MOURNING DOVE, CURUBANDA LODGE PRESERVE, GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

ORANGE-CHINNED PARAKEET, HOTEL RIU GUANACASTE AREA, GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

   We can ID this parrot as an Orange-chinned Parakeet by its mostly green color with bluish tinges and its brownish patch.  The clump of orange feathers under the bill may not be seen when the bird is perched.

BROWN PELICAN LANDING ON ROCKS, HOTEL RIU GUANACASTE BEACH, GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

BLACK VULTURE ON TREE & IN FLIGHT, HOTEL RIU GUANACASTE AREA, GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

BLACK-HEADED TROGON, HOTEL RIU GUANACASTE AREA, GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

   Even though this trogon never turned around so we could see its front, we can identify this trogon as a Black-headed Trogon from the part of its face showing and from its back.  The key field mark is the dark eye srrounded by a pale-blue orbital ring.  Also indicative of this trogon is the black head, long and broad rectangular tail, bluish neck and back and black wings.

   The Black-headed Trogon is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 

WHITE-THROATED MAGPIE-JAY, HOTEL RIU GUANACASTE AREA, GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

   This beautiful White-throated Magpie-Jay is unmistakable.  The jay is blue, black and white with a very long tail and a black, blue and white curved plume on top of its head.  It also has a narrow band below the throat.

   The White-throated Magpie-Jay is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 295.

TURQUOISE-BROWED MOTMOTS, HOTEL RIU GUANACASTE AREA, GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

    We can easily ID these beautiful birds as Turquoise-browed Motmots because of their distinctive coloring and distinctive tails.  The tail is very long with a large bare shaft in the center and with the tips of the tail shaped like rackets.  The bare feather shaft is the longer than in any of the other motmots.  The Turquoise-browed Motmot is mostly green-blue with a rufous back and belly.  The face is distinctive, with blue/white above the eye and a blue--bordered black patch on the throat.

   Both sexes of the Turquoise-browed Motmot have similar tails.  In the male the tail is used as a sexual symbol.  Males with the longest tails have greater success at attracting females.  In both sexes the tail is used as a wag-display, where it is moved back and forth.  This is used to warn off predators.

   The Turquoise-browed Motmot is the national bird of both El Salvador and Nicaragua.

   The Turquoise-browed Motmot is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 294.