Corcovado National Park

National Park · Costa Rica

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Photo © Julio-César Chávez

Photo © Julio-César Chávez — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Osa Peninsula juts into the Pacific, rainforest descends almost to the tide line, and Corcovado National Park protects one of Central America's most intact lowland tropical ecosystems. The park's terrain ranges from coastal strand and mangrove lagoons through primary and secondary forest to higher ridgelines, each zone supporting its own distinct community of life. In the canopy, fruit-eating birds and primates navigate the tallest trees; on the forest floor, ground-dwelling birds scratch among leaf litter while insectivores hunt through moss-draped branches. Amphibians flourish in the humid understory and along streams, while nocturnal mammals emerge as darkness falls. The combination of year-round moisture, minimal human disturbance, and habitat diversity makes Corcovado a stronghold for tropical forest wildlife across every major functional group—a place where ecological complexity rivals anywhere on the continent.

For those drawn to tropical biodiversity, Corcovado demands patience and physical commitment but rewards both handsomely. The wet season, from May through November, brings peak insect and amphibian activity, though afternoon rains are heavy; the drier months of December to April offer clearer skies and easier forest access, along with concentrated wildlife viewing as animals converge on remaining water sources. Early morning and dusk are when vocal birds of the canopy and understory prove most active, and the park's trails—ranging from short coastal walks to demanding multi-day routes—offer different vantage points on the same rich tapestry. Access via Puerto Jiménez, the nearest settlement, is deliberate rather than convenient, which has helped preserve the park's pristine character and ensures that visitors who make the journey encounter a landscape that feels genuinely remote.

Yellow-throated Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus passerinii

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

Rupornis magnirostris

Coragyps atratus

Fiery-billed Aracari

Pteroglossus frantzii

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Lesson's Motmot

Momotus lessonii

Grey-headed Chachalaca

Ortalis cinereiceps

Velvety Manakin

Lepidothrix velutina

Long-billed Hermit

Phaethornis longirostris

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Gartered Trogon

Trogon caligatus

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Stripe-throated Hermit

Phaethornis striigularis

Roseate Spoonbill

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

Northern Black-throated Trogon

Trogon tenellus

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

Pitangus sulphuratus

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Black-hooded Antshrike

Thamnophilus bridgesi

Penelope purpurascens

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus guatemalensis

Red-capped Manakin

Ceratopipra mentalis

Coereba flaveola

Grey-cowled Wood Rail

Aramides cajaneus

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Lophostrix cristata

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Sarcoramphus papa

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Golden-naped Woodpecker

Melanerpes chrysauchen

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Melanerpes rubricapillus

Thraupis palmarum

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Pelecanus occidentalis

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Orange-billed Sparrow

Arremon aurantiirostris

Black-striped Sparrow

Arremonops conirostris

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Charming Hummingbird

Polyerata decora

Northern Jacana

Butorides virescens

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Cantorchilus semibadius

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Spot-crowned Euphonia

Euphonia imitans

Grey-capped Flycatcher

Myiozetetes granadensis

Clay-colored Thrush

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Chestnut-backed Antbird

Poliocrania exsul

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

White-necked Puffbird

Notharchus hyperrhynchus

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

Short-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas nigrirostris

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus susurrans

White-whiskered Puffbird

Malacoptila panamensis

Grey-headed Tanager

Eucometis penicillata

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Pandion haliaetus

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Galbula ruficauda

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Band-tailed Barbthroat

Threnetes ruckeri

Pseudastur albicollis

Crowned Woodnymph

Thalurania colombica

White-crowned Parrot

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Amazonian Black-throated Trogon

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Crypturellus soui

Lipaugus unirufus

Amazona farinosa

Dot-winged Antwren

Microrhopias quixensis

Black-faced Antthrush

Formicarius analis

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

White-shouldered Tanager

Loriotus luctuosus

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Mangrove Swallow

Tachycineta albilinea

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Smooth-billed Ani

Nyctidromus albicollis

Tityra semifasciata

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Tringa semipalmata

Nyctibius griseus

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Turquoise Cotinga

Cotinga ridgwayi

Leucophaeus atricilla

Orange-collared Manakin

Manacus aurantiacus

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Thalasseus maximus

White-throated Shrike-Tanager

Lanio leucothorax

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Costa Rican Swift

Chaetura fumosa

Cairina moschata

Steatornis caripensis

Nyctibius grandis

White-tipped Sicklebill

Eutoxeres aquila

Purple-crowned Fairy

Heliothryx barroti

White-crested Coquette

Lophornis adorabilis

Violet-headed Hummingbird

Blue-throated Sapphire

Chlorestes eliciae

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

Grey-chested Dove

Leptotila cassinii

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Thalasseus elegans

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Fasciated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma fasciatum

Egretta rufescens

Great Blue Heron

Grey-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Microspizias superciliosus

Geranospiza caerulescens

Buteogallus meridionalis

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

American Barn Owl

Tropical Screech Owl

Megascops choliba

Choco Screech Owl

Megascops centralis

Black-and-white Owl

Strix nigrolineata

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Red-throated Caracara

Ibycter americanus

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Brown-hooded Parrot

Pyrilia haematotis

Scaly-throated Leaftosser

Sclerurus guatemalensis

Tawny-winged Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla anabatina

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae

Black-striped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus

Northern Plain Xenops

Xenops mexicanus

Chiriqui Foliage-gleaner

Automolus exsertus

Western Woodhaunter

Automolus virgatus

Russet Antshrike

Thamnistes anabatinus

Myrmotherula schisticolor

Bicolored Antbird

Gymnopithys bicolor

Cercomacroides tyrannina

Streak-chested Antpitta

Hylopezus perspicillatus

Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet

Ornithion semiflavum

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus pileatus

Eye-ringed Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus brevirostris

Golden-crowned Spadebill

Platyrinchus coronatus

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Rhytipterna holerythra

Northern Schiffornis

Schiffornis veraepacis

Rose-throated Becard

Pachyramphus aglaiae

Sulphur-rumped Myiobius

Myiobius sulphureipygius

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Terenotriccus erythrurus

Ochre-crowned Greenlet

Tunchiornis ochraceiceps

Lesser Greenlet

Pachysylvia decurtata

Cyanocorax morio

Black-bellied Wren

Pheugopedius fasciatoventris

Trilling Gnatwren

Ramphocaenus melanurus

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

White-throated Thrush

Turdus assimilis

Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Euphonia luteicapilla

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Molothrus oryzivorus

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Buff-rumped Warbler

Myiothlypis fulvicauda

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Blue-black Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia cyanoides

Shining Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes lucidus

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

Bay-headed Tanager

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Short-tailed Nighthawk

Lurocalis semitorquatus

Chuck-will's-widow

Antrostomus carolinensis

Rufous Nightjar

Antrostomus rufus

Spot-fronted Swift

Cypseloides cherriei

American Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Chestnut-collared Swift

Streptoprocne rutila

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift

Panyptila cayennensis

Phaethornis guy

Anthracothorax veraguensis

Long-billed Starthroat

Heliomaster longirostris

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Chlorostilbon assimilis

Violet Sabrewing

Campylopterus hemileucurus

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

Phaeochroa cuvierii

Snowy-bellied Hummingbird

Saucerottia edward

Sapphire-throated Hummingbird

Chrysuronia coeruleogularis

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Mangrove Cuckoo

Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Patagioenas speciosa

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Amaurolimnas concolor

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Yellow-breasted Crake

Laterallus flaviventer

Grey-breasted Crake

Laterallus exilis

White-throated Crake

Laterallus albigularis

Aramus guarauna

Tachybaptus dominicus

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Pluvialis squatarola

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Charadrius vociferus

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Gallinago delicata

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Wandering Tattler

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Calidris virgata

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Onychoprion anaethetus

Sternula antillarum

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Hydroprogne caspia

Larosterna inca

Chlidonias niger

Sterna paradisaea

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinus

Red-billed Tropicbird

Phaethon aethereus

Wedge-rumped Storm Petrel

Hydrobates tethys

Black Storm Petrel

Hydrobates melania

Least Storm Petrel

Hydrobates microsoma

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Ardenna pacifica

Sooty Shearwater

Galapagos Shearwater

Puffinus subalaris

Mycteria americana

Red-footed Booby

Sula dactylatra

Blue-footed Booby

Anhinga anhinga

Plegadis falcinellus

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Black Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus tyrannus

Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus ornatus

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Ictinia plumbea

Morphnarchus princeps

Grey-lined Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Middle American Screech Owl

Megascops guatemalae

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Olivaceous Piculet

Picumnus olivaceus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Red-rumped Woodpecker

Veniliornis kirkii

Rufous-winged Woodpecker

Piculus simplex

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Falco columbarius

Falco rufigularis

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Finsch's Parakeet

Psittacara finschi

Ruddy Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla homochroa

Brown-billed Scythebill

Campylorhamphus pusillus

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

Slaty Spinetail

Synallaxis brachyura

Pale-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albescens

Dysithamnus mentalis

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Great Antshrike

Bare-crowned Antbird

Gymnocichla nudiceps

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Greenish Elaenia

Myiopagis viridicata

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Elaenia chiriquensis

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Yellow Tyrannulet

Capsiempis flaveola

Mistletoe Tyrannulet

Zimmerius parvus

Northern Bentbill

Oncostoma cinereigulare

Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus sylvia

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Northern Tropical Pewee

Contopus bogotensis

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorum

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Panama Flycatcher

Myiarchus panamensis

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Three-wattled Bellbird

Procnias tricarunculatus

Yellow-billed Cotinga

Carpodectes antoniae

White-ruffed Manakin

Corapipo altera

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

Cinnamon Becard

Pachyramphus cinnamomeus

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Tropical Royal Flycatcher

Onychorhynchus coronatus

Black-tailed Myiobius

Myiobius atricaudus

Green Shrike-Vireo

Vireolanius pulchellus

Hylophilus flavipes

Yellow-green Vireo

Vireo flavoviridis

Vireo olivaceus

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

White-throated Magpie-Jay

Cyanocorax formosus

Bombycilla cedrorum

Riparia riparia

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Hirundo rustica

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Cantorchilus elutus

White-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Southern Nightingale-Wren

Microcerculus marginatus

White-browed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila bilineata

Tropical Mockingbird

Hylocichla mustelina

Passer domesticus

White-vented Euphonia

Euphonia minuta

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Yellow-breasted Chat

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Red-breasted Meadowlark

Leistes militaris

Yellow-billed Cacique

Amblycercus holosericeus

Chestnut-headed Oropendola

Psarocolius wagleri

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Montezuma Oropendola

Psarocolius montezuma

Icterus spurius

Molothrus bonariensis

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Melodious Blackbird

Seiurus aurocapilla

Worm-eating Warbler

Helmitheros vermivorum

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Blue-winged Warbler

Vermivora cyanoptera

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Grey-crowned Yellowthroat

Geothlypis poliocephala

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

Setophaga citrina

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Setophaga palmarum

Setophaga coronata

Yellow-throated Warbler

Setophaga dominica

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

Cardellina canadensis

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Spiza americana

Passerina caerulea

Passerina cyanea

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Scarlet-thighed Dacnis

Streaked Saltator

Saltator striatipectus

Morelet's Seedeater

Sporophila morelleti

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila nigricollis

Thick-billed Seed Finch

Sporophila funerea

Slate-colored Seedeater

Sporophila schistacea

Ruddy-breasted Seedeater

Sporophila minuta

Silver-throated Tanager

Tangara icterocephala

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Heliornis fulica

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Sula leucogaster

Blue-capped Manakin

Lepidothrix coronata

Zeledon's Antbird

Hafferia zeledoni

Central American Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Central American Spider Monkey

Ateles geoffroyi

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus hoffmanni

Alouatta palliata

White-nosed Coati

Red-tailed Squirrel

Sciurus granatensis

Leopardus pardalis

Mexican Red Brocket

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

Mexican Hairy Porcupine

Coendou mexicanus

White-lipped Peccary

Northern Neotropical River Otter

Lontra annectens

Central American Dwarf Squirrel

Microsciurus alfari

Chestnut Sac-winged Bat

Cormura brevirostris

Northern Ghost Bat

Diclidurus albus

Rhynchonycteris naso

Greater Sac-winged Bat

Saccopteryx bilineata

Lesser Sac-winged Bat

Saccopteryx leptura

Common Fringe-lipped Bat

Trachops cirrhosus

White-throated Round-eared Bat

Lophostoma silvicola

Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus jamaicensis

Great Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus lituratus

Pygmy Fruit-eating Bat

Dermanura phaeotis

Common Tent-making Bat

Uroderma bilobatum

Northern Little Yellow-eared Bat

Vampyressa thyone

Spix's Disk-winged Bat

Thyroptera tricolor

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

Stenella attenuata

White-faced Capuchin

Cebus capucinus

Thomas's Shaggy Bat

Centronycteris centralis

Mesoamerican Common Mustached Bat

Pteronotus mesoamericanus

Greater Bulldog Bat

Noctilio leporinus

Seba's Short-tailed Bat

Carollia perspicillata

Common Vampire Bat

Desmodus rotundus

Pallas's Long-tongued Bat

Glossophaga soricina

Hairy Big-eared Bat

Micronycteris hirsuta

Northern Stripe-headed Round-eared Bat

Vampyrum spectrum

Thomas's Fruit-eating Bat

Dermanura watsoni

Wrinkle-faced Bat

Silver-tipped Myotis

Myotis albescens

Striped Hog-nosed Skunk

Conepatus semistriatus

Leopardus wiedii

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