The dry forest is one of Costa Rica’s main ecosystems. Occurring on the Pacific slope from Nicaragua to the river in Tarcoles (the Rio Grande), this tropical forest provides habitat for a group of birds.
Fancy birds too. Black-headed Trogons, White-throated Magpie-Jays, Yellow-naped Parrots, Orange-fronted Parakeets, Lesser Ground-Cuckoos and some!
![](http://birdingcraft.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Lesser-ground-Cuckoo-1.jpg)
Lucky for the birds and us humans who watch them, most dry forest birds in Costa Rica are fairly tolerant of habitat loss. Given the near absence of living tropical dry forest on most of the Pacific slope, that’s a pretty good thing!
The birds stay in forest patches, fig hedgerows, important riparian zones, and pastures filled with large trees. They also increase in various areas of secondary growth; some of the famous reforestation happening in Costa Rica.
Also not pseudo reforestation of Teak and other commercial trees but honest to good forest doing everything possible to make a natural return. Growing places is not easy. They lack the full range of original pollinators, seed spreaders, and who knows what else but a forest that keeps trying, keeps growing. There are also so many ignorant people who burn but if we can handle it, we can give those dry forests a chance.
The largest and oldest areas of dry forest in Costa Rica are in and near Santa Rosa National Park. Go there to see the real, long-term deal. However, if you can’t make it to the Liberia way, you can still see a lot of birds in other places.
Some of the closest tropical dry forest habitats near San Jose’s concrete and vehicles are areas between Orotina and Tarcoles. I was there the other day. It was only for one morning but the birding was as rewarding as ever.
Not Too Dry
Fly to dry areas in the winter months and you’ll be dealing with dusty air. The grass was brown, the trees had dropped their leaves and it was one sunny day after another.
June is another story. Lush green grass, trees thick with leaves, and storm clouds rolling in. Life rejoices in the rain, grows and multiplies and lives naturally.
Birds singing
Some of that joy is expressed in bird song. Drive or bike or walk next to fresh green dry forest trees and singing vireos. They are like Red eyes but their phrases are shorter. Take a look and you’ll see a heavier beak for the larger caterpillars and a more yellowish underside for their basic name- Yellow-green Vireo.
![](http://birdingcraft.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/yellow-green-vireo-1024x694.jpg)
There are many of them vireos in Costa Rica but mostly only in the rainy season, and mostly on the Pacific slope. They sing from the trees, Banded Wrens belt out bird songs from the thick bottom, and Yellow-olive Flycatchers (Flatbills) provide auditory checks for high-frequency sounds.
Black-headed Trogons make staccato beats, Gartered Trogons also call, and Rufous-naped Wrens make you think of babblers on the other side of the world (at least they do for me).
Some Beautiful Spots with Changing Forests
On the low and hot country roads, I was happy to see some places where the forest was rallying for its natural and relentless return. I found a reason to cheer the trees and greet them, especially on Guacimo Road.
This is a road that leaves the coastal highway and leads to the sea. It’s for one way and you can do a nice birding loop that goes through the mangroves and the beach itself at Guacalillo. There is also a riparian zone filled with tall cashew trees; a perfect place for Spectacled Owls.
This is one of the many sites covered in my bird finding ebook for Costa Rica, a great place to play with Mangrove Cuckoos, call Crested Bobwhites, and watch soaring raptors.
A Morning for Kites
Speaking of raptors, this birding route is usually good for them! You never know what will show up but there are many possibilities. Birding opportunities include species such as Collared Forest-Falcon, Laughing Falcon, Crane Hawk, and others, even the occasional King Vulture.
I had those birds in mind the other morning but they failed to report to the office outside. Never saw a Short-tailed Hawk either! However, at least they were replaced by some other birds of prey.
Grays Hawks were present as usual, we saw both caracaras, and had distant views of Harriss’s Hawks. It was also a good morning for kites. As the vultures take to the sky, sure enough, a non-vulture warms them, a bird with rufous patches on its pointed wings.
It was the only Plumbeous Kite we saw but it was a nice sight in good light. A dark Hook-billed Kite also flies around and displays a strangely shaped paddle-wing.
They are good but if I had to choose one prize, I would give it to the other birds that catch lizards in those open fields; the smooth little Pearl Kite. I was happy because this species can be a real challenge. In Costa Rica, they seem to occur in low numbers in low-density populations. Factor in their small size and Pearl Kites are very easy to miss.
![](http://birdingcraft.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/pearl-kite.jpg)
One perched on a cable high above the open fields was one of the top treasures of the morning.
I have birded that area many times but I like to explore it more, especially at night. There is always more to see, especially when birding in Costa Rica.
Check out an eBird trip report from a great morning of birding-
June 8, 2024 dry forest near Tarcoles – eBird Trip Report