In this blog, we delve into the vibrant world of parrot birdwatching in Costa Rica, offering an ultimate guide for enthusiasts seeking to spot some of the rarest parrots in the world. With over 10 years devoted to exploring the diverse landscapes and habitats that house Costa Rica’s 18 distinctive parrot species, Andrea’s recommendations are a product of hands-on exploration through the lush rainforests, cloud forests, and diverse ecological zones. Every detail offered comes from personal testing, guaranteeing a comprehensive and effective insight into parrot observation across the varied terrains of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is a birdwatcher’s paradise, home to over 900 species of birds including many sought-after and iconic parrot and hummingbird species.
Parrot Birding in Costa Rica – Complete 2023 Guide to Birdwatching These Beautiful Birds
Known for their bright plumage, loud vocalizations, and high intelligence, these birds of Costa Rica are found in the best birdwatching locations – from cloud forests to dry forests to mangroves.
Parrots of Costa Rica Checklist
Costa Rica is home to 12 species:
Scarlet Macaw
With their bright red, yellow, and blue plumage, this bird is one of the most iconic tropical birds in Costa Rica. Significant populations are discovered along the Osa Peninsula and in Carara National Park.
Red-Fronted Parrotlet
The tiniest in this bird species, the Red-Fronted Parrotlet in Costa Rica is just 3.5 inches long. It has green wings and a tail, a red forehead, and orange cheeks. A birder can spot this bird on the Pacific slope.
Olive-Throated Parakeet
With a green and blue head and upper chest, this bird is found in the Corredor district rainforest and wetland.
Brown-Hooded Parrot
As the name suggests, this parrot has a distinctive brown hood, a green body, and blue flight feathers. It lives high in the mountains.
White-Crowned Parrot
This is a big bird with a conspicuous white crown, green wings and tail, and red accents. It is found across Costa Rica.
Barred Parakeet
Photo by Werlley Meira
Take a trip to Costa Rica to spot this released captive bird in the wild. Also known as the Catherine Parakeet or Lineolated Parakeet, this bird with its green plumage and pale-horn-colored beak is found in parts of the Central Valley near San Jose.
Yellow-Naped Amazon
Commonly seen when you’re birdwatching in Costa Rica, this big, stocky bird has green wings and tail, a yellow neck, and white eye rings.
Mealy Amazon
Primarily a large green Amazon, this bird has a distinctive mealy (pale yellow) color on its head and neck.
Great Green Macaw
People come birdwatching in Costa Rica just to spot this largest parrot in Costa Rica. This bird is one of the most popular birds of Costa Rica and is immediately recognizable by its huge size, bright red forehead, and green plumage. Go on a bird-watching tour to spot this endangered species to the northwest.
Sulphur-Winged Parakeet
“Sulphur-winged Parakeet in the highland forest of Irazú.”
These parrots have a red patch on their foreheads and are found flying around in noisy groups in the parmo and highland forests of Costa Rica.
Best Locations for Parrot Birding
Many of the birds found in Costa Rica are in safeguarded places like the national forests. These spots in Costa Rica can help you identify bird species and offer exceptional opportunities to observe wild macaws.
Carara National Park: Macaws are frequently seen in this central Pacific park, together with Mealy Parrots, White-Crowned Parrots, and Orange-Chinned Parakeets.
Corcovado National Park: This is one of the best birding destinations in Costa Rica to see macaws and different bird species like Mealy and Red-Lored Amazons and Brown-Hooded Parrots.
Monteverde Cloud Forest: The Brown-hooded Parrot and Red-Fronted Parrotlets live in this rich cloud forest, one of the best high-elevation birding destinations in Costa Rica.
La Selva Biological Station: This is one of the best spots in Costa Rica to go birding with a naturalist guide for flocks of Mealy Parrots and Crimson-Fronted Parakeets.
Manuel Antonio National Park: Book a Costa Rica birding tour to spot White-Crowned Parrots and Orange-Christned Parakeets in this popular Pacific park.
Arenal Volcano Area: Costa Rica bird watching is incomplete without a visit to this active volcano where you can spot several parrot species.
Guanacaste Conservation Area: When you’re visiting Costa Rica, focus on the dry forests in the Palo Verde National Park that offer natural conditions for the Yellow-Naped Amazons to live in.
Parrot Conservation in Costa Rica
Several Costa Rican parrot species face the risk of losing their natural living conditions due to trafficking and other issues Fortunately, preservation projects in several areas of Costa Rica aim to conserve susceptible populations.
– Scarlet macaws have been reintroduced in Carara National Park after they left due to habitat loss. The non-profit ARA Project types scarlet macaws in captivity and launches them at Tiskita Reserve on the Osa Peninsula. Over 70 captive-born scarlet macaws have been released there since 2010 to re-establish the wild population of these rare birds.
– The threatened Great Green Macaw has revived because of breeding-for-release programs on the San Juan River in northwest Costa Rica. Additional efforts by non-profit organizations help preserve tree species that these birds rely on for nesting and food.
– Red-fronted parrotlets are also considered for conservation in Costa Rica. Safeguarded regions include cloud forest habitats.
– Coastal mangrove preservation has helped orange-chinned parakeets find nesting places in the mangroves.
Distinct Behaviors and Traits
Here are some remarkable facts about the behaviors that make parrots one of the most popular birds in the country:
– Complex vocalizations: This bird species in Costa Rica is good for bird photography. Parrots are renowned for their capability to imitate sounds and human speech. Scarlet macaws are one of Costa Rica’s most natural imitators, and researchers have acknowledged that they can simulate 20 or more species of birds.
– Feeding routines: Costa Rica living and birding is incomplete without watching these macaws use their incredibly strong beaks to get into difficult nuts and seeds.
– Intelligence: Many parakeets are skilled at solving puzzles and can even use tools. Captive macaws can resolve intricate puzzles as quickly as young human children. Yellow-naped amazons in Costa Rica have been seen using tools to penetrate tree cavities in search of food.
– Long life expectancy: Macaws can live for up to 50 years in the wild, and over 75 years in captivity.
– Complex social habits: Parrots mate for life. Many birds like the Orange-Fronted Parakeet participate in bonding rituals like preening and feeding each other. Flocks have social hierarchies and relationships.
– Unique nesting habits: Parakeets nest in tree cavities, and reuse and defend the very same nesting sites for many years. Parent birds are devoted, share incubation responsibilities, and feed chicks for several months.
Custom-Made Parrot Birding Tours
For the ultimate and customized parrot birding experience in Costa Rica, specialized trips good for birding are readily available. Costa Rica is a paradise for bird enthusiasts to check out prime birding spots throughout Costa Rica with skilled multilingual Costa Rica experts.
Tours can be personalized to focus on specific or different species of birds. The morning starts to help in getting the most sightings. Top bird guides know the very best bird-watching locations for observing parrots and their active times. They can also provide you with a complete guide to birding and offer expert knowledge on parrot preservation, life histories, and habits.
Most birding and photography tours arrange for a private birding guide and comfortable transport to the best bird-watching sites. Your birding vacation can also include the opportunity to see other wildlife destinations like turtle-nesting beaches. Birding-related websites offer a Birds of Costa Rica checklist and information on lodging, which can range from eco-lodges provided by Costa Ricans to high-end birding hotels, depending on your preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions About Parrots in Costa Rica
What do parrots eat?
Parrots eat fruits, seeds, and nuts with their tenacious hooked beaks. Macaws, however, favor nuts and seeds. Visitors enjoy the sight of a macaw that cracks open the hard shell of an almond.
How friendly are macaws?
Macaws are friendly to people they know. Adult macaws are not likely to come up close enough in the wild, but avid bird watchers can listen to their friendly bird calls.
How is World Parrot Day celebrated in Costa Rica?
The country has initiated several programs with the help of organizations like the Ara Project, Macaw Recovery Network, and Toucan Rescue Ranch for the rescue and rehabilitation of parrots, captive breeding, and reintroduction to the wild. Research and conservation are done with organizations like the Organization for Tropical Studies and the Asociación de Ornitófilos de Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is a bird paradise with nearly 25% of the country’s land turned into wildlife refuges, protected areas, and national parks like the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. These wildlife locations provide essential habitats to macaws, the national bird (Clay-Colored Thrush), and other common birds in Costa Rica. These Costa Rica bird-watching destinations also encourage ecotourism by providing bird watchers and photographers the opportunity to observe a variety of tropical birds in a variety of habitats.
Bird tours in Costa Rica can now show bird lovers an array of bird species including macaws, Resplendent Quetzal, heron, and other common birds.
