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Bird Tours | Birds | Costa Rica | Doves and Pigeons | Ecosystems | Ecotourism | Jungle Adventures | Nature | Photography | Travel | Wildlife Photography

Ruddy Ground Dove – Las Orquedeas, CR
ByMichael Klotz August 23, 2026August 23, 2026

Our Costa Rica birding tour through Arenal and La Fortuna gave us plenty to watch without travelling far from our hotel. We spotted this Ruddy Ground Dove at Las Orquideas, tucked among the broad tropical leaves and bright heliconia. Ruddy Ground Doves are common throughout much of Costa Rica, especially around gardens, farmland, roadsides, and…

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Alberta | Bird Tours | Birds | Birdwatching | Canada | Ecotourism | grouse | Grouse | Jasper | Nature | Photography | Travel | Wildlife Photography

White-tailed Ptarmigan – Whistler’s Mountain, AB
ByMichael Klotz August 21, 2026August 21, 2026

This White-tailed Ptarmigan was a special find high on Whistlers Mountain above the Jasper SkyTram in Alberta. We found three of these well nicknamed “snow chickens” wandering across the rocky alpine terrain at the summit. White-tailed Ptarmigan live almost entirely above the treeline, making them one of North America’s true high-elevation specialists. Their mottled summer…

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

Dusky-capped Flycatcher – La Fortuna, CR
ByMichael Klotz August 12, 2026August 12, 2026

While birding Costa Rica, this Dusky-capped Flycatcher perched on a wire fence in the front yard of a farmhouse near La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Its grayish head, pale throat, and bright yellow belly made it easy to pick out against the surrounding greenery. Dusky-capped Flycatchers often hunted from exposed perches, watching carefully before flying out…

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Bird Tours | Birds | Conservation | Costa Rica | Ecotourism | Nature | Orioles | Photography | Wildlife Photography

Montezuma’s Oropendola – Arenal, CR
ByMichael Klotz August 10, 2026August 10, 2026

We photographed this Montezuma’s Oropendola at Arenal Observatory Lodge, where these large, unmistakable birds regularly visited the forest edge. Its chestnut body, black head, pale facial patch, orange-tipped bill, and bright yellow tail made identification easy. Female Montezuma’s Oropendolas weave remarkable hanging nests from plant fibers, often suspending dozens together in large colonies from tall…

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

Scarlet-rumped Tanager – Arenal Volcano, CR
ByMichael Klotz August 8, 2026August 8, 2026

This Scarlet-rumped Tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii) was sitting quietly in trees just outside of Arenal Observatory Lodge. Its brilliant crimson rump stood out against otherwise jet-black plumage and the surrounding leaves. Females look remarkably different, with olive-brown upperparts with buffy underparts and a much duller reddish rump. This makes them far less conspicuous than the males….

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

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 | 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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