Costa Rica birding covers a wide range of avian experiences. There are dry lowlands with Turquoise-browed Motmots and Double-striped Thick-Knees, backyard Blue-gray Tanagers, and toucans screaming from the treetops.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
There are a lot of birds up here, even unusual species or ones that are hard to find no matter where you bring the wine. That’s what this post is about and although I’ve written a similar thing or two about birding at Irazu Volcano, here we go again.
Irazu is the name of this 11,000 foot volcano that shakes the eastern part of the Central Valley. If you find yourself looking down the road while watching Crimson-fronted Parakeets, notice the huge mountain with the distant antennae on top.
That’s Irazu and up there with that natural behemoth, you can bet there are some quality birds. This is what happened last Sunday morning birding at Irazu.
Maroon-chested Ground-Doves
Irazu continues to be a reliable place for this little mega dove. You’ll probably have to step uphill for it but don’t be fooled, the birds are there.
Often, I hear them when I arrive on Nochebuena but not this past Sunday. Things are actually pretty quiet for morning birding. Maybe the birds are cold too? Maybe, when the mist burns off and the sun comes out, they start calling.
Two, maybe three ground-pigeons hooted or cooed from the thick foliage. That’s par for the course for this relatively small pigeon. It vocalizes from a tree and if it thinks you can see it, the bird pulls a shy woodpecker and moves to the other side of the tree!
We continued to watch and eventually caught a few fleeting glimpses of a perched man. A better view was seen by two flying men, one of whom was zipped low to the ground. I can still see its dark, wine-colored breast contrasting with the pale head of the dove’s ghost.
Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl and Buff-crowned Wood-Partridge
While we were looking for the pigeons, another Irazu specialty called; the Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl. They are up there and this is a great place for them! However, they don’t always come out to play.
Sometimes, like this past Sunday, you can only hear them in the distance.
Quiet often, so is the wood-partridge. However, on Sunday, after hearing their hoarse calls echoing around us, we caught brief but beautiful views of a couple crawling under a plant!
Resplendent Quetzal
What do you know, Irazu is also good for quetzals. Seriously, I see the Resplendent Quetzal on almost every visit. On this recent trip, I couldn’t hear them, wondering if I would finally miss the amazing birds while birding in Irazu.
But no, they showed up anyway, at least four different birds including a wild showing male and another male that perched and called between feedings of avocados.
Long-tailed Weasel!
No, not a bird but Mustelids are mega too! Irazu looks like a good place for wildlife, and I mean even on the side of the road. I’ve seen Coyotes, Gray Fox several times, and, on Sunday, we had a perfect look at a Long-tailed Weasel.
The wild mammal crossed the road in front of us, it was a treat!
Peg-billed Finch and Timberline Wren
After an early morning in Nochebuena, we drove up to the paramo area just next to the national park. Sunny, a little windy, and the birds quiet.
However, we still saw a pair of Timberline Wrens, a Peg-billed Finch, and other species that were easier to spot. We didn’t see the junco but we weren’t really looking for it. They’re around, hang around long enough that way and you’ll probably see them.
There are many Hummingbirds on Nochebuena
Back in Nochebuena, we stopped for lunch and enjoyed close-up views of four prospective hummingbird species. These are the Volcano Hummingbird, Talamanca Hummingbird, Lesser Violetear, and Fiery-throated Hummingbird.
We’ve seen them on the trails too but an up close, fun look is even better!
Irazu Week also Means People
Yes, and we saw a lot of people. Irazu is a big Sunday destination for locals. The Tierra de Suenos restaurant and other places are crowded. It didn’t affect us because I’m partial to the Nochebuena anyways. Good food, good people who support birds and birders…yes, I will eat on Nochebuena.
Other people spotted included roadside picnics and selfie shots against the stunning backdrops above the clouds, a line of determined hikers walking up the hill, a few cyclists, and quite a few motorbikes, some of which is pulling the wheels on the way up.
If you don’t like people watching, you can choose another day to visit Irazu. However, if you have to make the trip on Sunday, you can still see birds!
Birding in Costa Rica in Irazu is relatively easy but it’s still worth knowing where to go. If you want more details on where to go birding in Costa Rica in Irazu and almost anywhere else in this small country, get “How to See, Find, and Identify Birds in Costa Rica”.
You will also support this blog while learning how to see tinamous, greater trogon, and all other birds in Costa Rica. Hope to see you here!
