Costa Rica Ramsar wetland
Térraba River
375 bird species recorded; the most in February.
belemita@gmail.com · CC BY 3.0
This month here
285 species in January.313 species in February.268 species in March.197 species in April.199 species in May.143 species in June.184 species in July.178 species in August.167 species in September.214 species in October.244 species in November.258 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.















































































































































































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VU

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- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
375 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 375Speciesrecorded more than once
- 126Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 8ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 37,992Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 33Raptors
- 5Owls
- 24Waders
- 12Gulls & seabirds
- 4Ducks & geese
- 20Herons, ibises & grebes
- 1Storks & cranes
- 185Songbirds
- 91Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 375 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors33 species
- Black VultureCoragyps atratus
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- Roadside HawkRupornis magnirostris
- Crested CaracaraCaracara plancus
- Common Black HawkButeogallus anthracinus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Laughing FalconHerpetotheres cachinnans
- King VultureSarcoramphus papa
- Double-toothed KiteHarpagus bidentatus
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatus
- Grey-lined HawkButeo nitidus
- Collared Forest FalconMicrastur semitorquatus
- Short-tailed HawkButeo brachyurus
- Grey-headed KiteLeptodon cayanensis
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Great Black HawkButeogallus urubitinga
- Bat FalconFalco rufigularis
- Black Hawk-eagleSpizaetus tyrannus
- Crane HawkGeranospiza caerulescens
- Pearl KiteGampsonyx swainsonii
- Zone-tailed HawkButeo albonotatus
- Leucopternis albicollisLeucopternis albicollis
- White-tailed KiteElanus leucurus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Barred Forest-FalconMicrastur ruficollis
- Swainson's HawkButeo swainsoni
- Accipiter striatusAccipiter striatus
- Leucopternis princepsLeucopternis princeps
- Hook-billed KiteChondrohierax uncinatus
- Tiny HawkAccipiter superciliosus
- Ornate Hawk-EagleSpizaetus ornatusNT
- Lesser Yellow-headed VultureCathartes burrovianus
Owls5 species
- Ferruginous Pygmy OwlGlaucidium brasilianum
- Spectacled OwlPulsatrix perspicillata
- Mottled OwlStrix virgata
- Crested OwlLophostrix cristata
- Tropical Screech-OwlMegascops choliba
Waders24 species
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- WilletTringa semipalmata
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus
- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaNT
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaNT
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Western SandpiperCalidris mauri
- American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatus
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
- Southern LapwingVanellus chilensis
- Northern JacanaJacana spinosa
- Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanus
- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaNT
- SurfbirdCalidris virgata
- Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusVU
- Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusNT
- Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaVU
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferusNT
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
Gulls & seabirds12 species
- Magnificent FrigatebirdFregata magnificens
- Royal TernThalasseus maximus
- Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Elegant TernThalasseus elegansNT
- Blue-footed BoobySula nebouxii
- Red-footed BoobySula sula
- Black SkimmerRynchops niger
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcan
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
Ducks & geese4 species
- Black-bellied Whistling DuckDendrocygna autumnalis
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
Herons, ibises & grebes20 species
- White IbisEudocimus albus
- Snowy EgretEgretta thula
- Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
- Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Green HeronButorides virescens
- Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor
- Bare-throated Tiger-heronTigrisoma mexicanum
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea
- Phalacrocorax brasilianusPhalacrocorax brasilianus
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- AnhingaAnhinga anhinga
- Boat-billed HeronCochlearius cochlearius
- Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja
- Reddish EgretEgretta rufescensNT
- Fasciated Tiger-heronTigrisoma fasciatum
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Green IbisMesembrinibis cayennensis
- Agami HeronAgamia agamiNT
Storks & cranes1 species
- Wood StorkMycteria americana
Songbirds185 species
- Great KiskadeePitangus sulphuratus
- Scarlet-rumped TanagerRamphocelus passerinii
- Tropical KingbirdTyrannus melancholicus
- Quiscalus mexicanusQuiscalus mexicanus
- Thraupis palmarumThraupis palmarum
- Social FlycatcherMyiozetetes similis
- Blue-gray TanagerThraupis episcopus
- Southern House WrenTroglodytes musculus
- Stilpnia larvataStilpnia larvata
- BananaquitCoereba flaveola
- Clay-colored ThrushTurdus grayi
- Mangrove SwallowTachycineta albilinea
- Mangrove WarblerSetophaga petechia
- Variable SeedeaterSporophila corvina
- Streaked FlycatcherMyiodynastes maculatus
- Riverside WrenCantorchilus semibadius
- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula
- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanica
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrina
- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus
- Summer TanagerPiranga rubra
- Black-hooded AntshrikeThamnophilus bridgesi
- Chestnut-backed AntbirdMyrmeciza exsul
- Montezuma OropendolaPsarocolius montezuma
- Red-legged HoneycreeperCyanerpes cyaneus
- Cocoa WoodcreeperXiphorhynchus susurrans
- Masked TityraTityra semifasciata
- Bright-rumped AttilaAttila spadiceus
- Piratic FlycatcherLegatus leucophaius
- Black-crowned TityraTityra inquisitor
- Gray-capped FlycatcherMyiozetetes granadensis
- Boat-billed FlycatcherMegarynchus pitangua
- Blue DacnisDacnis cayana
- Streak-headed WoodcreeperLepidocolaptes souleyetii
- Brown JayPsilorhinus morio
- Tropical GnatcatcherPolioptila plumbea
- Buff-throated SaltatorSaltator maximus
- Thick-billed EuphoniaEuphonia laniirostris
- Southern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx ruficollis
- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
- Blue-black GrassquitVolatinia jacarina
- Lesser GreenletHylophilus decurtatus
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Grey-headed TanagerEucometis penicillata
- Dusky-capped FlycatcherMyiarchus tuberculifer
- Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicus
- Melodious BlackbirdDives dives
- Yellow-bellied ElaeniaElaenia flavogaster
- Yellow-crowned EuphoniaEuphonia luteicapilla
- Gray-breasted MartinProgne chalybea
- Common Tody-flycatcherTodirostrum cinereum
- Black-bellied WrenPheugopedius fasciatoventris
- Blue-black GrosbeakCyanocompsa cyanoides
- Spot-crowned EuphoniaEuphonia imitans
- Morelet's SeedeaterSporophila morelleti
- Tropical MockingbirdMimus gilvus
- Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneus
- Shining HoneycreeperCyanerpes lucidus
- Three-wattled BellbirdProcnias tricarunculatusVU
- Black-cowled OrioleIcterus prosthemelas
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
- Orange-collared ManakinManacus aurantiacus
- Blue-crowned manakinLepidothrix coronata
- Green HoneycreeperChlorophanes spiza
- Barred AntshrikeThamnophilus doliatus
- Yellow-green VireoVireo flavoviridis
- Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
- Orange-billed SparrowArremon aurantiirostris
- Rose-throated BecardPachyramphus aglaiae
- Wedge-billed WoodcreeperGlyphorynchus spirurus
- Loriotus luctuosusLoriotus luctuosus
- Panama FlycatcherMyiarchus panamensis
- Yellow-olive FlatbillTolmomyias sulphurescens
- Buff-rumped WarblerMyiothlypis fulvicauda
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Cabanis's WrenCantorchilus modestus
- Tropical PeweeContopus cinereus
- Subtropical CaciqueCacicus uropygialis
- Southern Beardless-tyrannuletCamptostoma obsoletum
- Black-striped SparrowArremonops conirostris
- Thick-billed Seed FinchSporophila funerea
- Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventris
- Cinnamon BecardPachyramphus cinnamomeus
- Tawny-winged WoodcreeperDendrocincla anabatina
- Red-capped manakinPipra mentalis
- Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
- Orchard orioleIcterus spurius
- Black phoebeSayornis nigricans
- Rufous PihaLipaugus unirufus
- White-ruffed ManakinCorapipo altera
- Ramphocaenus melanurusRamphocaenus melanurus
- Guatemalan TyrannuletZimmerius vilissimus
- Northern Barred WoodcreeperDendrocolaptes sanctithomae
- Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphia
- Sulphur-bellied FlycatcherMyiodynastes luteiventris
- Ochre-bellied FlycatcherMionectes oleagineus
- White-throated Shrike-tanagerLanio leucothoraxNT
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusilla
- Rufous MournerRhytipterna holerythra
- Yellow-billed CaciqueAmblycercus holosericeus
- Scarlet-thighed DacnisDacnis venusta
- Yellow-billed CotingaCarpodectes antoniaeNT
- Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
- White-vented EuphoniaEuphonia minuta
- White-wingedPachyramphus polychopterus
- Tawny-crowned GreenletHylophilus ochraceiceps
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Chestnut-headed OropendolaPsarocolius wagleri
- Gray-crowned YellowthroatGeothlypis poliocephala
- Whiskered MyiobiusMyiobius barbatus
- Bay-headed TanagerTangara gyrola
- White-breasted Wood-wrenHenicorhina leucosticta
- Yellow-crowned TyrannuletTyrannulus elatus
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Dusky AntbirdCercomacra tyrannina
- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castanea
- Rufous-backed WrenCampylorhynchus capistratus
- Red-breasted MeadowlarkSturnella militaris
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Yellow-bellied SeedeaterSporophila nigricollis
- Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus
- Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysopteraNT
- Yellow-faced GrassquitTiaris olivaceus
- Hooded WarblerSetophaga citrina
- Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
- Black-faced AntthrushFormicarius analis
- Lesser ElaeniaElaenia chiriquensis
- Turquoise CotingaCotinga ridgwayiVU
- Louisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacilla
- Deconychura typicaDeconychura typica
- Brown-crested FlycatcherMyiarchus tyrannulus
- Yellow TyrannuletCapsiempis flaveola
- Giant CowbirdMolothrus oryzivorus
- Pale-breasted SpinetailSynallaxis albescens
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- Southern Nightingale-WrenMicrocerculus marginatus
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens
- Olive-Sided FlycatcherContopus cooperi
- Agelaius phoeniceusAgelaius phoeniceus
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- Greenish ElaeniaMyiopagis viridicata
- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea
- White-cheeked AntbirdGymnopithys leucaspis
- Dot-winged AntwrenMicrorhopias quixensis
- Orange-billed Nightingale-thrushCatharus aurantiirostris
- Eye-ringed FlatbillRhynchocyclus brevirostris
- Western Wood-PeweeContopus sordidulus
- Black-striped WoodcreeperXiphorhynchus lachrymosus
- Painted BuntingPasserina ciris
- Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fusca
- Slate-headed Tody-flycatcherPoecilotriccus sylvia
- Shiny CowbirdMolothrus bonariensis
- Brown-billed ScythebillCampylorhamphus pusillus
- Silver-throated TanagerTangara icterocephala
- Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana
- Purple MartinProgne subis
- American Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Ruddy-breasted SeedeaterSporophila minuta
- Scrub GreenletHylophilus flavipes
- Rufous-collared SparrowZonotrichia capensis
- Lesser GoldfinchSpinus psaltria
- Rufous-breasted WrenPheugopedius rutilus
- Turdus assimilisTurdus assimilis
- Speckled TanagerIxothraupis guttata
- White-throated Magpie-JayCalocitta formosa
- Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens
- Rusty-margined FlycatcherMyiozetetes cayanensis
- Nutting's FlycatcherMyiarchus nuttingi
- Ruddy-tailed FlycatcherTerenotriccus erythrurus
- Rufous-browed PeppershrikeCyclarhis gujanensis
- Yellow-throated EuphoniaEuphonia hirundinacea
- Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorum
- Slaty AntwrenMyrmotherula schisticolor
- DickcisselSpiza americana
- Golden-crowned SpadebillPlatyrinchus coronatus
- Northern BentbillOncostoma cinereigulare
- Red-crowned Ant-tanagerHabia rubica
- Streaked saltatorSaltator striatipectus
- Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosa
- Rufous-and-white WrenThryophilus rufalbus
- Saltator grandisSaltator grandis
- Thamnistes anabatinusThamnistes anabatinus
Other birds91 species
- Yellow-throated ToucanRamphastos ambiguus
- Red-crowned WoodpeckerMelanerpes rubricapillus
- Red-lored AmazonAmazona autumnalis
- Gray-headed ChachalacaOrtalis cinereiceps
- Scarlet MacawAra macao
- Ruddy Ground DoveColumbina talpacoti
- Orange-chinned ParakeetBrotogeris jugularis
- White-tipped DoveLeptotila verreauxi
- Rufous-tailed HummingbirdAmazilia tzacatl
- Golden-naped WoodpeckerMelanerpes chrysauchen
- Aramides cajaneaAramides cajanea
- Ringed KingfisherMegaceryle torquata
- Pale-vented PigeonPatagioenas cayennensis
- Fiery-billed AraçariPteroglossus frantzii
- White-necked JacobinFlorisuga mellivora
- Green KingfisherChloroceryle americana
- Amazon KingfisherChloroceryle amazona
- Crowned WoodnymphThalurania colombica
- Short-billed PigeonPatagioenas nigrirostris
- Smooth-billed AniCrotophaga ani
- Lineated WoodpeckerDryocopus lineatus
- Finsch's ParakeetAratinga finschi
- PauraqueNyctidromus albicollis
- White-crowned ParrotPionus senilis
- White-necked PuffbirdNotharchus hyperrhynchus
- Purple-crowned FairyHeliothryx barroti
- Southern Mealy AmazonAmazona farinosa
- Slaty-tailed TrogonTrogon massena
- Lesson's MotmotMomotus lessonii
- Little TinamouCrypturellus soui
- Long-billed HermitPhaethornis longirostris
- Great TinamouTinamus major
- White-collared SwiftStreptoprocne zonaris
- Costa Rican SwiftChaetura fumosa
- Charming HummingbirdPolyerata decora
- Crested GuanPenelope purpurascensNT
- Inca DoveColumbina inca
- Gartered TrogonTrogon caligatus
- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris
- Chlorestes eliciaeChlorestes eliciae
- American Pygmy KingfisherChloroceryle aenea
- Pionopsitta haematotisPionopsitta haematotis
- Stripe-throated HermitPhaethornis striigularis
- Scaled PigeonPatagioenas speciosa
- Common Squirrel-cuckooPiaya cayana
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
- Scaly-breasted HummingbirdPhaeochroa cuvierii
- Green-breasted MangoAnthracothorax prevostii
- Olivaceous PiculetPicumnus olivaceus
- Great CurassowCrax rubraVU
- Baird's TrogonTrogon bairdiiNT
- Mangrove CuckooCoccyzus minor
- Blue Ground DoveClaravis pretiosa
- Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica
- Garden EmeraldChlorostilbon assimilis
- Hoffmann's WoodpeckerMelanerpes hoffmannii
- Black-throated TrogonTrogon rufus
- Pale-billed WoodpeckerCampephilus guatemalensis
- Bronzy HermitGlaucis aeneus
- Lesser Swallow-tailed SwiftPanyptila cayennensis
- White-winged DoveZenaida asiatica
- Common Ground-DoveColumbina passerina
- Band-tailed BarbthroatThrenetes ruckeri
- Common PotooNyctibius griseus
- Violet-headed HummingbirdKlais guimeti
- Red-billed PigeonPatagioenas flavirostris
- Groove-billed AniCrotophaga sulcirostris
- Ruddy Quail-DoveGeotrygon montana
- Lesser NighthawkChordeiles acutipennis
- White-crested CoquetteLophornis adorabilis
- Blue-headed ParrotPionus menstruus
- Green HermitPhaethornis guy
- Chestnut-collared SwiftStreptoprocne rutila
- Aratinga canicularisAratinga canicularis
- Long-billed StarthroatHeliomaster longirostris
- Grey-chested DoveLeptotila cassinii
- Plain-breasted Ground-DoveColumbina minuta
- Striped CuckooTapera naevia
- Violet SabrewingCampylopterus hemileucurus
- Vaux's SwiftChaetura vauxi
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Microchera chionuraMicrochera chionura
- White-throated CrakeLaterallus albigularis
- Short-tailed NighthawkLurocalis semitorquatus
- Saucerottia hoffmanniSaucerottia hoffmanni
- American Black SwiftCypseloides nigerVU
- Spot-fronted SwiftCypseloides cherriei
- Black-cheeked WoodpeckerMelanerpes pucherani
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Rufous-winged WoodpeckerPiculus simplex
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in February.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan28°/24°89 mm
- Feb29°/24°50 mm
- Mar30°/24°66 mm
- Apr29°/24°136 mm
- May28°/24°298 mm
- Jun27°/24°271 mm
- Jul27°/24°320 mm
- Aug27°/24°277 mm
- Sep26°/24°267 mm
- Oct26°/24°318 mm
- Nov26°/24°299 mm
- Dec27°/24°154 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Térraba River.
Costarican river
Térraba River is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Costa Rica.
375 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 37,992 open records.
The most recorded are the Great Kiskadee, the Black Vulture and the Turkey Vulture.
25 species come for the summer, 94 for the winter and 7 only pass through.
8 are threatened worldwide, including Grey Plover, Lesser yellowlegs and Three-wattled Bellbird.
The most species are recorded in February.

Get there and watch
- Hotel 360place to stay · 4.3 km · 38 within 10 km
- Puerto Cortésnearest town · 14 km in a straight line
- Golfito Airport (GLF)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 64 km in a straight lineCar hire at GLF airport (Golfito)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.

Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 5restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 38places to stay within 10 kmHotel 360, Alma de Ojochal, Hotel Oso Perezoso and 35 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- car parks within 3 km
- campsites within 10 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Térraba River.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q7862224) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 37,992 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Coastya |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.



