Birds of Costa Rica
With approximately 850 recorded bird species, the country boasts one-tenth of the world's total. More than 630 are resident species; the remainder are "occasionals" who fly in for the winter. Birds that have all but disappeared in other areas still find tenuous safety in protected lands in Costa Rica, though many species face extinction due to deforestation. The nation offers hope for such rare jewels of the bird world as the quetzal and the scarlet macaw, both endangered species yet commonly seen in protected reserves.
Although Costa Rica is a small country, it is in the bird-rich neotropical region and has a huge number of species for its area. Around 894 bird species have been recorded in the country (including Cocos Island), more than in all of the United States and Canada combined. Of those species, six are endemic and 19 are globally threatened. With an area of just over 51,100 square km (an area smaller than West Virginia), Costa Rica has the greatest density of bird species of any continental American country.
Although Costa Rica is a small country, it is in the bird-rich neotropical region and has a huge number of species for its area. Around 894 bird species have been recorded in the country (including Cocos Island), more than in all of the United States and Canada combined. Of those species, six are endemic and 19 are globally threatened. With an area of just over 51,100 square km (an area smaller than West Virginia), Costa Rica has the greatest density of bird species of any continental American country.