Product Description

"Graced with bounteous natural beauty, a stable democratic government, and friendly citizens, Costa Rica has become a popular destination for travelers from all over the world. Birds play a prominent role in attracting visitors, too. The shimmering quetzals, gaudy macaws, and comical toucans only begin to hint at the impressive avian diversity to be found throughout this small country."--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. It features descriptions and illustrations of more than 820 resident and neotropical migrant species found in Costa Rica, all in a compact, portable, user-friendly design. The detailed full-color illustrations show identifying features--including plumage differences among males, females, and juveniles--and views of birds in flight wherever pertinent. Additional features of this all-new guide include:

o 166 original color plates depicting more than 820 species.

o Concise text that describes key field marks for positive identification, as well as habitat, behavior, and vocalizations.

o Range maps and texts arranged on opposing pages from illustrations for quick, easy reference.

o The most up-to-date bird list for Costa Rica.

o A visual guide to the anatomical features of birds with accompanying explanatory text.

o Quick reference to vultures and raptors in flight.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12480 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

From the Back Cover
"The appearance of this new, compact guide to the birds of Costa Rica should spur even more international birders to come to this avian paradise. I congratulate author and artist on a job well done."--Robert S. Ridgely, World Land Trust, author of Birds of Ecuador, Birds of Panama, and Birds of South America

"This book is a must for birders visiting Costa Rica. It is compact, easy to carry in the field, and filled with useful information. I highly recommend it."--Victor Emanuel, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours

About the Author
Richard Garrigues is one of the preeminent birding guides in Costa Rica, with more than twenty years' experience leading birding and natural history tours. Robert Dean is an avid birder and natural history illustrator. Both live in Costa Rica.

Customer Reviews

Just what's needed
I used the Stiles and Skutch book for years, but could hardly wait for this guide to come out. It was definitely worth the wait. The S&S book has a serious problem with outdated scientific names and classifications. These things shift constantly as new evidence comes to light, so they have to be kept up to date, which Richard Garrigues does well.

This, plus the Official List of Birds to Costa Rica, published by the Costa Rican Ornithological Association, provide a good field guidebook and the latest checklist to record sightings. These two together are what all birders need for their Costa Rica vacation.

Janet May

Best Costa Rican Bird Field Guide
I purchased this book among others prior to taking a summer birding tour to Costa Rica. This is the book you will, currently, need to take with you!!! Don't even hesitate to purchase this one if you are going to be doing some serious birding.

Another nice supplemental bird book is the Hummingbirds of Costa Rica; I know it is a large book (not a field guide) but the information and photography of the hummingbirds is extremely helpful to study. Another essential edition is A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica by Stiles and Skutch.

Great book for field identification...
This book is well illustrated and well laid out for identifying the birds of Costa Rica both in and out of the field. It's compact and fairly light weight which makes it ideal to tote around the jungle. It can easily fit in the large pocket of any cargo short or pant as well. I would also recommend buying this book from Amazon before or after your trip to Costa Rica. Buying it in Costa Rica will prove to be much more expensive. We saw it priced between $30 and $45 in various parts of Costa Rica. But never less than $30...