Gavilán Río Sarapiquí is a small private lodge located in Costa Rica, offering cozy accomodation, peace, excellent meals, a personal touch and dedication to bird watching activity. Located 8 minutes from La Selva OTS, fine birding on the grounds includes Green Ibis, Spectacled Owl, Scaled Pigeon, Bronzy Hermit, Tawny – chested Flycatcher, and over 200 species more. Boat rides on the Río Sarapiquí, horseback riding, and extended personal guiding available.
BIRD CHECKLIST
This list covers the bird rich area of the Caribbean Lowlands and Middle elevations of the Sarapiquí Region in Costa Rica, from 50 meters to 1,000 meters elevation. Using El Gavilán Río Sarapiquí Lodge as a base, this list shows the many species you may encounter on a 3 to day stay as you explore the excellent birding spots both in and around the lodge. The codes reflect the chances and average birder will have at actually observing a particular species.
Remember, the more area you cover, the more species you will see.
MAJOR BIRDING AREAS AND THEIR CODES:
1a. Species found easier around El Gavilan Río Sarapiquí Lodge and river trails.
1: Lowland region including La Selva O.T.S.area, El Gavilán Río Sarapiquí and area’s and around Puerto Viejo west to the foothills.
2: Dense forested gorge leading to La Virgen de Socorro, and up slope to Restaurant Mirador Hummingbird feeders. 600-1.000 meters elevation.
SIGHTING FREQUENCY CODES:
C: Common, seen daily, usually in good numbers.
FC: fairly common, usually seen daily, but in smaller numbers; may be missed.
U: uncommon. Can be seen weekly, but often much less.
R: rare, Seen usually monthly, but in very low numbers and often with local or skulking habits.
VR: very rare, Present in very low densities, and thus rarely observed: not to be expected.
W: wintering species (sep-april)
mg: migrant (passage only), sighted during a specific season. (spring ( fall).
( ): species name in parentheses indicates new name change or species split recommended by the A.O.U.
List compiled by Dan Keller (650) 529-9088 USA 5/98 1st edition
Bird list:
| 1 – U – Amazon Kingfisher | 2 – U – American Dipper | 1 – U – American Pygmy Kingfisher |
| 1 – UW – American Redstart | 2 – U – American Swallow-tailed Kite | 1 – U – Anhinga |
| 2 – U – Azure-hooded Jay | 1 – C – Bananaquit | 1a – FC – Band-backed Wren |
| 1 – R – Bare-necked Umbrellabird | 1 – U – Barethroated Tiger Heron | 1 – CW – Barn Swallow |
| 1 – R – Barred Antshrike | 1 – U – Barred Forest-Falcon | 1 – FC – Barred Woodcreeper (Northern); |
| 1 – U – Bat Falcon | 1 – FC – Bay Wren | 1 – FCm – Bay-breasted Warbler |
| 1 – FC – Bay-headed Tanager | 1 – U – Belted Kingfisher | 1 – R – Bicolored Antbird |
| 2 – VR – Bicolored Hawk | 1 – UW – Black and White Warbler | 2 – FC – Black and Yellow Tanager |
| 1 – U – Black Hawk-eagle | 1 – C – Black Vulture | 1 – C – Black-bellied Whistling Duck |
| 1 – U – Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant | 1 – C – Black-cheeked Woodpecker | 2 – U – Black-chested Hawk (barred) |
| 1 – U – Black-cowled Oriole | 2 – R – Black-crested Coquette | 1 – U – Black-crowned Tityra |
| 1 – U – Black-faced Antthrush | 1 – FC – Black-faced Grossbeak | 2 – U – Black-faced Solitaire |
| 2 – U – Black-headed Nightingale- Thrush | 1 – FC – Black-headed Saltator | 1 – U – Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher |
| 1a – C – Black-striped Sparrow | 1 – U – Black-striped Woodcreeper | 2 – U – Black-thighed Grossbeak |
| 2 – FC – Black-throated Green Warbler | 1 – U – Black-throated Trogon | 1a – FC – Black-throated Wren |
| 2 – FCW – Blackburnian Warbler | 2 – R – Blue and Gold Tanager | 1 – U – Blue Dacnis |
| 1 – RW – Blue winged Warbler | 1 – FC – Blue-black Grassquit | 1 – FC – Blue-black Grossbeak |
| 1 – FC – Blue-chested Hummingbird | 1 – C – Blue-gray Tanager | 1 – FC – Boat-billed Flycatcher |
| 1 – FC – Bright-rumped Attila | 1 – U – Broad-billed Motmot | 1 – CW – Broad-winged Hawk |
| 1 – U – Bronzed Cowbird | 1 – FC – Brown Jay | 2 – R – Brown Violet-ear |
| 1 – U – Brown-capped Tyrannulet | 2 – R – Buff-fronted Follage-gleaner | 1a – FC – Buff-rumped Warbler |
| 1 – FC – Buff-throated Foilage-gleaner | 1 – C – Buff-throated Saltator | 1 – FC – Buff-throated Woodcreeper (Coco) |
| 1 – Umg – Canada Warbler | 1 – C – Cattle Egret | 1 – Rmg – Cerulean Warbler |
| 2 – U – Checker-throated Antwren | 1 – FC – Chestnut – colored Woodpecker | 1 – FC – Chestnut-backed Antbird |
| 1 – U – Chestnut-headed Oropendula | 1 – C – Chestnut-mandibled Toucan | 1 – CW – Chestnut-sided Warbler |
| 1 – C – Cinnamon Becard | 1 – R – Cinnamon Woodpecker | 1 – C – Clay-colored Robin |
| 1 – FC – Collared Aracari | 1 – VR – Collared Forest-Falcon | 1 – FC – Collared Seedeater |
| 2 – U – Collared Trogon | 1a – U – Common Black-Hawk | 2 – FC – Common Bush Tanager |
| 1 – FC – Common Tody-Flycatcher | 1 – UW – Common Yellowthroat | 2 – C – Coppery-headed Emerald |
| 1 – U – Crane Hawk | 1 – U – Crimson-collard Tanager | 2 – U – Crowned Woodnymph |
| 1 – FC – Dot-winged Antwren | 1 – U – Double-toothed Kite | 1 – FC – Dusky Antbird |
| 1 – C – Dusky-capped Flycatcher | 1a – FC – Dusky-faced Tanager | 2 – FC – Eastern Meadowlark |
| 1 – MG – Eastern Wood-Pewee | 2 – U – Emerald Tanager | 2 – U – Emerald Toucanet |
| 1 – U – Eye-ringed Flatbill | 1 – U – Fasciated Antshrike | 2 – R – Fasciated Tiger Heron |
| 1 – U – Giant Cowbird | 2 – U – Golden-browed Chlorophonia | 1 – U – Golden-crowned Spadebill |
| 2 – U – Golden-crowned Warbler | 1 – C – Golden-hooded Tanager | 2 – U – Golden-olive Woodpecker |
| 1 – FC – Gray Hawk | 1 – FC – Gray-breasted Martin | 1 – C – Gray-capped Flycatcher |
| 1 – FC – Gray-crowned Yellowthroat | 1 – U – Gray-headed Chachalaca | 1 – U – Gray-headed Kite |
| 1 – FC – Grayish Seltator | 1 – U – Great Antshrike | 2 – R – Great Black Hawk |
| 1a – U – Great Blue Heron | 1 – FCW – Great Crested Flycatcher | 1a – U – Great Egret |
| 1 – C – Great Kiskadee | 1 – FC – Great Tinamou | 1 – C – Great-tai ed Grackle |
| 1 – FC – Green Honeycreeper | 1a – U – Green Ibis | 1 – FC – Green Kingfisher |
| 1 – U – Green Shrike-Vireo | 2 – FC – Green Thorntail | 1a – U – Green-backed Heron |
| 1 – U – Green-breasted Mango | 2 – C – Green-crowned Brilliant | 2 – R – Green-fronted Lancebill |
| 2 – U – Hepatic Tanager | 1 – UW – Hooded Warbler | 1 – R – Hook-billed Kite |
| 1 – U – House Sparrow | 1 – C – Keel-billed Toucan | 1 – UW – Kentucky Warbler |
| 1 – U – King Vulture | 2 – R – Lanceolated Monklet | 1 – R – Lattice-tailed Trogon |
| 1 – U – Laughing Falcon | 1 – FC – Lesser Greenlet | 1 – FC – Lineated Woodpecker |
| 2 – U – Linneated Foilage-gleaner | 1 – C – Little Blue Heron | 1 – FC – Little Tinamou |
| 1 – FC – Long-billed Gnatwren | 1 – R – Long-billed Starthroat | 1 – U – Long-tailed Tyrant |
| 1 – VR – Long-tailed Woodcreeper | 2 – UW – Lousiana Waterthrush | 1a – C – Mangrove Swallow |
| 1 – C – Masked Tityra | 1 – Umg – Mississippi Kite | 1 – FC – Mistletoe Tyrannulet |
| 1 – C – Montezuma Oropendula | 1 – UW – Mourning Warbler | 1 – U – Neotropic Cormorant |
| 2 – FC – Nightingale Wren | 1 – U – Northern Bentbill | 1 – CW – Northern Oriole |
| 2 – FC – Northern Rough-winged Swallow | 1 – FCW – Northern Waterthrush | 1 – R – Ocellated Antbird |
| 1 – FC – Ochre-bellied Flycatcher | 1 – FC – Olive Tanager | 1 – C – Olive-backed Euphonia |
| 1 – U – Olive-crowned Yellowthroat | 2 – UW – Olive-sided Flycatcher | 2 – FC – Olive-striped Flycatcher |
| 1a – FC – Orange-billed Sparrow | 1 – UW – Orchard Oriole | 1 – VR – Ornate Hawk-eagle |
| 1 – U – Osprey | 1 – UW – Ovenbird | 1 – FC – Pale-billed Woodpecker |
| 1 – U – Pale-vented Robin | 1 – C – Palm Tanager | 1 – UW – Philadelphia Vireo |
| 1 – R – Pied Puffbird | 1 – U – Pink-billed Seed-finch | 1 – FC – Piratic Flycatcher |
| 2 – U – Plain Antvireo | 1 – U – Plain Wren | 1 – FC – Plain Xenops |
| 1 – U – Plain-brown Woodcreeper | 1 – U – Plain-colored Tanager | 2 – U – Prong-billed Barbet |
| 1 – UW – Prothonotary Warbler | 1 – U – Purple-crowned Fairy | 1 – FC – Purple-throated Fruitcrow |
| 1 – U – Red – footed Plumeteer | 1 – U – Red-capped Manakin | 1 – FCW – Red-eyed Vireo |
| 2 – U – Red-faced Spinetail | 2 – U – Red-headed Barbet | 1 – R – Red-legged Honeycreeper |
| 1 – FC – Red-throated Ant-Tanager | 1 – U – Ringed Kingfisher | 1 – U – Roadside Hawk |
| 1 – UW – Rose-breasted Grossbeak | 1 – R – Royal Flycatcher | 1 – U – Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher |
| 1 – C – Rufous – tailed Hummingbird | 1 – U – Rufous Motmot | 1 – U – Rufous Mourner |
| 1 – FC – Rufous Piha | 2 – U – Rufous-browed Tyrannulet | 1a – FC – Rufous-tailed Jacamar |
| 2 – R – Rufous-winged Tanager | 1 – U – Rufous-winged Woodpecker | 2 – U – Russet Antshrike |
| 2 – R – Scaley-throated Foilage-gleaner | 1 – C – Scaly-breasted Hummingbird | 1 – FCm – Scarlet Tanager |
| 1 – FC – Scarlet-rumped Casique | 1 – C – Scarlet-rumped Tanager (Passarines) | 2 – U – Scarlet-thighed Dacnis |
| 1 – U – Semiplumbeous Hawk | 1 – FC – Shining Honeycreeper | 1 – U – Short-tailed Hawk |
| 2 – FC – Silver-throated Tanager | 1 – U – Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher | 2 – FC – Slate-throated Redstart |
| 1 – U – Slaty Antshrike | 1 – U – Slaty Antwren | 1 – FC – Slaty Spinetail |
| 1 – VR – Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon | 2 – U – Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush | 1 – FC – Slaty-tailed Trogon |
| 1 – U – Smoky-brown Woodpecker | 2 – R – Snowcap | 1 – U – Snowy Cotinga |
| 1a – U – Snowy Egret | 1 – C – Social Flycatcher | 2 – U – Solitary Eagle |
| 1 – R – Song Wren | 2 – U – Sooty-faced Finch | 1 – C – Southern House Wren |
| 1 – C – Southern Rough-winged Swallow | 2 – FC – Speckled Tanager | 1 – U – Spectacled Antpitta |
| 1 – R – Spotted Antbird | 2 – FC – Spotted Woodcreeper | 1 – U – Staly-breasted Tinamou |
| 1 – U – State-colored Grossbeak | 2 – U – Streak-breasted Treehunter | 1 – U – Streak-crowned Antvireo |
| 1 – C – Streak-headed Woodcreeper | 1 – U – Stripe-breasted Wren | 1 – VR – Striped Foilage-gleaner |
| 1 – U – Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher | 1 – U – Sulfur-rumped Flycatcher | 1 – CW – Summer Tanager |
| 1 – Umg – Swainson s Hawk | 1 – FCW – Swainson s Thrush | 2 – U – Tawny-capped Euphonia |
| 1a – U – Tawny-chested Flycatcher | 1 – U – Tawny-crested Tanager | 1 – U – Tawny-crowned Greenlet |
| 1 – U – Tawny-faced Gnatwren | 1 – CW – Tennesse Warbler | 1 – U – Thick-billed Seed-Finch |
| 1 – U – Thrushlike Mourner | 2 – R – Tiny Hawk | 2 – FC – Torrent Tyrannulet |
| 1 – C – Tropical Gnatcatcher | 1 – C – Tropical Kingbird | 2 – FC – Tropical Parula |
| 1 – C – Tropical Pewee | 2 – FC – Tufted Flycatcher | 1 – C – Turkey Vulture |
| 1 – C – Variable Seedeater | 1 – FC – Violaceous Trogon | 2 – C – Violet Saberwing |
| 2 – FC – Violet-headed Hummingbird | 1 – FC – Wedge-billed Woodcreeper | 2 – MG – Western Wood-Pewee |
| 2 – U – White Hawk | 1 – C – White-breasted Wood-Wren | 1 – FC – White-collared Manakin |
| 1 – U – White-fronted Nunbird | 1 – U – White-lined Tanager | 1 – U – White-necked Jacobin |
| 1 – R – White-necked Puffbird | 1 – U – White-ringed Flycatcher | 1 – U – White-ruffed Manakin |
| 1 – U – White-shouldered Tanager | 1 – FC – White-tailed Kite | 2 – U – White-throated Shrike-Tanager |
| 1 – U – White-vented Euphonia | 1 – R – White-whiskered Puffbird | 1 – FC – White-winged Becard |
| 2 – U – White-winged Tanager | 2 – FCW – Wilsons Warbler | 1 – FCW – Wood Thrush |
| 1 – UW – Worm-eating Warbler | 1 – FC – Yellow Tyrannulet | 1 – CW – Yellow Warbler |
| 1 – FC – Yellow-bellied Elaenia | 1 – CW – Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | 1a – FC – Yellow-billed Casique |
| 1 – FC – Yellow-crowned Euphonia | 1 – U – Yellow-crowned Night Heron | 2 – R – Yellow-earred Toucanet |
| 1 – C – Yellow-faced Grassquit | 2 – U – Yellow-green Vireo | 1 – U – Yellow-margined Flycatcher |
| 1 – FC – Yellow-olive Flycatcher | 1 – U – Yellow-tailed Oriole | 1 – FC – Yellow-throated Vireo |
| 2 – R – Zeledon s Tyrannulet |
