Santa Rosa National Park

National Park · Costa Rica

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Photo © CARLOS TEIXIDOR CADENAS

Photo © CARLOS TEIXIDOR CADENAS — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where Pacific-facing slopes descend from volcanic uplands toward the Guanacaste lowlands, Santa Rosa National Park unfolds across a mosaic of tropical dry forest, gallery woodland, and seasonal grassland. The park's landscape—shaped by millennia of fire, water, and wildlife movement—presents an ecology of dramatic contrasts: parched deciduous forest in the dry season gives way to lush understory growth when the rains arrive, while riparian corridors support denser canopy and distinct plant and animal communities. This gradient from upland forest through transitional zones to open savanna creates a working laboratory of tropical succession and adaptation. Small mammals, arboreal and terrestrial alike, navigate this patchwork; birds of prey quarter the canopies and open ground; ground-feeding birds forage through leaf litter where seasonal water and nutrient cycles animate the soil; and predators both large and cryptic patrol the boundaries between habitat zones. The park's role as a protected corridor means that far-ranging species use it for passage and seasonal residence, making it far more biologically dynamic than its area alone might suggest.

For wildlife photographers and patient observers, Santa Rosa rewards dawn and dusk visits with authentic glimpses of tropical fauna moving through their real habitat—not a managed preserve, but a working ecosystem where light and shadow play across thickets, clearings, and the textured canopy typical of Central American dry forest. The dry season, roughly December through April, concentrates wildlife around permanent water sources and makes observation easier; the greener months support different activity patterns and attract migrants. Well-maintained trails—some leading to coastal vistas—offer access to this varied terrain without compromise to conservation. Those who come prepared for heat, variable trail conditions, and the patience required for genuine wildlife encounters will find themselves in one of Central America's most ecologically significant parks, where the interplay of landscape, season, and wild behavior unfolds according to nature's schedule rather than a visitor's convenience.

Keel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos sulfuratus

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Pelecanus occidentalis

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Turquoise-browed Motmot

Eumomota superciliosa

White-lored Gnatcatcher

Polioptila albiloris

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Butorides virescens

Cinnamon Hummingbird

Amazilia rutila

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Stripe-headed Sparrow

Peucaea ruficauda

Rufous-necked Wood Rail

Aramides axillaris

Grey-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Trilling Gnatwren

Ramphocaenus melanurus

Penelope purpurascens

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

White-throated Magpie-Jay

Cyanocorax formosus

Black-headed Trogon

Trogon melanocephalus

Rupornis magnirostris

Yellow-naped Amazon

Amazona auropalliata

Coragyps atratus

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Eupsittula canicularis

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

Thryophilus pleurostictus

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

Melanerpes hoffmannii

Pitangus sulphuratus

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Rufous-backed Wren

Campylorhynchus capistratus

Clay-colored Thrush

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Pacific Screech Owl

Megascops cooperi

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

White-necked Puffbird

Notharchus hyperrhynchus

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus guatemalensis

Red-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas flavirostris

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

Grey-headed Tanager

Eucometis penicillata

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa

Russet-naped Wood Rail

Aramides albiventris

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Thicket Tinamou

Crypturellus cinnamomeus

White-fronted Amazon

Amazona albifrons

Mycteria americana

Pandion haliaetus

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Sarcoramphus papa

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Black-striped Sparrow

Arremonops conirostris

Green-crowned Brilliant

Heliodoxa jacula

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Buteo plagiatus

Gartered Trogon

Trogon caligatus

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Melodious Blackbird

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Nyctidromus albicollis

Chestnut-capped Warbler

Basileuterus delattrii

Streak-backed Oriole

Icterus pustulatus

Tityra semifasciata

Lesser Greenlet

Pachysylvia decurtata

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Long-tailed Manakin

Chiroxiphia linearis

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Arremonops rufivirgatus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Double-striped Thick-knee

Hesperoburhinus bistriatus

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae

Yellow-green Vireo

Vireo flavoviridis

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Tringa semipalmata

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus flavigaster

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Thalasseus maximus

Nyctibius jamaicensis

Tachybaptus dominicus

Geranospiza caerulescens

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma imberbe

White-browed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila bilineata

Euphonia affinis

Mangrove Cuckoo

Collared Plover

Anarhynchus collaris

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Tropical Royal Flycatcher

Onychorhynchus coronatus

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Hirundo rustica

Cairina moschata

Spot-bellied Bobwhite

Colinus leucopogon

Buff-collared Nightjar

Antrostomus ridgwayi

Stripe-throated Hermit

Phaethornis striigularis

Lesser Violetear

Colibri cyanotus

Canivet's Emerald

Cynanthus canivetii

Violet Sabrewing

Campylopterus hemileucurus

Blue-vented Hummingbird

Saucerottia hoffmanni

Lesser Ground Cuckoo

Morococcyx erythropygus

Patagioenas speciosa

Northern Jacana

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Egretta rufescens

Great Blue Heron

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Lesson's Motmot

Momotus lessonii

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Black-crowned Antshrike

Thamnophilus atrinucha

Greenish Elaenia

Myiopagis viridicata

Northern Bentbill

Oncostoma cinereigulare

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Northern Tropical Pewee

Contopus bogotensis

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Vireo olivaceus

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus

Rufous-and-white Wren

Thryophilus rufalbus

Tropical Mockingbird

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

Passerina caerulea

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Crypturellus soui

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Plain Chachalaca

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Chuck-will's-widow

Antrostomus carolinensis

Nyctibius grandis

White-chinned Swift

Cypseloides cryptus

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Green-breasted Mango

Anthracothorax prevostii

Violet-headed Hummingbird

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

Phaeochroa cuvierii

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Blue-throated Sapphire

Chlorestes eliciae

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

Grey-headed Dove

Leptotila plumbeiceps

Grey-chested Dove

Leptotila cassinii

Zenaida macroura

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

White-throated Crake

Laterallus albigularis

Aramus guarauna

Pluvialis squatarola

Charadrius vociferus

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Wandering Tattler

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Onychoprion anaethetus

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Hydroprogne caspia

Chlidonias niger

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Thalasseus elegans

Leucophaeus atricilla

Eurypyga helias

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Ardenna pacifica

Sooty Shearwater

Galapagos Shearwater

Puffinus subalaris

Red-footed Booby

Blue-footed Booby

Anhinga anhinga

Roseate Spoonbill

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Western Cattle Egret

Gampsonyx swainsonii

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Black Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus tyrannus

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius

Ictinia plumbea

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Parabuteo unicinctus

Pseudastur albicollis

White-tailed Hawk

Geranoaetus albicaudatus

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

American Barn Owl

Black-and-white Owl

Strix nigrolineata

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Northern Black-throated Trogon

Trogon tenellus

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Yellow-throated Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Collared Aracari

Pteroglossus torquatus

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes pucherani

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Falco columbarius

Falco rufigularis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Brown-hooded Parrot

Pyrilia haematotis

White-crowned Parrot

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Amazona farinosa

Olive-throated Parakeet

Eupsittula nana

Finsch's Parakeet

Psittacara finschi

Ruddy Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla homochroa

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus susurrans

Fasciated Antshrike

Cymbilaimus lineatus

Cercomacroides tyrannina

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus sylvia

Stub-tailed Spadebill

Platyrinchus cancrominus

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorum

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Rhytipterna holerythra

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Nutting's Flycatcher

Myiarchus nuttingi

White-collared Manakin

Red-capped Manakin

Ceratopipra mentalis

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Rose-throated Becard

Pachyramphus aglaiae

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis gujanensis

Cyanocorax morio

Bombycilla cedrorum

Riparia riparia

Mangrove Swallow

Tachycineta albilinea

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Petrochelidon fulva

Cantorchilus modestus

Cantorchilus zeledoni

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

White-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Dumetella carolinensis

Hylocichla mustelina

Passer domesticus

Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Euphonia luteicapilla

Yellow-throated Euphonia

Euphonia hirundinacea

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Montezuma Oropendola

Psarocolius montezuma

Icterus spurius

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Seiurus aurocapilla

Worm-eating Warbler

Helmitheros vermivorum

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Blue-winged Warbler

Vermivora cyanoptera

Grey-crowned Yellowthroat

Geothlypis poliocephala

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

Setophaga citrina

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Setophaga palmarum

Setophaga coronata

Yellow-throated Warbler

Setophaga dominica

Cardellina canadensis

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Spiza americana

Passerina cyanea

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Scarlet-thighed Dacnis

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Coereba flaveola

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus passerinii

Morelet's Seedeater

Sporophila morelleti

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Thraupis palmarum

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

Nomonyx dominicus

Wedge-rumped Storm Petrel

Hydrobates tethys

Jabiru mycteria

Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga cerulea

Central American Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Alouatta palliata

White-nosed Coati

Northern Tamandua

Tamandua mexicana

Northern Raccoon

Greater Sac-winged Bat

Saccopteryx bilineata

Burmeister's Cotton Rat

Sigmodon hirsutus

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

Central American Spider Monkey

Ateles geoffroyi

Big-eared Climbing Rat

Ototylomys phyllotis

Sumichrast's Vesper Rat

Nyctomys sumichrasti

Derby's Woolly Opossum

Caluromys derbianus

Northern Black-eared Opossum

Didelphis marsupialis

Leopardus pardalis

Mexican Hairy Porcupine

Coendou mexicanus

Northern Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Southern Spotted Skunk

Spilogale angustifrons

Pallas's Long-tongued Bat

Glossophaga soricina

Gray Sac-winged Bat

Balantiopteryx plicata

Mexican Mouse Opossum

Marmosa mexicana

Common Vampire Bat

Desmodus rotundus

Orange-throated Bat

Lampronycteris brachyotis

Great Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus lituratus

Megaptera novaeangliae

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