(Courtesy of Sebastian Wallroth/Wikimedia Commons) Grackles belong to the Icteridae family, along with orioles and blackbirds. They produce a variety of bizarre sounds: Grackles are highly intelligent (many have been observed stealing dog food and soaking it in water to soften it), and are considered pests in some parts of the world where their populations have expanded rapidly. Spanish & Costa Rican local names: Clarinero, Zanate Grande, Sanateįew birds can match the attitude of the great-tailed grackle, which can be seen strutting around parks and plazas throughout Costa Rica, flashing its piercing yellow eyes and trailing a giant V-shaped tail. Great-tailed Grackle ( Quiscalus mexicanus) They eat berries and other fruits and also forage for arthropods. They are monogamous, and typically travel in pairs (sometimes forming small flocks) year-round. Blue-gray tanagers prefer open and semi-open areas, and are commonly found along roads and in urban parks and gardens. Tanagers are among the most colorful birds in the neotropics, and this species is no exception. Spanish & Costa Rican local names: Tangara Azuleja, Viudita, Viuda It belongs to the Turdidae family, which includes thrushes, robins, solitaires, and others. The clay-colored thrush is often seen hopping on the ground, as it forages actively for invertebrates. According to local lore, the Yigüirro “calls the rain” just before the rainy season, with its long, wandering song: This drab species (formerly known as clay-colored robin) doesn’t seem like the obvious choice for Costa Rica’s national bird, but it was chosen for its song, not its looks. Spanish & Costa Rican local names: Mirlo Pardo, Yigüirro They belong to the tyrant flycatcher family (Tyrannidae). Great kiskadees are common in gardens and open areas throughout the country in San José they perch in trees and on utility wires, and make an enormous amount of noise. The great kiskadee is a raucous bird whose name is derived from its call in both English (“KIS-ka-DEE”) and Spanish (“bien-te-veo”). Here’s what a group of great kiskadees sounds like: Spanish & Costa Rican local names: Bienteveo Grande, Cristo Fue, Pecho Amarillo* (Courtesy of Andy Morffew/Wikimedia Commons) So, if you find yourself in a jungle of the concrete variety, here’s a quick introduction to some of the most common birds of San José (and many other urban areas of Costa Rica). And the ones you see while sitting in traffic are no less amazing than those deep in the rain forest. As it turns out, birding is the nature-lover’s antidote to living in the city, because birds are everywhere. This column will continue to explore all kinds of species found in Costa Rica, but with an emphasis on birds for the next few months.ĭespite the best efforts of many a telescope-wielding nature guide, I fell in love with birds while sitting at my desk in San José, editing a field guide to the birds of Costa Rica in my previous job. The Tico Times is pleased to welcome Robin Kazmier, the general manager of our Publications Group, into an additional role: at the helm of “Into the Wild,” the monthly wildlife column written by Lindsay Fendt over the past year.
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