Birds of Costa Rica (Helm Field Guides)

Product Information

The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged.

There are some inaccuracies, especially with the range maps, and some of the text on species, particularly the abundance, range and status, is misleading in some cases.I did note that the guides who accompany you on various jungle walks all had well thumbed copies of this book so must be the best one out there!

from the Introduction This is the one field guide the novice or experienced birder needs to identify birds in the field in the diverse habitats found in Costa Rica. The detailed full-color illustrations show identifying features--including plumage differences among males, females, and juveniles--and views of birds in flight wherever pertinent. Additionally, the pictorial table of contents of the major bird families on the inner cover and first few pages of the book is a clever addition that facilitates quickly finding species in the field. This well illustrated book includes coverage of waterbirds and migrants, as well as resident tropical species, and it discusses such topics as plumages, vocalisations, food habits, nesting, and distribution.Dale Dyer is an acclaimed bird illustrator and a field associate at the American Museum of Natural History. My only slight criticism was the illustrations occasionally did seem to accurately reflect the plumage seen but this was by no means a big issue. Therefore, a simple, effective field guide would be an invaluable tool for residents and visitors seeking to observe and identify birds. This is exactly the focus of The Birds of Costa Rica ―to assist with identification in the field―and the book succeeds admirably. Whereas the old guide had a section of colour illustrations taking up 52 pages in the middle, this new one has 166 plates.

Birds included range from the clay-colored robin (the Costa Rican national bird) to the resplendent quetzal (the most spectacular bird in a nation of spectacular birds). It seems obvious that the most important component of a book dedicated to enabling observers to identify a bird, is the accuracy of the illustrations. I also like supporting a local person, who has lived his life an advocate for birds, animals, and conservation and ecology in Costa Rica. The genuine pocket size allows the books to be carried around on trips and excursions and will take up minimal rucksack and suitcase space. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average.The text and maps are on the left page facing the colour plates with around five species per spread. The shimmering quetzals, gaudy macaws, and comical toucans that populate tourism posters only begin to hint at the impressive avian diversity to be found throughout this small country.

To help all of these visitors, as well as local residents, identify and enjoy the wildlife of Costa Rica, Carrol Henderson published Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica in 2002, and it became the instant and indispensable guide. Now, two trips to Costa Rica later, I can say I made absolutely the right choice and it has served me well. Over the years I have made three visits to Costa Rica, and have birded just about every corner of the country. Like most field guides, Birds of Costa Rica (2023) opens with a section detailing how to use the book. It reads more like a science book than anything else, but if you want the hardcore information without any prose or pretty pictures, this is the book for you.Graced with bounteous natural beauty Costa Rica has become a popular destination for travelers from all over the world. Costa Rica is among the most popular birding destinations in the world, with a breathtaking diversity of neotropical birdlife and stunningly beautiful habitats ranging from shady mangrove swamps to mist-enshrouded mountaintops and verdant rainforest. For the nature lover fortunate enough to vacation in Costa Rica—and for all lovers of beautiful birds—comes this up-to-date, comprehensive field guide to the native and migrant birds to be found in that country. These include recent additions to the country list, pelagic species, Cocos Island species, and all accidentals recorded from the Costa Rican mainland. Costa Rica is one of the premier birding destinations in the world, boasting good infrastructure, excellent accommodations and food, and most importantly a wealth of birds in a wide range of habitats.