Palo Verde National Park

National Park · Costa Rica

No ratings yet

Photo © Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA

Photo © Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Dry forest spreads across Palo Verde's low-lying terrain in northwestern Guanacaste, where seasonal rivers and lagoons etch through deciduous woodland that sheds its canopy each winter. This is the domain of the Aw climate—warm year-round, but starkly divided between a wet summer flood and a harsh dry season that leaves the landscape skeletal. When the rains arrive from May through November, the park transforms into a patchwork of wetland and woodland; when they retreat, water concentrates in oxbow lakes and river channels, drawing birds of prey, wading birds, waterfowl and shorebirds in extraordinary densities. The exposed branches of bare trees and open water make wildlife conspicuous during those parched months. Mammals ranging from medium-sized carnivores to primates and hoofed species move between forest fragments and gallery woodlands that trace the watercourses. Reptiles and amphibians emerge in force during the wet season, while dry months see them retreating into refuge. This interplay of scarcity and abundance, visibility and concealment, defines the ecological rhythm that has made Palo Verde one of Central America's most important refugia for species dependent on seasonal wetlands and dry tropical forest.

For wildlife photographers and birders, the dry season—December through April—offers unparalleled opportunity. Water becomes concentrated and scarce, pulling animals into predictable locations where the absence of foliage provides clean sightlines impossible in lusher months. Early mornings reward patient observers with concentrations of wading birds, water birds, raptors and insectivores moving through the open canopy. The park's trail network and viewing platforms provide access to both wetland margins and upland forest, while boat tours along the Rio Tempisque yield close encounters with riverside fauna. Sunrise light in the dry months cuts cleanly through the sparse woodland, creating the kind of dramatic illumination that separates memorable photographs from ordinary ones. The park's position on a crucial migration corridor means late winter can bring species moving between breeding grounds and wintering grounds. Access from the nearby town of Bagaces is straightforward, making multi-day visits feasible for serious naturalists seeking to understand how seasonal tropical ecosystems sustain their extraordinary biological wealth.

Keel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos sulfuratus

Thicket Tinamou

Crypturellus cinnamomeus

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Cairina moschata

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Penelope purpurascens

Spot-bellied Bobwhite

Colinus leucopogon

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Nyctidromus albicollis

Green-breasted Mango

Anthracothorax prevostii

Green-crowned Brilliant

Heliodoxa jacula

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Canivet's Emerald

Cynanthus canivetii

Violet Sabrewing

Campylopterus hemileucurus

Cinnamon Hummingbird

Amazilia rutila

Blue-throated Sapphire

Chlorestes eliciae

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

Lesser Ground Cuckoo

Morococcyx erythropygus

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Mangrove Cuckoo

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Russet-naped Wood Rail

Aramides albiventris

Porzana carolina

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Fulica americana

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Aramus guarauna

Tachybaptus dominicus

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Pluvialis squatarola

Charadrius vociferus

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Northern Jacana

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Hydroprogne caspia

Mycteria americana

Jabiru mycteria

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Anhinga anhinga

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

Plegadis falcinellus

Roseate Spoonbill

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Butorides virescens

Great Blue Heron

Coragyps atratus

Pandion haliaetus

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Grey-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius

Geranospiza caerulescens

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Rupornis magnirostris

Parabuteo unicinctus

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

American Barn Owl

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Pacific Screech Owl

Megascops cooperi

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Black-headed Trogon

Trogon melanocephalus

Gartered Trogon

Trogon caligatus

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Turquoise-browed Motmot

Eumomota superciliosa

White-necked Puffbird

Notharchus hyperrhynchus

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

Melanerpes hoffmannii

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus guatemalensis

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Falco columbarius

Falco rufigularis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Eupsittula canicularis

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Pitangus sulphuratus

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Nutting's Flycatcher

Myiarchus nuttingi

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Long-tailed Manakin

Chiroxiphia linearis

Rose-throated Becard

Pachyramphus aglaiae

Lesser Greenlet

Pachysylvia decurtata

Yellow-green Vireo

Vireo flavoviridis

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

White-throated Magpie-Jay

Cyanocorax formosus

Mangrove Swallow

Tachycineta albilinea

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Hirundo rustica

Rufous-backed Wren

Campylorhynchus capistratus

Thryophilus pleurostictus

White-browed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila bilineata

White-lored Gnatcatcher

Polioptila albiloris

Tropical Mockingbird

Clay-colored Thrush

Euphonia affinis

Stripe-headed Sparrow

Peucaea ruficauda

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Streak-backed Oriole

Icterus pustulatus

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Setophaga coronata

Chestnut-capped Warbler

Basileuterus delattrii

Spiza americana

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Morelet's Seedeater

Sporophila morelleti

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Crypturellus soui

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

Northern Pintail

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Nomonyx dominicus

Plain Chachalaca

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

White-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis cayennensis

Chuck-will's-widow

Antrostomus carolinensis

Nyctibius jamaicensis

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Stripe-throated Hermit

Phaethornis striigularis

Plain-capped Starthroat

Heliomaster constantii

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

Phaeochroa cuvierii

Blue-vented Hummingbird

Saucerottia hoffmanni

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Red-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas flavirostris

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa

Grey-headed Dove

Leptotila plumbeiceps

Zenaida macroura

Pardirallus maculatus

Paint-billed Crake

Mustelirallus erythrops

White-throated Crake

Laterallus albigularis

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Gallinago delicata

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

Tringa semipalmata

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Chlidonias niger

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Thalasseus elegans

Thalasseus maximus

Leucophaeus atricilla

Pinnated Bittern

Botaurus pinnatus

Egretta rufescens

Pelecanus occidentalis

Sarcoramphus papa

Gampsonyx swainsonii

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Black-collared Hawk

Busarellus nigricollis

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Tropical Screech Owl

Megascops choliba

Lophostrix cristata

Black-and-white Owl

Strix nigrolineata

Lesson's Motmot

Momotus lessonii

Collared Aracari

Pteroglossus torquatus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Yellow-naped Amazon

Amazona auropalliata

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Ruddy Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla homochroa

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus flavigaster

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Greenish Elaenia

Myiopagis viridicata

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma imberbe

Mistletoe Tyrannulet

Zimmerius parvus

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Northern Scrub Flycatcher

Sublegatus arenarum

Northern Bentbill

Oncostoma cinereigulare

Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus sylvia

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Sayornis nigricans

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Northern Tropical Pewee

Contopus bogotensis

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorum

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Panama Flycatcher

Myiarchus panamensis

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

Tityra semifasciata

Cinnamon Becard

Pachyramphus cinnamomeus

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Tropical Royal Flycatcher

Onychorhynchus coronatus

Vireo olivaceus

Cyanocorax morio

Riparia riparia

Tachycineta bicolor

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Rufous-and-white Wren

Thryophilus rufalbus

Cantorchilus modestus

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Trilling Gnatwren

Ramphocaenus melanurus

Hylocichla mustelina

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Passer domesticus

Tricolored Munia

Lonchura malacca

Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Euphonia luteicapilla

Yellow-throated Euphonia

Euphonia hirundinacea

Arremonops rufivirgatus

Yellow-billed Cacique

Amblycercus holosericeus

Montezuma Oropendola

Psarocolius montezuma

Icterus spurius

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Melodious Blackbird

Seiurus aurocapilla

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Grey-crowned Yellowthroat

Geothlypis poliocephala

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

Setophaga citrina

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Cardellina canadensis

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Blue-black Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia cyanoides

Passerina caerulea

Passerina cyanea

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Cinnamon-bellied Saltator

Saltator grandis

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Coereba flaveola

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Tiaris olivaceus

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Grey-headed Tanager

Eucometis penicillata

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Thraupis palmarum

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

White-faced Capuchin

Cebus capucinus

Leopardus pardalis

White-nosed Coati

Northern Black-eared Opossum

Didelphis marsupialis

Mexican Mouse Opossum

Marmosa mexicana

Northern Tamandua

Tamandua mexicana

Alouatta palliata

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

Big-eared Climbing Rat

Ototylomys phyllotis

Gray Sac-winged Bat

Balantiopteryx plicata

Rhynchonycteris naso

Greater Bulldog Bat

Noctilio leporinus

Common Vampire Bat

Desmodus rotundus

Common Fringe-lipped Bat

Trachops cirrhosus

Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus jamaicensis

Northern Raccoon

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Central American Spider Monkey

Ateles geoffroyi

Common Big-eared Bat

Micronycteris microtis

View Complete List (334 more) →

0 Community observations

No community observations yet — be the first to log a sighting here.