Wildlife Photography

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Great Curassow Female – Volcan Arenal, CR
ByMichael Klotz August 1, 2026August 1, 2026

A female Great Curassow walked along the road while driving into Arenal Observatory Lodge. Females are much more colorful than the males, with chestnut plumage, a boldly barred tail, and a black-and-white curled crest. Male Great Curassow’s are glossy black with a white belly and a bright yellow knob at the base of the bill….

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Birds | Birdwatching | Costa Rica | Ecotourism | Jungle Adventures | Nature | Photography | Tanagers | Travel | Wildlife Photography

Green Honeycreeper – Arenal, CR
ByMichael Klotz July 26, 2026July 26, 2026

Green Honeycreepers visit the feeding station at Arenal Observatory Lodge in numbers. Its turquoise plumage and black hood stand out as one of the photogenic birds. The lodge’s feeders regularly attract this species, giving excellent views that are often difficult elsewhere. Green Honeycreepers are among the most colorful members of the tanager family and are…

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Bird Tours | Birds | Photography | Rare Bird | Sandpipers | Travel | Washington | Wildlife Photography

Terek Sandpiper Sunset – Stanwood, WA
ByMichael Klotz July 24, 2026July 24, 2026

The Terek Sandpiper was never part of our Central Washington Tour plan. We had headed south to add species like White-headed Woodpecker, Bobolink, Least Tern, and Black Tern to our year list. While we were in Spokane, a text from Melissa Hafting changed everything. A Terek Sandpiper had been found just south of the Canadian…

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Bird Tours | Birds | Birdwatching | Conservation | Costa Rica | Currasow | Ecotourism | Excursions | Jungle Adventures | Photography | Wildlife Photography

Great Curassow – Arenal, CR
ByMichael Klotz July 11, 2026July 11, 2026

The Great Curassow was one of our target birds while in Costa Rica. We found them at the Arenal Observatory Lodge. Seeing this impressive male stride into the clearing made the wait worthwhile. Despite its turkey-like size, Great Curassows can slip through the rainforest surprisingly quiet. This one seemed perfectly comfortable collecting fruit near the…

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Bird Tours | Birds | Birdwatching | Costa Rica | Ecotourism | Jungle Adventures | Nature | Photography | Travel | Wildlife Photography

Crested Guan – Volcan Arenal, CR
ByMichael Klotz July 10, 2026July 10, 2026

The Crested Guan is one of the signature birds of Arenal Observatory Lodge. This individual was making its way toward the raised feeding platform with a flock of other guans. They arrived alongside a lively mix of tanagers, honeycreepers, oropendolas, toucanets, and other tropical birds. It is the kind of gathering that keeps birders scanning…

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Bird Tours | Birds | Birdwatching | Costa Rica | Hummingbird | Nature | Photography | Travel | Wildlife Photography

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird – Volcan Arenal, CR
ByMichael Klotz July 8, 2026July 8, 2026

The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is one of the most familiar birds around the Arenal Observatory Lodge. This individual perched just outside the restaurant long enough for us to admire its emerald-green and chestnut coloring. Despite being common, they are never dull, darting between flowers before pausing on an exposed perch to watch for rivals. Males are…

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Bird Tours | Birds | Birdwatching | Costa Rica | Ecotourism | Nature | Photography | Tanagers | Travel | Wildlife Photography

Bananaquit – Arenal, CR
ByMichael Klotz July 5, 2026July 5, 2026

A Bananaquit near Arenal, takes a second to look our way during a feeding in the purple porterweed flowers. This photo was taken at Arenal Observatory Lodge, one of Costa Rica’s most reliable locations for close views of this energetic species. Although often mistaken for a honeycreeper, the Bananaquit belongs to its own family. It…

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Bird Tours | Birds | Costa Rica | Ecotourism | Excursions | Flycatcher | Nature | Photography | Wildlife Photography

Great Kiskadee – Arenal Observatory Lodge, CR
ByMichael Klotz July 1, 2026July 1, 2026

A Great Kiskadee perched in the open at Arenal Observatory Lodge, where forest edges and clearings provide perfect hunting grounds for this widespread flycatcher. The bold black-and-white head pattern, bright yellow belly, and rich chestnut wings make it one of Costa Rica’s easiest birds to identify. The Great Kiskadees is an opportunistic hunters, catching insects…

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Bird Tours | Birds | Birdwatching | Costa Rica | Nature | Photography | Tanagers | Travel | Wildlife Photography

Red-legged Honeycreeper – La Fortuna, CR
ByMichael Klotz June 27, 2026June 27, 2026

The Red-legged Honeycreeper is the greatest shades of blue found in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. We ran into this male on the grounds of Las Orquídeas Hotel. There were shrubs, mature trees, and forest edges created excellent habitat for birds. The surrounding area proved just as rewarding, with a steady mix of tanagers, toucans, woodcreepers,…

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Bird Tours | Birds | Birdwatching | Costa Rica | Ecotourism | Flycatcher | Nature | Photography | Travel | Urban Wildlife | Wildlife Photography

Tropical Kingbird – Zulu Surf Hotel, CR
ByMichael Klotz June 27, 2026June 27, 2026

The Tropical Kingbird is one of Tamarindo’s most familiar flycatchers, and we watched this individual was calling from an exposed perch outside the Zulu Surf Hotel. Loud, rolling calls help pairs stay in contact while defending their breeding territory, and this bird appeared determined to get its mate’s attention. Look for the gray head, olive-green…

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