaf Frog (Cruziohyla sylviae)
8. Red-eyed tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas)
9. Strawberry Poison Frog (Oophaga pumilio)
10. Green and black Poison Frog (Dendrobates auratus)

Reptiles -14

1. American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
2. Common Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis)
3. Central American Green Iguana (Iguana rhinolopha)
4. Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)
5. Yellow-headed Gecko (Gonatodes albogularis)
6. Green Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)
7. Plumed Basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus)
8. Slender Anole (Anolis limifrons)
9. Green Tree Anole (Anolis biporcatus)
10. Schlegel’s eyelash Pitviper (Bothriechis schlegelii)
11. Side-striped Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis lateralis)
12. Cloudy snail-eating snake (Sibon nebulatus)
13. Costa Rican coral snake (Micrurus mosquitensis)
14. Speckled racer (Drymobius margaritiferus)

Mammals – 13

1. Honduran white bat (Ectophylla alba)
2. Northern ghost bat (Diclidurus albus)
3. Long nosed proboscis bat (Rhynchonycteris naso)
4. Pygmyround-eared bat (Lophostoma brasiliense)
5. Seba’s short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata)
6. Greater, White-lined bat (Saccopteryx bilineata)
7. Central American Tapir (Tapirus bairdii)
8. Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
9. Variegated squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides rigidus underwoodi)
10. Brown-throated Sloth (Bradypus variegatus)
11. White-throated capuchin monkey (Cebus capucinus)
12. Mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata)
13. Central American spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)

Invertebrates – 10

1. Banded Peacock butterfly (Anartia fatima)
2. Giant spider crab (Heteropoda venatoria)
3. Cockroach (Blaberus sp.)
4. Spot-legged bromeliad spider (Cupiennius getazi)
5. Orion cecropian (Historis odius)
6. Julia butterfly (Dryas iulia)
7. Flat-backed millipede (Polydesmus angustus)
8. Common morpho (Morpho peleides)
9. Golden silk Orb-weaver (Nephila clavipes)
10. Stick insect (Phasmatodea sp.)