Although Costa Rica is a small country, it is in the bird-rich neotropical region and has a huge number of species for its area. The official bird list published by the Costa Rican Rare Birds and Records Committee of the Asociación Ornitológica de Costa Rica (AOCR) contained 948 species as of July 2023.Garrigues, Richard., P. Camacho-Varela, M. Montoya, P. O'Donnell, J. Zook. Official List of Birds of Costa Rica 2020-2021 https://listaoficialavesdecostarica.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/aocr-lista-oficial-aves-de-cr-2020-2021-act.julio_.21-1.xlsx retrieved August 13, 2021.
Of those species, seven are endemic (three of which are found only on Cocos Island), 90 are rare or accidental, and four have been introduced by humans. Another 73 are near-endemic with ranges that include only Costa Rica and Panama. Twenty-seven species, including five of the seven endemics, are globally vulnerable or endangered.IUCN 2019. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2019-2. http://www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on August 4, 2019. Over an area of , this is the greatest density of bird species of any continental American country. About 600 species are resident, with most of the other regular visitors being winter migrants from North America.
Costa Rica's geological formation played a large role in the diversification of avian species. North America and South America were isolated continents, but approximately 70 million years of volcanic and seismic activity have eventually fused the two continents together through repeated advancement and reversal associated with sediment accumulation and sea level changes. When the remaining island arc filled in 4 to 2.5 million years ago, species from the north and south poured into the land bridge that became Central America during a climactic period of the Great American Interchange. Molecular phylogeny suggests that hummingbirds had been crossing to North America even in the Oligocene, while other species like the jays of genus Cyanolyca came from the north in the late Miocene, with C. cucullata later pioneering northward in reverse at time of the land bridge completion.
Part of the diversity stems from the wide array of habitats, which include mangrove swamps along the Pacific coast, the wet Caribbean coastal plain in the northeast, dry northern Pacific lowlands, and multiple mountain chains that form the spine of the country and rise as high as 3,500 m. These mountain chains, the largest of which is the Cordillera de Talamanca, form a geographical barrier that has enabled closely related but different species to develop on either side of the chain. A good example of this speciation is the white-collared manakin of the Caribbean side, which is now distinct from the orange-collared manakin of the Pacific slope.
In the past, higher sea levels left the mountains as highlands, and isolation again led to distinct species developing, with over thirty now endemic to the mountains, especially the Talamanca range which extends from southern Costa Rica into Panama.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
Unless otherwise noted, all species on the list are considered to occur regularly in Costa Rica as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The following tags have been used to highlight certain categories of occurrence:
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Costa Rica (R?) Residence uncertain - a species which might be resident (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Costa Rica (E-R) Regional endemic - a species found only in Costa Rica and Panama (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Costa Rica as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Tinamous
Order: TinamiformesFamily: Tinamidae
The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of birds. Although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, they have no close relatives and are classified as a single family, Tinamidae, within their own order, the Tinamiformes. They are distantly related to the ratites (order Struthioniformes) which includes the rheas, emu, and kiwis.
Highland tinamou, Nothocercus bonapartei Great tinamou, Tinamus major Little tinamou, Crypturellus soui Thicket tinamou, Crypturellus cinnamomeus Slaty-breasted tinamou, Crypturellus boucardi
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (A) Comb duck, Sarkidiornis silvicola (R?) Orinoco goose, Oressochen jubatus (A) Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Redhead, Aythya americana (A) Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator (A) Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (A)
Guans, chachalacas, and curassows
Order: GalliformesFamily: Cracidae
The Cracidae are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments.
Plain chachalaca, Ortalis vetula Gray-headed chachalaca, Ortalis cinereiceps Crested guan, Penelope purpurascens Black guan, Chamaepetes unicolor (E-R) Great curassow, Crax rubra (vulnerable)
New World quail
Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quail are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
Tawny-faced quail, Rhynchortyx cinctus Buffy-crowned wood-partridge, Dendrortyx leucophrys Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus Marbled wood-quail, Odontophorus gujanensis Black-eared wood-quail, Odontophorus melanotis Black-breasted wood-quail, Odontophorus leucolaemus (E-R) Spotted wood-quail, Odontophorus guttatus
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (A)
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Pale-vented pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis Scaled pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala Red-billed pigeon, Patagioenas flavirostris Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Ruddy pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea Short-billed pigeon, Patagioenas nigrirostris Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) (A) (R?) Inca dove, Columbina inca Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Plain-breasted ground dove, Columbina minuta Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa Maroon-chested ground dove, Paraclaravis mondetoura Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana Violaceous quail-dove, Geotrygon violacea Olive-backed quail-dove, Leptotrygon veraguensis White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi Gray-chested dove, Leptotila cassinii Gray-headed dove, Leptotila plumbeiceps Buff-fronted quail-dove, Zentrygon costaricensis (E-R) Purplish-backed quail-dove, Zentrygon lawrencii (E-R) Chiriqui quail-dove, Zentrygon chiriquensis (E-R) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata (A) Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Greater ani, Crotophaga major Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris Striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia Pheasant cuckoo, Dromococcyx phasianellus Lesser ground-cuckoo, Morococcyx erythropygus Rufous-vented ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus geoffroyi Squirrel cuckoo, Piaya cayana Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor (R?) Cocos cuckoo, Coccyzus ferrugineus (E) (vulnerable) Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Short-tailed nighthawk, Lurocalis semitorquatus Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis Ocellated poorwill, Nyctiphrynus ocellatus Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis Rufous nightjar, Antrostomus rufus Buff-collared nightjar, Antrostomus ridgwayi (A) Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus Dusky nightjar, Antrostomus saturatus (E-R) White-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis cayennensis
Oilbird Order: SteatornithiformesFamily: Steatornithidae
The oilbird is a slim, long-winged bird distantly related to the nightjars. It is nocturnal and a specialist feeder on the fruit of the oil palm.
Oilbird, Steatornis caripensis
Potoos
Order: NyctibiiformesFamily: Nyctibiidae
The potoos (sometimes called poor-me-ones) are large near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are nocturnal insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars.
Great potoo, Nyctibius grandis Common potoo, Nyctibius griseus Northern potoo, Nyctibius jamaicensis
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger (vulnerable) White-chinned swift, Cypseloides cryptus Spot-fronted swift, Cypseloides cherriei Chestnut-collared swift, Streptoprocne rutila White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris Gray-rumped swift, Chaetura cinereiventris Costa Rican swift, Chaetura fumosa (E-R) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (vulnerable) Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi Lesser swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila cayennensis Great swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila sanctihieronymi
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
White-necked jacobin, Florisuga mellivora