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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Showing 72 of 72 species
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Monarch Butterfly in Costa Rica
Danaus plexippus
Brush-footed Butterflies · ~10 cm · all
Central ValleyCaribbeanCloud Forest
Famous migratory butterfly with orange wings and black veining. Costa Rican populations are resident — distinct from the migrating North American population.
Fun Facts
- ▸North American populations migrate up to 4,800 km — one of the longest insect migrations on Earth.
- ▸Costa Rican monarchs are resident year-round, not migratory.
- ▸Caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed, accumulating its toxins for defense.
Best Months
Year-round
Featured On
- · Custom Wildlife Tour
