Costa Rica Wildlife Guide
72 species across birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, and insects. Filter by category, region, or elevation.
Catalog expanding — Michael adds species after each tour.
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Plan a private tour →Crested Caracara in Costa Rica
Caracara plancus
Falcons & Caracaras · ~56 cm · all
GuanacastePacificCentral Valley
Hear this bird
Recorded by Oliver Komar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Long-legged raptor of open country. Bold black-and-white plumage with an orange face. Often seen walking the ground hunting insects and scavenging.
Fun Facts
- ▸Despite being a falcon, it walks more than it flies — almost like a vulture on foot.
- ▸Frequently steals food from vultures by sheer aggression.
- ▸National bird of Mexico (where it appears on the flag and coat of arms).
Best Months
Year-round
Featured On
- · Custom Guanacaste Birding
