The Great Curassow, Crax rubra (eBird link) with more information about this big bird, usually a little bit larger than the Crested Guan shown yesterday. But unlike the guan, the female curassow is more colorful than the male, unusual for birds. Though the male of this species has a bright yellow bump above his beak in great contrast to his all-black body, which I guess is to attract females and may be considered brighter to them. 🙂 See more of my photos of this Central-America-only species in my Great Curassow Gallery. I did not see as many of these on the trails but there were more of them at the fruit feeder by the restaurant deck, which is not my prefered place to photograph. These 3 photos were made on a trail.
Continue reading “Curassows on the Trails”Great Curassow
The Great Curassow, Crax Rubra (eBird link) was the first bird to greet me here at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge. It is a large “turkey-like” game bird found throughout Central America that was hunted to near extinction and today is seen only in reserves and national parks where they are protected. Here’s four of my photos from here, two each of the male and female.
There was surprisingly no rain my arrival afternoon yesterday (Saturday) but I did not get to a blog post because they have internet connection only in the restaurant and reception areas, not in the cabins. This afternoon (Sunday) it started raining about 12:30 and looks like an off & on rain will continue, but this morning was clear for my birding hike. 🙂
Continue reading “Great Curassow”The 5 BIG BIRDS this trip
Yes, you can sometimes see a hawk at Arenal Observatory, but I did not this time nor the two larger toucans, Keel-billed and Yellow-throated, which I have every other visit. But these 5 are still impressive birds and there’s six photos because the male and female of the Great Curassow are so different. I debated about putting the Collared Aracari here, since he’s the smaller toucan, but he seemed too big for the “medium birds” post that’s next. 🙂 And despite their bad reputations, both vultures are beautiful (when flying) and so important to the ecology of our lands!
As usual, one photo for the emailed notice with the others in the online post . . .
Birds at Corcovado & Drake Bay
Bare-throated Tiger Heron Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
Scarlet Macaw Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
Great Curassow Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
Black-headed Trogon female Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
Lineated Woodpecker Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
Boat-billed Heron Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
Yellow-crowned Night Heron juvenile (no crown yet) Mangrove Forest, Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
Cherrie’s Tanager male Aguila de Osa Inn, Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
Black Vultures waiting for fish above high tide rocks Aguila de Osa Inn, Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
Bananaquit Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
Bananaquit Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
Great-tailed Grackle male Aguila de Osa Inn, Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
We saw some other birds but no good photos because of distance, trees, etc. I did not get any photos of new species for my collection on this trip as hoped. We did see toucans, parrots and many other birds but unable to photograph. Tomorrow I will share photos of other animals seen at Corcovado & Drake Bay.
My TRIPS Photo Gallery on this Drake Bay Trip
See also my BIRDS photo gallery
The Other Birds – Tortuguero
Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
From our Tortuguero Trip last week I have already shown photos of 3 Species of Toucans, a Sungrebe, a Red-lored Parrot, and a Snowy Egret. And here are about 15 more species that I got photos of plus of course seeing others. You can see why I love Tortuguero! And a few of these were first-time sightings for me which will be added to my Birds of Costa Rica Photo Gallery.
Belted Kingfisher, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Little Blue Heron, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Montezuma Oropendola, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Female Anhinga, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Male Anhinga, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Great Curassow Female, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Tortuguero, Costa Rica Interesting note: This nest was above the outdoor bar at Laguna Lodge. I watched the male bring twigs and female arrange them. Fun! |
Royal Tern Juvenile, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Osprey, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Long-tailed Grackle Female, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Northern Jacana, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Common Black Hawk, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
Orange-breasted Falcon or Bat Falcon or Black-collared Hawk ???Tortuguero, Costa Rica If you can narrow the identification down, please contact me! Wings only is tough to ID! |
Social Flycatcher (most likely) or Great Kiskadee or White-ringed Flycatcher, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
ZooAVE and Zoo of a Dinner
Flash Back plays for dancing at Augostos Restaurant tonight |
Scarlet Macaw at Zoo Ave |
Keel-billed Toucan at Zoo Ave |
An Injured Toucan rescued and nursed to health |
Green Iguana, one of many around the park |
Wild Spectacled Owl visiting Zoo Ave |
Striped Owl at Zoo Ave |
Crested Owl at Zoo Ave |
Emu at Zoo Ave |
Great Curassow Male at Zoo Ave |
Great Curassow Female at Zoo Ave |
Squirrel Monkey at Zoo Ave |
Spider Monkey at Zoo Ave |
Helicopter Damselfly at Zoo Ave |
Baird’s Tapir or Central American Tapir at Zoo Ave |
Zoo animals are ambassadors for their cousins in the wild.~Jack Hanna
Follow Reagan’s Blog for his view of his visit here!
ZooAve
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan RESCATE ANIMAL zooave, La Garita, Costa Rica |
Collared Aracari Toucan RESCATE ANIMAL zooave, La Garita, Costa Rica |
Emerald Toucanet RESCATE ANIMAL zooave, La Garita, Costa Rica |
Central American Spider Monkey RESCATE ANIMAL zooave, La Garita, Costa Rica |
Great Curassow RESCATE ANIMAL zooave, La Garita, Costa Rica |
Torch Ginger or Etlingera elatior RESCATE ANIMAL zooave, La Garita, Costa Rica |
Well, there is so much more I could share. It was my second time at this little zoo, gardens, and animal rescue association. I really like it and think it a better (and less expensive) place to visit than La Paz for birds and gardens. Now, La Paz has hummingbirds not here and of course the beautiful 5 waterfalls, but it costs twice as much! And Zoo Ave is just 20 minutes from my house.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In 2020 this facility has been “rebranded” to eliminate the zoo concept and is now called Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center.
¡Pura Vida!