White-throated Magpie Jay – Playa Hermosa, CR

Just outside Hotel Condovac La Costa in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, we spotted a White-throated Magpie Jay moving through the trees. Its long blue tail, white throat, and distinctive black crest made this impressive bird easy to identify. White-throated Magpie Jays inhabit tropical dry forests along the Pacific slope of Central America, ranging from southern Mexico to northwestern Costa Rica. Unlike many smaller jays, they often travel in noisy family groups, communicating with a variety of loud calls. They feed on insects, fruit, seeds, and occasionally small vertebrates, making them adaptable forest residents. Their striking appearance and curious behaviour make them one of the more memorable members of the crow family in Guanacaste.