--- title: Thursday, October 10th, 2019. description: In this Daily, we talk about the common Costa Rican birds that were caught on video in the reserve the past few weeks. These birds of Costa Rica are a part of the vibrant tropical dry forest reserve i image: https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/13928648091_de77788f1a_b-600x398-1.jpg --- # Thursday, October 10th, 2019. [mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20site&body=https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-october-10th-2019](mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20site&body=https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-october-10th-2019) [Book](https://www.lascatalinascr.com/section/booking) In this Daily: The Most Common Costa Rican Birds Caught on Video in Town the Past Three Months Las Catalinas is home to many species of Costa Rican birds, which include [the *pericos* (parakeets](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/the-daily-wednesday-october-12th-2018/)) that make their homes here in dry season, the *rabihorcado *(frigatebirds) that are often spotted offshore, the *grandes kiskadees* (great kiskadees) whose bright yellow plumage marks a striking sight, and the many, many species that can be found on the trails.    ![Birds of Costa Rica, Great Kiskadee](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/c-bidrop_com-2016-11-17-165120-86-600x400-1.jpg?width=600&height=400&name=c-bidrop_com-2016-11-17-165120-86-600x400-1.jpg) Great Kiskadee in Plaza Escondida   From July to September, Las Catalinas partnered with [Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoring](https://www.facebook.com/guanacastewildlifemonitoring/) to capture footage of [52 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOCnZQ7JEgqO9UUmVa0ngA/videos) in Las Catalinas’ tropical dry forest, which includes 28 separate species of bird. This is just a small sample of what can be found in the area, as this short sample doesn’t account for the migratory species that are not in town this time of year.  Of the species filmed from July to September, the top five most commonly spotted were the elegant trogon, streak backed oriole, common ground dove, and the white-tipped dove. ### The Most Frequently Spotted Costa Rican Birds on the Trails   ![Birds of Costa Rica, Costa Rica Birds, Costa Rican Birds](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/23784019851_e33aff7e38_b-426x600-1.jpg?width=355&height=500&name=23784019851_e33aff7e38_b-426x600-1.jpg) Male Elegant Trogon | PC: Commons   **Species:** Trogón Elegante / Elegant Trogon (*Trogon Elegans*) **Sightings on Video:** 24 **Traits:** **Traits:** Males are known for their bright plumage, with dappled green feathers on the back, bright white underneath the long tail, and a vibrant red chest. Females are more muted, with a gray head and chest, but have a red lower belly. **How to Spot: **Elegant trogons are not very active, and often sit motionless in trees watching for flying insects. However, they are prominent in this area, and can be found by keeping an ear out [for their call](https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=eletro&q=Elegant%20Trogon%20-%20Trogon%20elegans) and scanning the lower branches of trees for a sign of the male’s plumage   ![Birds of Costa Rica, Costa Rica Birds, Costa Rican Birds](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/13928648091_de77788f1a_b-600x398-1.jpg?width=600&height=398&name=13928648091_de77788f1a_b-600x398-1.jpg) Streak-Backed Oriole | PC: Commons   **Species:** Bolsero de Fuego / Streak Backed Oriole (*Icterus pustulatus*) **Sightings on Video: **32 **Traits: **Colors for these orioles varies across [their range](https://ebird.org/species/stbori), with plumage more vibrant closer to the equator. In Costa Rica, both male and female have distinctive orange feathers, black streaking on the back, and alternating black and white streaked feathers **How to Spot:** Orioles remain close to ground level, in areas where there are dense shrubs and scattered trees for them to navigate thanks to their small frame and agility. These birds can be found with a keen eye in areas where branches grow thick, by spotting both the bright plumage of both male and females.   ![Birds of Costa Rica, Costa Rica Birds, Costa Rican Birds](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/35766113946_9452d933f6_b-600x338-1.jpg?width=600&height=338&name=35766113946_9452d933f6_b-600x338-1.jpg) White-Throated Magpie Jay | PC: Commons   **Species:** Urraca Hermosa / White-Throated Magpie Jay (*Calocitta formosa*) **Sightings on Video:** 42 **Traits:** White-throated magpie jays are known for their curved forefeathers and blue-and-white colorations, which are accented with black. A larger bird, these jays can reach up to almost two feet long in some cases. **How to Spot: **These magpie jays are known to travel in groups, due to a close bond between parents and young that can last for years as fledglings develop foraging skills. These birds are large, and are most active hunting around dawn and dusk, where they can often be heard and seen due to their bright plumage and their [tendency to chatter in groups](https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/wtmjay1/overview/).   ![Birds of Costa Rica, Costa Rica Birds, Costa Rican Birds](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/3484179884_5c7fbeb86d_o-600x400-1.jpg?width=600&height=400&name=3484179884_5c7fbeb86d_o-600x400-1.jpg) The Common Ground Dove   **Species: **Columbina Común / Common Ground Dove (*Columbina passerina*) **Sightings on Video:** 42 **Traits: **The common ground dove is a primarily terrestrial-dwelling bird, and has dappled gray and brown coverings to blend in with the forest floor as it hops among the leaf litter. **How to Spot: **Larger, open areas on the trails are the best bet to [spot the ground dove](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Ground-Dove/id). Keeping eyes on heavy clumps of foliage, it’s possible to see these ground feeders as they emerge from cover searching for seeds and small fruits.    ![The White-Tipped Dove, Costa Rica Birds, Birds of Costa Rica](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/40627871-600x450-1.jpg?width=600&height=450&name=40627871-600x450-1.jpg) White-Tipped Dove | PC: Commons   **Species:** Paloma Montaraz / White-tipped Dove (*Leptotila verreauxi*) **Sightings on Video:** 237 **Traits: **The white-tipped dove is in the family of the common pigeon, and follows a similar size and shape with a gentler white coloring, brown wings, and eponymous white-tipped feathers on the tail How to Spot: White-tipped doves were by far the most common bird sighting in Las Catalinas’ tropical dry forest, spotted more than five times as often as the next bird. They tend to travel alone or in pairs, where they hop along the forest floor feeding. When moving, they travel with the sharp beating of wings like that of a pigeon taking flight, which can [help identify](https://ebird.org/species/whtdov) when birds are in the area. STEP OUT INTO LAS CATALINAS’ TROPICAL DRY FOREST TO SEE THEM Many of these species are most active at first light or right around sunset, as they’re moving to forage for insects and grubs during the day, which raises the chance to spot the many [birds of Las Catalinas](http://www.365daysofbirds.com/birds-of-las-catalinas-guanacaste-costa-rica/).  During the late green season, the abundance of fruit and gentler conditions tend to make these birds more active, and with less wind in the area they can be easier to spot and here. Though with gentler atmospheric conditions often allowing the possibility to hear as well as see them. All of the homes in town are just a short walk from the trails, making a trip into the forests for birdwatching a possibility for any stay in town.  [![Visit and Explore the Trails](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4917861/e699ced3-f953-493f-95d8-ff81eb9bed90.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4917861/e699ced3-f953-493f-95d8-ff81eb9bed90)  ## See related posts ## [Sunday, August 11th, 2019.](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-11th-2019) [In this Daily: Día de la Madre (Costa Rican Mother’s Day) and the Week Ahead](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-11th-2019) [Read more](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-11th-2019) ## [Monday, November 18th, 2019.](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-november-18th-2019) [In this Daily: The Pura Vida Ride Paddle Battle and the Intrepid Challenge](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-november-18th-2019) [Read more](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-november-18th-2019) ## [Wednesday, August 28th, 2019.](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-28th-2019) [In this Daily: A Look at the National Parks of Costa Rica](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-28th-2019) [Read more](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-28th-2019) ## [Monday, September 23rd, 2019.](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-september-23rd-2019) [In this Daily: The Monkeys of Guanacaste](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-september-23rd-2019) [Read more](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-september-23rd-2019) #### Subscribe to The Blog, The Daily, The Newsletter, and more Additionally you will receive our occasional newsletter. 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