Marino Ballena National Park

National Park · Costa Rica

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Photo © Yricordel

Photo © Yricordel — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where mangrove forests meet coral-fringed shorelines along Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast, Marino Ballena National Park encompasses a marine and terrestrial mosaic that ranks among Central America's most biodiverse coastal ecosystems. The park's signature feature—a submerged whale-tail sandbar that surfaces at low tide—anchors a seascape teeming with tropical fish, octopuses, sea stars and crustaceans that sustain an equally rich community of marine predators. Above the waterline, evergreen forests thick with moisture feed dense canopies where fruit-eating bats navigate alongside insectivorous birds and climbing mammals that never descend to the forest floor. The absence of a dry season—driven by the site's equatorial Af climate—means year-round rainfall sustains perennial streams, swollen mangrove roots and a landscape where vegetation remains verdant and water-dependent wildlife remains active every month. Rocky headlands punctuate sandy beaches, creating tidal pools that concentrate smaller creatures and attract wading birds, raptors and cormorants to the shoreline's rich feeding grounds.

For wildlife photographers and birding naturalists, Marino Ballena rewards patience and timing in equal measure. The park's shallow bays and reef systems remain accessible during calm morning conditions, offering unparalleled vantage points for observing marine mammals, seabirds and the schooling fish that draw larger predators to the surface. The perpetual humidity and consistent warmth create ideal light for underwater and macro work, especially when golden hour bathes the whale-tail formation in oblique rays that sculpt its distinctive shape. Divers and snorkelers find the most productive activity during the wetter months, when nutrient-rich runoff energizes the entire food web, while coastal trails through the park's protected forests yield close encounters with canopy-dwelling primates, sloths and the smaller passerines that thrive in this moisture-saturated realm. Access from nearby beach towns is straightforward, and the park's designation as a protected marine and terrestrial sanctuary ensures that wildlife corridors remain intact and populations stable—a rarity along developed tropical coasts.

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Penelope purpurascens

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Crowned Woodnymph

Thalurania colombica

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Smooth-billed Ani

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Grey-cowled Wood Rail

Aramides cajaneus

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

Pluvialis squatarola

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Northern Jacana

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Tringa semipalmata

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Western Sandpiper

Chlidonias niger

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Thalasseus elegans

Thalasseus maximus

Leucophaeus atricilla

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Ardenna pacifica

Mycteria americana

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Blue-footed Booby

Anhinga anhinga

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Egretta rufescens

Butorides virescens

Pelecanus occidentalis

Coragyps atratus

Pandion haliaetus

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Geranospiza caerulescens

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

Rupornis magnirostris

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

White-necked Puffbird

Notharchus hyperrhynchus

Fiery-billed Aracari

Pteroglossus frantzii

Golden-naped Woodpecker

Melanerpes chrysauchen

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Falco rufigularis

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Tawny-winged Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla anabatina

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

Black-hooded Antshrike

Thamnophilus bridgesi

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Pitangus sulphuratus

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Panama Flycatcher

Myiarchus panamensis

Cinnamon Becard

Pachyramphus cinnamomeus

Lesser Greenlet

Pachysylvia decurtata

Cyanocorax morio

Mangrove Swallow

Tachycineta albilinea

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Cantorchilus semibadius

Clay-colored Thrush

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Spot-crowned Euphonia

Euphonia imitans

Orange-billed Sparrow

Arremon aurantiirostris

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Melodious Blackbird

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Grey-headed Tanager

Eucometis penicillata

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus passerinii

Morelet's Seedeater

Sporophila morelleti

Thick-billed Seed Finch

Sporophila funerea

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Thraupis palmarum

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Yellow Tyrannulet

Capsiempis flaveola

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Euphonia luteicapilla

Crypturellus soui

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Cairina moschata

Grey-headed Chachalaca

Ortalis cinereiceps

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Short-tailed Nighthawk

Lurocalis semitorquatus

Nyctidromus albicollis

Nyctibius griseus

American Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Chestnut-collared Swift

Streptoprocne rutila

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Costa Rican Swift

Chaetura fumosa

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift

Panyptila cayennensis

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

White-crested Coquette

Lophornis adorabilis

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Chlorostilbon assimilis

Violet-headed Hummingbird

White-tailed Emerald

Microchera chionura

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

Phaeochroa cuvierii

Snowy-bellied Hummingbird

Saucerottia edward

Charming Hummingbird

Polyerata decora

Blue-throated Sapphire

Chlorestes eliciae

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Mangrove Cuckoo

Patagioenas speciosa

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Red-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas flavirostris

Short-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas nigrirostris

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Zenaida macroura

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

White-throated Crake

Laterallus albigularis

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Charadrius vociferus

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Phalaropus fulicarius

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

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Atlantic White Tern

Onychoprion anaethetus

Sternula antillarum

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Hydroprogne caspia

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinus

Red-billed Tropicbird

Phaethon aethereus

Black Storm Petrel

Hydrobates melania

Least Storm Petrel

Hydrobates microsoma

Pink-footed Shearwater

Ardenna creatopus

Galapagos Shearwater

Puffinus subalaris

Red-footed Booby

Sula dactylatra

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Roseate Spoonbill

Fasciated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma fasciatum

Great Blue Heron

Sarcoramphus papa

Gampsonyx swainsonii

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Grey-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Microspizias superciliosus

Ictinia plumbea

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Pseudastur albicollis

Grey-lined Hawk

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Tropical Screech Owl

Megascops choliba

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Lophostrix cristata

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Gartered Trogon

Trogon caligatus

Northern Black-throated Trogon

Trogon tenellus

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Lesson's Motmot

Momotus lessonii

White-whiskered Puffbird

Malacoptila panamensis

Yellow-throated Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Olivaceous Piculet

Picumnus olivaceus

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Melanerpes rubricapillus

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

Melanerpes hoffmannii

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Falco columbarius

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Brown-hooded Parrot

Pyrilia haematotis

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

White-crowned Parrot

Amazona farinosa

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Eupsittula canicularis

Brown-throated Parakeet

Eupsittula pertinax

Finsch's Parakeet

Psittacara finschi

Scaly-throated Leaftosser

Sclerurus guatemalensis

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus susurrans

Black-striped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus

Chiriqui Foliage-gleaner

Automolus exsertus

Pale-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albescens

Dot-winged Antwren

Microrhopias quixensis

Myrmotherula schisticolor

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Great Antshrike

Cercomacroides tyrannina

Chestnut-backed Antbird

Poliocrania exsul

Black-faced Antthrush

Formicarius analis

Streak-chested Antpitta

Hylopezus perspicillatus

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet

Ornithion semiflavum

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Mistletoe Tyrannulet

Zimmerius parvus

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Sayornis nigricans

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Northern Tropical Pewee

Contopus bogotensis

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Grey-capped Flycatcher

Myiozetetes granadensis

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Rhytipterna holerythra

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Lipaugus unirufus

Three-wattled Bellbird

Procnias tricarunculatus

Velvety Manakin

Lepidothrix velutina

Orange-collared Manakin

Manacus aurantiacus

Red-capped Manakin

Ceratopipra mentalis

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

Tityra semifasciata

Sulphur-rumped Myiobius

Myiobius sulphureipygius

Hylophilus flavipes

Yellow-green Vireo

Vireo flavoviridis

Vireo olivaceus

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus

White-throated Magpie-Jay

Cyanocorax formosus

Riparia riparia

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Hirundo rustica

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Rufous-backed Wren

Campylorhynchus capistratus

Black-bellied Wren

Pheugopedius fasciatoventris

Rufous-breasted Wren

Pheugopedius rutilus

Cantorchilus elutus

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

White-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Trilling Gnatwren

Ramphocaenus melanurus

White-browed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila bilineata

Tropical Mockingbird

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

White-throated Thrush

Turdus assimilis

Passer domesticus

Tricolored Munia

Lonchura malacca

White-vented Euphonia

Euphonia minuta

Black-striped Sparrow

Arremonops conirostris

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Yellow-billed Cacique

Amblycercus holosericeus

Chestnut-headed Oropendola

Psarocolius wagleri

Montezuma Oropendola

Psarocolius montezuma

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

Black-cowled Oriole

Icterus prosthemelas

Icterus spurius

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Molothrus oryzivorus

Molothrus bonariensis

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Seiurus aurocapilla

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Grey-crowned Yellowthroat

Geothlypis poliocephala

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Buff-rumped Warbler

Myiothlypis fulvicauda

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Blue-black Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia cyanoides

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Shining Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes lucidus

Cinnamon-bellied Saltator

Saltator grandis

Streaked Saltator

Saltator striatipectus

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Coereba flaveola

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Tiaris olivaceus

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

White-throated Shrike-Tanager

Lanio leucothorax

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila nigricollis

Speckled Tanager

Ixothraupis guttata

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

Bay-headed Tanager

Silver-throated Tanager

Tangara icterocephala

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus hoffmanni

Alouatta palliata

Northern Tamandua

Tamandua mexicana

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

Northern Neotropical River Otter

Lontra annectens

Northern Raccoon

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

Stenella attenuata

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

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