The Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) can be found from the southeastern United States to Central Chile and Uruguay. Black vulture adults stand 64 cm high, weigh 1.8 Kg with a 1.33m wingspan. These were viewed in Costa Rica.
The rather quirky King Vulture. King vultures have very distinctive black and white plumage which makes them easy to identify. However, King Vultures are uncommon and difficult to find. At Laguna del Lagarto there is a hide and bait is put out each day. This attracts...
Three-toed sloth. On our recent trip to Costa Rica we searched for sloths. These are quite common animals but very hard to spot since they live mostly in the tree canopy. Their colour makes them appear as a bunch of leaves. This animal put on a great display,...
Black-mandibled Toucan. Toucans are the quintessential birds of the neotropics. The Black-mandibled Toucan is the largest of the Toucans. We saw this magnificent specimen in Costa Rica.
Collared Aracari. Toucans are the quintessential neotropic birds. The wonderful Collared Aracari is the smallest of the Toucans but nevertheless is a lovely bird to see. These were seen in Costa Rica.
White-necked Jacobin. Costa Rica enjoys a diverse range of beautiful hummingbirds. Perhaps the most spectacular is the White-necked Jacobin. Its royal blue head is a notable feature. In wet lowland and the foot hills of Costa Rica, these birds are reasonably common....
The Resplendent Quetzal is resplendent indeed! We watched these Resplendent Quetzals in the Savegre Valley of Costa Rica. They were visiting a wild avocado tree close to a small, gurgling stream. They feed mostly on members of the avocado family The striking males...
Amazing leafcutter ants. In Costa Rica we watched as a single ant cut a large segment off a leaf before joining the masses to carry its load back to its colony. Interestingly, the leafcutter ants do not feed on the leaves. Rather, the leaves are used to feed their...
Magenta-throated Woodstar of Costa Rica. A lovely hummingbird! Costa Rica is a wonderful place to view hummingbirds. These birds feed on nectar and to do so have evolved the ability to hover and fly backwards. This and their striking colours make them a delight to...
An impressive bird of Costa Rica! Costa Rica is a wonderful place for bird watching. We had many encounters with the striking Keel-billed Toucan. This lovely bird has a bright and multi-coloured bill. A very impressive bird!