Cahuita National Park

National Park · Costa Rica

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Photo © Liuclucy008

Photo © Liuclucy008 — CC0 1.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Caribbean shoreline dissolves into mangrove creeks and coral gardens, Cahuita's mosaic of habitats unfolds across the Limón coast. The park's signature feature—a living coral reef system just metres offshore—anchors an ecosystem of extraordinary richness. Behind the reef, crystalline shallows give way to dense lowland tropical forest that extends inland, where the perpetual moisture of an Af climate sustains year-round productivity. No dry season interrupts the cycle here; rainfall and humidity remain abundant throughout, feeding a canopy that never rests. The forest floor bristles with ferns, epiphytes, and decomposing wood that feeds legions of invertebrates. In the canopy, mammals navigate three-dimensional highways above the understory, while ground-dwelling species occupy the rich leaf litter. Raptors and other birds of prey quarter the airspace above the treeline. The reef itself hosts a living catalogue of coral polyps, reef fish, crustaceans, and other marine fauna entirely distinct from the forest's terrestrial fauna—a doubling of biodiversity within a single protected boundary.

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Grey-headed Chachalaca

Ortalis cinereiceps

Penelope purpurascens

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Nyctibius grandis

American Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Chestnut-collared Swift

Streptoprocne rutila

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Band-tailed Barbthroat

Threnetes ruckeri

Stripe-throated Hermit

Phaethornis striigularis

Long-billed Hermit

Phaethornis longirostris

Purple-crowned Fairy

Heliothryx barroti

Green-breasted Mango

Anthracothorax prevostii

Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer

Chalybura urochrysia

Crowned Woodnymph

Thalurania colombica

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Blue-chested Hummingbird

Polyerata amabilis

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Short-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas nigrirostris

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Grey-chested Dove

Leptotila cassinii

Grey-cowled Wood Rail

Aramides cajaneus

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Pluvialis squatarola

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Northern Jacana

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Tringa semipalmata

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Chlidonias niger

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Thalasseus maximus

Leucophaeus atricilla

Mycteria americana

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Sula leucogaster

Anhinga anhinga

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Rufescent Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma lineatum

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

Fasciated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma fasciatum

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Butorides virescens

Great Blue Heron

Pelecanus occidentalis

Coragyps atratus

Pandion haliaetus

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

Rupornis magnirostris

Semiplumbeous Hawk

Leucopternis semiplumbeus

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Black-and-white Owl

Strix nigrolineata

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher

Chloroceryle inda

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Baryphthengus martii

White-necked Puffbird

Notharchus hyperrhynchus

Notharchus tectus

White-whiskered Puffbird

Malacoptila panamensis

Collared Aracari

Pteroglossus torquatus

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes pucherani

Rufous-winged Woodpecker

Piculus simplex

Cinnamon Woodpecker

Celeus loricatus

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker

Celeus castaneus

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus guatemalensis

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Falco columbarius

Falco rufigularis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Brown-hooded Parrot

Pyrilia haematotis

White-crowned Parrot

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Olive-throated Parakeet

Eupsittula nana

Finsch's Parakeet

Psittacara finschi

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus susurrans

Black-striped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

Northern Plain Xenops

Xenops mexicanus

Dot-winged Antwren

Microrhopias quixensis

Checker-throated Stipplethroat

Epinecrophylla fulviventris

White-flanked Antwren

Myrmotherula axillaris

Black-crowned Antshrike

Thamnophilus atrinucha

Fasciated Antshrike

Cymbilaimus lineatus

Great Antshrike

Chestnut-backed Antbird

Poliocrania exsul

Bare-crowned Antbird

Gymnocichla nudiceps

Brown-capped Tyrannulet

Ornithion brunneicapillus

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Northern Bentbill

Oncostoma cinereigulare

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Long-tailed Tyrant

Colonia colonus

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Grey-capped Flycatcher

Myiozetetes granadensis

Pitangus sulphuratus

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Querula purpurata

White-collared Manakin

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

Tityra semifasciata

Cinnamon Becard

Pachyramphus cinnamomeus

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Terenotriccus erythrurus

Lesser Greenlet

Pachysylvia decurtata

Vireo olivaceus

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

Cyanocorax morio

Black-chested Jay

Cyanocorax affinis

Mangrove Swallow

Tachycineta albilinea

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Hirundo rustica

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Band-backed Wren

Campylorhynchus zonatus

Cantorchilus nigricapillus

Stripe-breasted Wren

Cantorchilus thoracicus

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Trilling Gnatwren

Ramphocaenus melanurus

White-browed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila bilineata

Dumetella carolinensis

Tropical Mockingbird

Hylocichla mustelina

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Catharus fuscescens

Clay-colored Thrush

Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Euphonia luteicapilla

Yellow-throated Euphonia

Euphonia hirundinacea

Olive-backed Euphonia

Euphonia gouldi

Black-striped Sparrow

Arremonops conirostris

Orange-billed Sparrow

Arremon aurantiirostris

Chestnut-headed Oropendola

Psarocolius wagleri

Montezuma Oropendola

Psarocolius montezuma

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Black-cowled Oriole

Icterus prosthemelas

Melodious Blackbird

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Seiurus aurocapilla

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga cerulea

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Setophaga coronata

Cardellina canadensis

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Red-throated Ant Tanager

Driophlox fuscicauda

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Spiza americana

Blue-black Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia cyanoides

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Shining Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes lucidus

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Coereba flaveola

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

White-shouldered Tanager

Loriotus luctuosus

Tawny-crested Tanager

Tachyphonus delatrii

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus passerinii

Morelet's Seedeater

Sporophila morelleti

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina

Thick-billed Seed Finch

Sporophila funerea

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Thraupis palmarum

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

Plain-colored Tanager

Tangara inornata

Crypturellus soui

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Cairina moschata

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Short-tailed Nighthawk

Lurocalis semitorquatus

Nyctidromus albicollis

Nyctibius griseus

Grey-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

Chaetura pelagica

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift

Panyptila cayennensis

Phaethornis guy

Violet-headed Hummingbird

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

Phaeochroa cuvierii

Blue-throated Sapphire

Chlorestes eliciae

Patagioenas speciosa

Red-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas flavirostris

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

Olive-backed Quail-Dove

Leptotrygon veraguensis

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Heliornis fulica

Amaurolimnas concolor

Russet-naped Wood Rail

Aramides albiventris

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

White-throated Crake

Laterallus albigularis

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Charadrius vociferus

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinus

Eurypyga helias

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

Roseate Spoonbill

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Sarcoramphus papa

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Grey-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Black Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus tyrannus

Microspizias superciliosus

Ictinia plumbea

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Pseudastur albicollis

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

American Barn Owl

Central American Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium griseiceps

Lophostrix cristata

Lattice-tailed Trogon

Trogon clathratus

Gartered Trogon

Trogon caligatus

Northern Black-throated Trogon

Trogon tenellus

Broad-billed Motmot

Electron platyrhynchum

White-fronted Nunbird

Monasa morphoeus

Yellow-throated Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

Slaty-backed Forest Falcon

Micrastur mirandollei

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Amazona farinosa

Great Green Macaw

Fawn-throated Foliage-gleaner

Automolus cervinigularis

Russet Antshrike

Thamnistes anabatinus

Spot-crowned Antvireo

Dysithamnus puncticeps

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Bicolored Antbird

Gymnopithys bicolor

Cercomacroides tyrannina

Spotted Antbird

Hylophylax naevioides

Black-faced Antthrush

Formicarius analis

Thicket Antpitta

Myrmothera dives

Black-crowned Antpitta

Pittasoma michleri

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Yellow Tyrannulet

Capsiempis flaveola

Mistletoe Tyrannulet

Zimmerius parvus

Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant

Myiornis atricapillus

Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus pileatus

Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus sylvia

Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum nigriceps

Eye-ringed Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus brevirostris

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Yellow-winged Flatbill

Tolmomyias flavotectus

Golden-crowned Spadebill

Platyrinchus coronatus

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Northern Tropical Pewee

Contopus bogotensis

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorum

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

White-ringed Flycatcher

Conopias albovittatus

Rhytipterna holerythra

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Lipaugus unirufus

Carpodectes nitidus

Red-capped Manakin

Ceratopipra mentalis

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Green Shrike-Vireo

Vireolanius pulchellus

Yellow-green Vireo

Vireo flavoviridis

Riparia riparia

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Black-throated Wren

Pheugopedius atrogularis

Cantorchilus zeledoni

White-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Southern Nightingale-Wren

Microcerculus marginatus

Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus

Tawny-faced Gnatwren

Microbates cinereiventris

Grey-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus

Passer domesticus

White-vented Euphonia

Euphonia minuta

Tawny-capped Euphonia

Euphonia anneae

Yellow-billed Cacique

Amblycercus holosericeus

Molothrus bonariensis

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

Olive-crowned Yellowthroat

Geothlypis semiflava

Setophaga citrina

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Buff-rumped Warbler

Myiothlypis fulvicauda

Dusky-faced Tanager

Mitrospingus cassinii

Black-faced Grosbeak

Caryothraustes poliogaster

Passerina cyanea

Black-and-yellow Tanager

Chrysothlypis chrysomelas

Cinnamon-bellied Saltator

Saltator grandis

Black-headed Saltator

Saltator atriceps

Slate-colored Grosbeak

Saltator grossus

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Tiaris olivaceus

Bay-headed Tanager

White-faced Capuchin

Cebus capucinus

Alouatta palliata

White-nosed Coati

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus hoffmanni

Northern Tamandua

Tamandua mexicana

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

Red-tailed Squirrel

Sciurus granatensis

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

Rhynchonycteris naso

Greater Sac-winged Bat

Saccopteryx bilineata

Northern Raccoon

Central American Spider Monkey

Ateles geoffroyi

Crab-eating Raccoon

Procyon cancrivorus

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