The Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) is the only motmot species in Costa Rica that can be found in the southern Pacific forests. This one was photographed near Carate on the Osa Peninsula. It was swinging its long, racquet-tipped tail feathers back and forth like a pendulum, as motmots often do while scouting for large bugs and small lizards or amphibians to eat.
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I’m especially fond of Bicolored Antbirds (Gymnopithys leucaspis) because the blue orbital skin around their eyes makes them look like they’re wearing goggles. I’ve often seen them flitting low by the trails around Luna Lodge, seemingly following along on the hike and staring at us. More likely they’re scouting out swarms of army ants. Although antbirds don’t typically eat ants, they appreciate the multitude of bugs that hunting army ants stir up from the forest floor. Why waste energy pecking about on the ground when tens of thousands of marching insects will do it for you?
A white belly distinguishes the bicolored species from other antbirds that sport blue goggles.
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Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are large, migratory raptors that frequent Costa Rica primarily from October to April. As they prey on fish, Ospreys can be found near bodies of water. This one was perched along the Tortuguero River.
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A toe-toed sloth unhurriedly stretches as it maneuvers from branch to branch.
There are two types of sloths in Costa Rica: one with two toes and another with three. Often, when one spies an example of either species high up in a tree, the sloth is a motionless ball of matted fur, and it can be difficult to distinguish any features without binoculars or a spotting scope. This two-toed sloth happened to be on the move one evening, and it was fascinating to see just how slowly sloths maneuver. R e a l y r e a l y s l o w l y . R e a l y .
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A young boa constrictor waits for something to eat on the Osa Peninsula.
Boa constrictors live on both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes of Costa Rica, from sea level to around 1000 meters. This small boa was found hanging among some roots along the beach between Carate and the Corcovado National Park. If you look closely just below the snout, you can see the blur of its flickering tongue. Unlike other snakes in Costa Rica, the boa constrictor is not poisonous, and while they grow very large, pose no real threat to people.
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A Great Kiskadee pauses in the morning sun along the Tortuguero River.
At around 23 cm, the Great Kiskadee is one the biggest members of the large Flycatcher, or Tyrannidae, family in Costa Rica. These strikingly handsome birds frequent the open, brushy areas of the Pacific forests and the Caribbean lowlands, where they eat insects and small vertebrates. I took both of these photographs during my first visit to Tortuguero in 2004.
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