World Birding Hotspots – Costa Rica

World Birding Hotspots – Costa Rica

My Birding Hotspots series is perfect for the casual birdwatcher, or someone wanting an idea of what species can be found at certain locations.

I hope I get most of the species names correct, if there is anything wrong please drop a comment below.

In Nov 2022 we took a 9 day holiday to Costa Rica. We stayed at 4 different locations. San Jose, Tortuguero, Salve Verde and Arenal Volcano.

At each location we will see what species we can find. Note this was not a birding specific trip, so to use the early mornings to go exploring most days, to photograph the wildlife.

42 Comments

  1. @GilWebster on February 5, 2025 at 4:30 pm

    A fantastic place and fantastic bird and animal images. Thanks so much,

  2. @niemalstot6613 on February 5, 2025 at 4:30 pm

    Abolutely great and very inspiring video! Will be to Costa Rica this year, too. Really much looking forward to it! May I ask you what focal lenght you mainly used for your (lovely) bird shots? Thanks a lot!

  3. @RHouseman on February 5, 2025 at 4:31 pm

    Beautiful pictures

  4. @christinejones418 on February 5, 2025 at 4:31 pm

    That was a great video, I have seen a few of the species shown on my travels but would like to see a lot more. Costa Rica is definately on my bucket list!

  5. @HermanFu on February 5, 2025 at 4:32 pm

    Thanks very much for your reply. Will try my best to get good shots like yours. Cheers.

  6. @eleanorward5275 on February 5, 2025 at 4:34 pm

    Hi Roger, What a great video and enticement to visit Costa Rica. Also interesting that you organised your own tour and managed to spot so many beautiful birds and animals. Thanks for the experience

  7. @melanierutledge9546 on February 5, 2025 at 4:34 pm

    amazing photography can you recomend a camara bird viewing set up for a new photographer? is it necisary to have waterproof gear? (forgive my spelling)

  8. @luckynaturerelaxationin8k on February 5, 2025 at 4:35 pm

    Which month ? Did you visit ? How many days?

  9. @scdawes on February 5, 2025 at 4:39 pm

    great video with some wonderful photography , did you use any flash on the hummingbirds ? presume you did with the snakes , frogs and spiders at night or were they illuminated by torch ?

  10. @frankstark3036 on February 5, 2025 at 4:40 pm

    You did well naming all the birds but neglected all the exif data. What equipment? Did you use a tripod? Did you use a flash?

  11. @RogerZoul on February 5, 2025 at 4:40 pm

    Thank you for making this video. It was very informative.

  12. @HermanFu on February 5, 2025 at 4:41 pm

    Wonderful photos and videos. Really enjoyed watching your work. I am leaving for Costa Rica in two weeks. I plan to bring a 200-600mm, and a Macro lens with me. Debating whether to take a tripod. Any recommendations? Would it be too bulky to carry it all the time? I saw in your video that people sitting in the boat during river tour didn’t even have backpacks.

  13. @aussiebirdboy12 on February 5, 2025 at 4:41 pm

    Wonderful video Roger, videos and photos were crystal clear, well edited too 👌

  14. @darkseid1757 on February 5, 2025 at 4:43 pm

    Wonderful video!! The wife and I stayed at the Arenal Observatory Lodge back in January and were able to photograph a fantastic number of birds including the yellow-throated toucan, emerald tanager, collared aracari, red-legged honey creeper and dozens more and even saw a juvenile yellow eyelash viper resting on a palm.

  15. @luckynaturerelaxationin8k on February 5, 2025 at 4:46 pm

    Wow ❤

  16. @CynthiaCarlsonPhotography on February 5, 2025 at 4:46 pm

    Spectacular video! At the end you mentioned you only did birding in your spare time–that is my lot with my family. It’s so good to see you still got great looks at amazing birds. I can’t wait to look at more of your quality videos!

  17. @shreecreativearts5132 on February 5, 2025 at 4:49 pm

    Beautiful video,so many species of birds that are too beautiful and colourful,thanks for taking us to Costa Rica.

  18. @James-n7e1r on February 5, 2025 at 4:49 pm

    what camera did you use, great quality pictures and videos!! I have an R7, but the lens lets me down a bit 🤣

  19. @GeoffCulliford on February 5, 2025 at 4:50 pm

    That’s a great video Roger thanks for sharing. It brought back many memories of a great holiday many years ago. I stayed at the Luguna Lodge the young Green Turtles were hatching there.

  20. @luishernandezocampocostari1260 on February 5, 2025 at 4:50 pm

    Pura Vida amigo que bueno que disfruto y execelente fotos bendiciones

  21. @jillbainbridge6747 on February 5, 2025 at 4:52 pm

    We just returned from Costa Rica on a Nat Hab trip. With our guide we saw 181 species of birds. My husband is still doing post processing on the best of 2000 photos. Your photos and videos were excellent. Thanks.

  22. @soumakbinduwildlife on February 5, 2025 at 4:52 pm

    Amazing photographs..which camera is used for the photography

  23. @danielmontiel2367 on February 5, 2025 at 4:57 pm

    Yes, they are Howler Monkeys.

  24. @raygiemza3690 on February 5, 2025 at 4:57 pm

    Outstanding photos and video work! Terrific itinerary and many thanks for sharing your adventure!

  25. @kittycheung207 on February 5, 2025 at 4:59 pm

    Amazing video for sharing, you going four different places, do you need car rental at all or you have other transportation way go to each location. Thanks again. Looking forward for your next video.

  26. @SteveBarbusa on February 5, 2025 at 4:59 pm

    Great video and awesome photos. Thank you for sharing your iterinary! This helps in planning my trip to Costa Rica. What month did you go for this trip?

  27. @CooCooCachootje on February 5, 2025 at 5:05 pm

    Thank you for this beautiful video. It is both helpful and inspiring for my upcoming trip.

  28. @davecanly7535 on February 5, 2025 at 5:06 pm

    What is the stupid point of putting music to this useless video …… just video the sounds of the birds nothing else

  29. @davemyers7507 on February 5, 2025 at 5:07 pm

    Cool thanks for the info

  30. @lukestrawbridge4360 on February 5, 2025 at 5:08 pm

    How did you get from each location to another?

  31. @juliemackertich5173 on February 5, 2025 at 5:12 pm

    Another Great Video Roger. Loved watching it looking forward to the next Bird Hotspot video.

  32. @iangibson5996 on February 5, 2025 at 5:12 pm

    Always enjoy your videos. Great photography and interesting commentary..Cheers from the Sunshine Coast

  33. @mauricio791000 on February 5, 2025 at 5:14 pm

    amazing !!!😍👏🏼

  34. @LamJiang on February 5, 2025 at 5:15 pm

    The birds are so beautiful, the video is so good. Vietnam also has many species of birds. Please visit!

  35. @Birdsnaps on February 5, 2025 at 5:18 pm

    Superb video with birding and picturesque views. Regards from India 🇮🇳

  36. @birdman5223 on February 5, 2025 at 5:19 pm

    Wonderful content Roger☺️

  37. @lynetteupchurch4382 on February 5, 2025 at 5:20 pm

    After this I am definitely going to plan a trip! Any suggestions?

  38. @sg3596 on February 5, 2025 at 5:21 pm

    This was starting so well…but then..that pathetic crap music. Made my ears bleed. Who gives a fuck about the birds with that cacophony of garbage.

  39. @ficuswildlifetours on February 5, 2025 at 5:23 pm

    A very enjoyable composition! Great images and videos as well – what equipment do you use? I was in Costa Rica in April 2023 and was stunned with the incredible biodiversity on offer there. It was great to relive some of that in your video;

  40. @stevepopple6621 on February 5, 2025 at 5:23 pm

    We stayed at Arenal and never saw the volcano. It rained the whole time, you had great views

  41. @journeywithdavidh on February 5, 2025 at 5:24 pm

    @12:56 Thank you for labelling all the birds. I’ve been calling Passerini’s Tanager, “the Thinkpad bird”.

  42. @matthewsnaturechannel on February 5, 2025 at 5:25 pm

    Fantastic video!! Beautiful birds and great photos. Thanks for sharing

Leave a Comment