La Selva OTS Checklist and nearby sites in the
Sarapiqui region of the Caribbean lowlands, 100-300 ft.
LOCATION CODE
[ W ]Widespread: species can be found in more than one habitat zone.
[ S ]Secondary growth: species that favor disturbed areas, incl forest patches.
[ P ]PrimaryForest: species that are rarely found out of undisturbed forest.
[ N ]Near water: species that favor rivers, ponds, and marshy areas.
ABUNDANCE CODE
1 = Should be seen daily, generally a hard species to miss.
2 = Should be seen on most days of a visit to that particular habitat.
3 = Somewhat less common, but should still be seen. Requires some effort.
4 = Species is uncommon or of erratic occurrence. Generally tricky to find.
5 = Species is rare, seen annually, but few records per year.You’ll need luck!
6 = One or two records only, not to be expected. Confirmation needed.
h = Heard considerably more often than seen
n = Migrants from North America, mainly present Sept through May.
s = Migrants from South America, mainly present March through Sept.
t = Transient migrants, mainly present from March through May and Sept through Nov.
d = Present mainly in dry season, Jan through May.
r = Present mainly in rainy season, May through Dec.
CODE SPECIESPLATE NO. CODE SPECIES PLATE NO.
[ ]P3hGREAT TINAMOU12 6
[ ]S 3hLITTLE TINAMOU1217
[ ]P 3hSLATY-BREASTED TINAMOU12 8
[ ]N 2NEOTROPIC CORMORANT 4 4
[ ]N 3ANHINGA 4 3
[ ]W 5MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD 1 6
[ ]N 4nGREAT BLUE HERON 5 6
[ ]N 3GREAT EGRET 514
[ ] N 3TRICOLORED HERON 5 8
[ ]N 2LITTLE BLUE HERON 5 9
[ ]N 2SNOWY EGRET 510
[ ]S 1CATTLE EGRET 513
[ ]N 3GREEN HERON 6 2
[ ]N 5AGAMI HERON 5 1
[ ]N 5BOAT-BILLED HERON 5 2
[ ]N 4BARE-THROATED TIGER-HERON 516
[ ]N 4FASCIATED TIGER-HERON 515
[ ]N 5PINNATED BITTERN 511
[ ]W 5WOOD STORK 4 6
[ ]N 4GREEN IBIS 410
[ ]N 3BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK 8 7
[ ]N 4MUSCOVY DUCK 810
[ ]N 5BLUE-WINGED TEAL 8 5
[ ]W 1BLACK VULTURE13 4
[ ]W 1TURKEY VULTURE13 3
[ ]W 4KING VULTURE13 5
[ ]N 3nOSPREY1714
[ ]W 4GRAY-HEADED KITE17 3
[ ]W 4HOOK-BILLED KITE14 9
[ ]W 4tSWALLOW-TAILED KITE15 2
[ ]W 3DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE16 1
[ ]W 3sPLUMBEOUS KITE14 8
[ ]W 5nMISSISSIPPI KITE15 3
[ ]W 4TINY HAWK16 2
[ ]W 4nSHARP-SHINNED HAWK16 3
[ ]W 3SEMIPLUMBEOUS HAWK1610
[ ]P 4WHITE HAWK17 2
[ ]W 4COMMON BLACK-HAWK13 6
[ ]P 5GREAT BLACK-HAWK13 7
[ ]W 3GRAY HAWK1614
[ ]S 3ROADSIDE HAWK1612
[ ]W 2tBROAD-WINGED HAWK1613
[ ]W 4SHORT-TAILED HAWK1611
[ ]W 3tSWAINSON’S HAWK17 7
[ ]W 5ZONE-TAILED HAWK13 1
[ ]P 6CRESTED EAGLE1710
[ ]W 5BLACK HAWK-EAGLE13 9
[ ]W 5ORNATE HAWK-EAGLE1711
[ ]S 3CRESTED CARACARA1412
[ ]S 3hLAUGHING FALCON15 8
[ ]P 5hBARRED FOREST-FALCON16 5
[ ]P 6SLATY-BACKED FOREST-FALCON 16 6
[ ]W 5hCOLLARED FOREST-FALCON16 7
[ ]W 5nMERLIN1515
[ ]W 4BAT FALCON1514
[ ]W 4nPEREGRINE FALCON15 5
[ ]S 2GRAY-HEADED CHACHALACA12 1
[ ]W 3CRESTED GUAN12 4
[ ]P 4GREAT CURASSOW12 3
[ ]N 2hWHITE-THROATED CRAKE 6 9
[ ]N 5hGRAY-BREASTED CRAKE 6 6
[ ]N 4hGRAY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL 613
[ ]N 5hUNIFORM CRAKE 6 8
[ ]N 4PURPLE GALLINULE 615
[ ]N 4SUNGREBE 7 9
[ ]N 4SUNBITTERN 616
CODE SPECIES PLATE NO.
[ ]N 3NORTHERN JACANA 618
[ ]N 4nGREATER YELLOWLEGS11 2
[ ]N 4nLESSER YELLOWLEGS11 3
[ ]N 4nSOLITARY SANDPIPER11 4
[ ]N 2nSPOTTED SANDPIPER11 8
[ ]S 1ROCK PIGEON - -
[ ]S 4SCALED PIGEON18 4
[ ]S 1PALE-VENTED PIGEON18 3
[ ]S 2RED-BILLED PIGEON18 2
[ ]W 2hSHORT-BILLED PIGEON18 5
[ ]S 3RUDDY GROUND-DOVE18 7
[ ]S 4BLUE GROUND-DOVE18 6
[ ]S 1WHITE-TIPPED DOVE1814
[ ]W 3GRAY-CHESTED DOVE1816
[ ]P 4OLIVE-BACKED QUAIL-DOVE1822
[ ]P 4RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE1817
[ ]W 4rGREAT GREEN MACAW19 2
[ ]W 3CRIMSON-FRONTED PARAKEET1910
[ ]W 2OLIVE-THROATED PARAKEET1911
[ ]W 2ORANGE-CHINNED PARAKEET1914
[ ]W 3BROWN-HOODED PARROT19 9
[ ]W 1WHITE-CROWNED PARROT19 7
[ ]W 2RED-LORED PARROT19 4
[ ]W 2MEALY PARROT19 3
[ ]S 6tBLACK-BILLED CUCKOO21 1
[ ]S 5tYELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO21 2
[ ]W 2SQUIRREL CUCKOO21 7
[ ]S 1GROOVE-BILLED ANI21 9
[ ]S 4sSTRIPED CUCKOO21 5
[ ]P 6RUFOUS-VENTED GROUND-CUCKOO2110
[ ]S 5BARN OWL20 9
[ ]P 4VERMICULATED SCREECH-OWL2012
[ ]W 3hMOTTLED OWL20 6
[ ]W 4BLACK-AND-WHITE OWL20 7
[ ]P 4hCRESTED OWL20 3
[ ]W 3SPECTACLED OWL20 8
[ ]W 5CENTRAL AMERICAN PYGMY-OWL2016
[ ]S 5STRIPED OWL20 2
[ ]W 4GREAT POTOO20 5
[ ]P 5COMMON POTOO20 4
[ ]W 4SHORT-TAILED NIGHTHAWK2114
[ ]W 5tCOMMON NIGHTHAWK2113
[ ]S 2hPAURAQUE2118
[ ]P 5tCHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW2116
[ ]W 6SPOT-FRONTED SWIFT22 5
[ ]W 3CHESTNUT-COLLARED SWIFT22 3
[ ]W 2WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT22 1
[ ]W 2GRAY-RUMPED SWIFT2210
[ ]W 3tCHIMNEY SWIFT22 8
[ ]W 3LESSER SWALLOW-TAILED SWIFT22 7
[ ]W 5WHITE-TIPPED SICKLEBILL23 8
[ ]W 4BRONZY HERMIT23 4
[ ]W 4BAND-TAILED BARBTHROAT23 5
[ ]W 3WESTERN LONG-TAILED HERMIT23 2
[ ]W 2LITTLE (STRIPE-THROATED) HERMIT23 1
[ ]S 4SCALY-BREASTED HUMMINGBIRD2310
[ ]S 3WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN2317
[ ]S 3GREEN-BREASTED MANGO2313
[ ]S 3VIOLET-HEADED HUMMINGBIRD2511
[ ]S 4BLACK-CRESTED COQUETTE25 6
[ ]S 5rGREEN THORNTAIL25 1
[ ]P 3VIOLET-CROWNED WOODNYMPH24 4
[ ]S 1RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD2410
[ ]P 3BLUE-CHESTED HUMMINGBIRD2414
CODE SPECIES PLATE NO.
[ ]P 5rSNOWCAP25 8
[ ]W 3RED-FOOTED PLUMELETEER2312
[ ]P 3PURPLE-CROWNED FAIRY2314
[ ]W 5LONG-BILLED STARTHROAT2318
[ ]W 2VIOLACEOUS TROGON26 8
[ ]P 3BLACK-THROATED TROGON26 9
[ ]P 3SLATY-TAILED TROGON26 2
[ ]P 5rLATTICE-TAILED TROGON26 3
[ ]N 4nBELTED KINGFISHER27 2
[ ]N 3RINGED KINGFISHER27 1
[ ]N 3AMAZON KINGFISHER27 4
[ ] N 3GREEN KINGFISHER27 5
[ ]N 6GREEN-AND-RUFOUS KINGFISHER27 3
[ ]N 4AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER27 6
[ ]P 3RUFOUS MOTMOT27 7
[ ]P 3BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT27 9
[ ]P 3RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR2612
[ ]P 6GREAT JACAMAR2611
[ ]P 4WHITE-NECKED PUFFBIRD28 3
[ ]W 4PIED PUFFBIRD28 7
[ ]P 5WHITE-WHISKERED PUFFBIRD28 6
[ ]P 5WHITE-FRONTED NUNBIRD28 4
[ ]W 2COLLARED ARACARI2715
[ ]P 5YELLOW-EARED TOUCANET2720
[ ]W 1KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN2718
[ ]W 2CHESTNUT(BLACK)-MANDIBLED TOUCAN2719
[ ]W 1BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER2814
[ ]S 5nYELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER2820
[ ]S 4SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER2813
[ ]W 3RUFOUS-WINGED WOODPECKER2810
[ ]P 5CINNAMON WOODPECKER28 9
[ ]W 3CHESTNUT-COLORED WOODPECKER28 8
[ ]S 3LINEATED WOODPECKER2713
[ ]P 3PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER2714
[ ]S 3SLATY SPINETAIL32 9
[ ]P 2PLAIN XENOPS29 3
[ ]P 4BUFF-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER30 3
[ ]P 3PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER2911
[ ]P 2WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER29 6
[ ]W 3NORTHERN BARRED-WOODCREEPER2919
[ ]W 3COCOA WOODCREEPER2917
[ ]P 4BLACK-STRIPED WOODCREEPER2916
[ ]W 1STREAK-HEADED WOODCREEPER29 8
[ ]W 3hFASCIATED ANTSHRIKE31 1
[ ]S 3hGREAT ANTSHRIKE31 2
[ ]S 4BARRED ANTSHRIKE31 3
[ ]P 4WESTERN SLATY-ANTSHRIKE31 5
[ ]P 5RUSSET ANTSHRIKE31 4
[ ]P 4CHECKER-THROATED ANTWREN32 5
[ ]P 5rWHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN32 2
[ ]P 4DOT-WINGED ANTWREN32 1
[ ]W 3DUSKY ANTBIRD31 8
[ ]P 5BARE-CROWNED ANTBIRD3113
[ ]P 2hCHESTNUT-BACKED ANTBIRD3111
[ ]P 4BICOLORED ANTBIRD31 9
[ ]P 5SPOTTED ANTBIRD3112
[ ]P 4OCELLATED ANTBIRD31 7
[ ]P 3hBLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSH3015
[ ]S 5hTHICKET ANTPITTA3014
[ ]P 6SPECKLED MOURNER34 8
[ ]P 3hRUFOUS PIHA3410
[ ]W 3SNOWY COTINGA34 4
[ ]P 4PURPLE-THROATED FRUITCROW3411
[ ]P 5rBARE-NECKED UMBRELLABIRD3413
CODE SPECIES PLATE NO.
[ ]P 4rTHREE-WATTLED BELLBIRD3412
[ ]W 2WHITE-COLLARED MANAKIN33 1
[ ]P 4rWHITE-RUFFED MANAKIN33 9
[ ]P 3RED-CAPPED MANAKIN33 6
[ ]W 5BROWN-CAPPED TYRANNULET3713
[ ]S 3YELLOW TYRANNULET3711
[ ]S 5GREENISH ELAENIA3721
[ ]S 1YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA3726
[ ]W 2OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCATCHER3625
[ ]W 4rOLIVE-STRIPED FLYCATCHER3624
[ ]P 5SEPIA-CAPPED FLYCATCHER3627
[ ]S 2PALTRY TYRANNULET3710
[ ]P 3BLACK-CAPPED PYGMY-TYRANT37 5
[ ]P 4NORTHERN BENTBILL37 6
[ ]W 4SLATE-HEADED TODY-TYRANT37 9
[ ]P 3hBLACK-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER37 8
[ ]S 1COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER37 7
[ ]P 4EYE-RINGED FLATBILL3723
[ ]W 1YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER3716
[ ]P 4YELLOW-MARGINED FLYCATCHER3717
[ ]P 5GOLDEN-CROWNED SPADEBILL37 3
[ ]W 4RUDDY-TAILED FLYCATCHER3623
[ ]P 4SULPHUR-RUMPED FLYCATCHER3621
[ ]S 5TAWNY-CHESTED FLYCATCHER3610
[ ]W 4nOLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER36 4
[ ]W 3nEASTERN WOOD-PEWEE36 8
[ ]S 2TROPICAL PEWEE36 9
[ ]W 2nYELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER3620
[ ]W 4tACADIAN FLYCATCHER3612
[ ]S 4tALDER FLYCATCHER3614
[ ]S 4tWILLOW FLYCATCHER3614
[ ]W 5nLEAST FLYCATCHER3615
[ ]W 3LONG-TAILED TYRANT36 6
[ ]W 3hBRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA35 6
[ ]W 3RUFOUS MOURNER34 9
[ ]W 1DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER3521
[ ]W 4nGREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER3517
[ ]S 1GREAT KISKADEE3513
[ ]W 2BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER3512
[ ]S 1SOCIAL FLYCATCHER3514
[ ]S 2GRAY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER3515
[ ]W 3WHITE-RINGED FLYCATCHER3516
[ ]S 5STREAKED FLYCATCHER3511
[ ]W 3sSULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER3510
[ ]W 2sPIRATIC FLYCATCHER35 8
[ ]S 1TROPICAL KINGBIRD35 1
[ ]W 3tEASTERN KINGBIRD35 3
[ ]P 5hTHRUSH-LIKE SCHIFFORNIS33 1
[ ]S 2CINNAMON BECARD3311
[ ]S 4WHITE-WINGED BECARD3313
[ ]W 1MASKED TITYRA34 1
[ ]W 2BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA34 2
[ ]S 2GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN2215
[ ]N 2MANGROVE SWALLOW2223
[ ]W 2nNORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW2218
[ ]W 1SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW2219
[ ]W 4tBANK SWALLOW2217
[ ]W 4tCLIFF SWALLOW2213
[ ]W 1nBARN SWALLOW2212
[ ]S 6nCEDAR WAXWING3914
[ ]S 2BAND-BACKED WREN38 3
[ ]S 3hBLACK-THROATED WREN3813
[ ]N 3hBAY WREN38 12
[ ]W 2hSTRIPE-BREASTED WREN38 5
CODE SPECIES PLATE NO.
[ ]S 2hPLAIN WREN3817
[ ]S 1HOUSE WREN3818
[ ]P 2hWHITE-BREASTED WOOD-WREN3815
[ ]P 4SONG WREN3822
[ ]S 4nGRAY CATBIRD3912
[ ]W 5tGRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH39 1
[ ]W 2nSWAINSON’S THRUSH39 2
[ ]P 5tVEERY39 3
[ ]P 3nWOOD THRUSH39 4
[ ]P 4PALE-VENTED THRUSH39 5
[ ]S 1CLAY-COLORED THRUSH39 8
[ ]P 5TAWNY-FACED GNATWREN3214
[ ]W 2LONG-BILLED GNATWREN3215
[ ]W 1TROPICAL GNATCATCHER41 2
[ ]W 1BROWN JAY3919
[ ]W 1nYELLOW-THROATED VIREO40 6
[ ]S 3nPHILADELPHIA VIREO4015
[ ]W 2tRED-EYED VIREO40 3
[ ]W 3sYELLOW-GREEN VIREO40 5
[ ]W 1LESSER GREENLET40 7
[ ]W 4hGREEN SHRIKE-VIREO40 1
[ ]P 5nBLUE-WINGED WARBLER41 6
[ ]W 4nGOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER41 5
[ ]W 1nTENNESSEE WARBLER4022
[ ]W 6nNASHVILLE WARBLER52 3
[ ]W 6tNORTHERN PARULA41 4
[ ]S 2nYELLOW WARBLER42 2
[ ]W 1nCHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER43 4
[ ]S 6nCAPE MAY WARBLER 43 6
[ ]S 6nMAGNOLIA WARBLER4310
[ ]S 5nYELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER4311
[ ]W 4tBAY-BREASTED WARBLER41 9
[ ]W 5tBLACKPOLL WARBLER4111
[ ]W 4tCERULEAN WARBLER43 2
[ ]W 2nBLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER4113
[ ]W 3nAMERICAN REDSTART4110
[ ]N 4nPROTHONOTARY WARBLER42 1
[ ]P 4nWORM-EATING WARBLER4021
[ ]W 4nOVENBIRD4312
[ ]N 1nNORTHERN WATERTHRUSH4314
[ ]N 4nLOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH4313
[ ]P 4nKENTUCKY WARBLER4215
[ ]S 4nMOURNING WARBLER4214
[ ]N 3OLIVE-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT4211
[ ]S 3GRAY-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT4213
[ ]P 5nHOODED WARBLER42 5
[ ]W 5nWILSON’S WARBLER42 4
[ ]P 4tCANADA WARBLER42 8
[ ]N 3BUFF-RUMPED WARBLER4023
[ ]W 1BANANAQUIT4024
[ ]W 3DUSKY-FACED TANAGER4518
[ ]P 5OLIVE TANAGER4516
[ ]P 3WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER4618
[ ]S 2WHITE-LINED TANAGER4616
[ ]W 2RED-THROATED ANT-TANAGER4712
[ ]W 3tSCARLET TANAGER47 8
[ ]W 2nSUMMER TANAGER47 5
[ ]S 2CRIMSON-COLLARED TANAGER47 3
[ ]S 1PASSERINI’S TANAGER47 4
[ ]S 1BLUE-GRAY TANAGER4615
[ ]W 1PALM TANAGER4519
[ ]W 3YELLOW-CROWNED EUPHONIA45 1
[ ]P 3OLIVE-BACKED EUPHONIA45 3
[ ]P 4WHITE-VENTED EUPHONIA45 7
CODE SPECIES PLATE NO.
[ ]S 3PLAIN-COLORED TANAGER4611
[ ]P 4rSILVER-THROATED TANAGER46 6
[ ]P 3BAY-HEADED TANAGER46 9
[ ]P 6RUFOUS-WINGED TANAGER 4610
[ ]W 1GOLDEN-HOODED TANAGER4613
[ ]W 4SCARLET-THIGHED DACNIS46 4
[ ]W 3BLUE DACNIS46 3
[ ]W 3GREEN HONEYCREEPER46 7
[ ]P 3SHINING HONEYCREEPER46 1
[ ]S 3RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER46 4
[ ]S 2BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT49 7
[ ]S 1VARIABLE SEEDEATER49 3
[ ]S 4WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER49 2
[ ]N 4PINK-BILLED SEED-FINCH4913
[ ]S 3THICK-BILLED SEED-FINCH4910
[ ]W 2hORANGE-BILLED SPARROW4817
[ ]S 2BLACK-STRIPED SPARROW5014
[ ]S 3GRAYISH SALTATOR48 3
[ ]W 1BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR48 2
[ ]S 2BLACK-HEADED SALTATOR48 1
[ ]P 4SLATE-COLORED GROSBEAK48 6
[ ]W 3BLACK-FACED GROSBEAK48 5
[ ]S 6BLACK-THIGHED GROSBEAK48 7
[ ]S 4nROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK48 8
[ ]W 3BLUE-BLACK GROSBEAK4810
[ ]S 5nINDIGO BUNTING4812
[ ]N 5RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD4414
[ ]N 5RED-BREASTED BLACKBIRD4413
[ ]S 3EASTERN MEADOWLARK5016
[ ]S 3MELODIOUS BLACKBIRD52 6
[ ]S 1GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE4416
[ ]S 2BRONZED COWBIRD4415
[ ]W 3GIANT COWBIRD4410
[ ]S 4YELLOW-TAILED ORIOLE44 3
[ ]W 1nBALTIMORE ORIOLE44 7
[ ]S 4nORCHARD ORIOLE44 6
[ ]S 3BLACK-COWLED ORIOLE44 5
[ ]W 3hYELLOW-BILLED CACIQUE4412
[ ]P 3SCARLET-RUMPED CACIQUE4411
[ ]W 2CHESTNUT-HEADED OROPENDOLA44 9
[ ]W 1MONTEZUMA OROPENDOLA44 8
[ ]S 2HOUSE SPARROW5017
Areas included: La Selva OTS, El Gavilan Lodge, Selva Verde Lodge, La Quinta Lodge, El Tigre Marsh, and all areas between these lodges including Puerto Viejo and the Sarapiqui River.
This checklist represents all of the most likely seen species including significant rarities. It is not comprehensive in that it does not include all accidental species or species seen in the foothills on La Selva OTS property which is not accessible to the public.
We welcome new information on species not included in this list or about species with abundance codes 5 or 6. Please send details to Kevin Easley: