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Costa Rica Wildlife
Find out about the variety of wildlife you can see and photograph on one of Will Gray's Costa Rica Photography Tours – from primates, sloths and cats to a dazzling array of birds and countless invertebrates. All of the following photographs were taken by Will Gray on one of his Costa Rica tours.
Spider monkey
Long-limbed spider monkeys move effortlessly through the rainforest canopy, swinging between branches using their remarkable prehensile tails. Troops are often heard before they are seen, crashing noisily through the treetops. With patience, photographers may capture expressive portraits as they pause briefly in shafts of filtered jungle light.
White-faced capuchin
The white-faced capuchin is one of Costa Rica’s most engaging primates. Intelligent and endlessly curious, small troops forage along forest edges and beaches in search of fruit, crabs and insects. Their striking black-and-white faces and lively behaviour make them a rewarding subject for natural, characterful wildlife photography.
Squirrel monkey
Among the smallest of Costa Rica’s monkeys, the squirrel monkey travels in energetic bands through the forest canopy. Their orange backs and masked faces flash between branches as they hunt insects and fruit. Quick reflexes are essential for photographers hoping to capture these fast-moving rainforest acrobats.
Puma
Rarely seen but always present, the puma is one of the rainforest’s most elusive predators. These powerful cats roam remote valleys and dense jungle, moving silently through the shadows. A glimpse of one in the wild is unforgettable – and for wildlife photographers, the ultimate prize of patience and persistence.
Three-toed sloth
Few animals embody the gentle pace of the rainforest like the three-toed sloth. Hanging almost permanently from branches, they move slowly through the canopy feeding on leaves. Their calm nature often allows close observation, giving photographers time to compose intimate portraits high in the treetops.
Two-toed sloth
More active and often more elusive than its three-toed relative, the two-toed sloth spends much of its life hidden high in the canopy. Mostly nocturnal, it moves carefully between branches under cover of darkness. Night walks occasionally reveal these gentle mammals feeding quietly among the treetops.
Tamandua
The northern tamandua – a small arboreal anteater – is one of the rainforest’s more unusual mammals. With a long snout and powerful claws for opening termite nests, it climbs steadily through branches in search of food. Encounters are uncommon, but always memorable for observant wildlife watchers.
White tent bat
The tiny white tent bat shelters beneath leaves specially modified into tent-like roosts. Their bright white fur and golden noses create a striking contrast against the deep green rainforest. Finding a daytime roost can provide remarkable close-up photography opportunities of one of Costa Rica’s most unusual mammals.
Long-tongued nectar bat
Long-tongued nectar bats emerge after dusk to feed from tropical flowers, using elongated tongues perfectly adapted for reaching deep nectar sources. In doing so they become important rainforest pollinators. Around flowering trees and feeders, photographers may glimpse them hovering briefly in the warm evening air.
Long-nosed proboscis bat
As dusk settles over the rainforest, bats emerge to fill the twilight sky. Costa Rica hosts an extraordinary variety, from fruit-eating species to agile insect hunters. Watching them dart above forest clearings or rivers can provide dramatic photographic silhouettes against the fading evening light.
Resplendent quetzal
Few birds inspire wildlife photographers quite like the resplendent quetzal. Found in cool cloud forest, males shimmer with emerald and crimson plumage, their long tail feathers flowing behind them in flight. Seeing one perched quietly among moss-covered branches is among Costa Rica’s most unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Keel-billed toucan
With its oversized rainbow-coloured bill, the keel-billed toucan is one of Costa Rica’s most recognisable birds. Often seen feeding in fruiting trees along rainforest edges, it moves surprisingly gracefully through the canopy. Early morning or late afternoon offers the best opportunities for photographers to capture its vivid colours in soft tropical light.
Scarlet macaw
Brilliant flashes of red, yellow and blue announce the presence of scarlet macaws long before they appear overhead. These magnificent parrots often fly in pairs above coastal forest, their loud calls echoing across the canopy. Early morning light can produce spectacular opportunities for flight photography.
Great green macaw
The endangered great green macaw is one of Costa Rica’s rarest and most impressive birds. Larger and more powerful than the scarlet macaw, it depends heavily on old rainforest trees for nesting. Watching a pair fly above the canopy is a memorable moment for any wildlife enthusiast.
Brown-hooded parrot
Small flocks of brown-hooded parrots travel noisily above the canopy, their calls echoing across the forest. Despite their vivid green plumage, they can be surprisingly difficult to spot among dense foliage. Fruiting trees occasionally offer excellent opportunities for natural perched portraits in beautiful tropical light.
Orange-chinned parakeet
Costa Rica’s forests resonate with the chatter of parrots and parakeets, while toucans perch conspicuously in fruiting trees. Their colourful plumage and oversized bills stand out vividly against lush foliage. With luck, patient photographers may capture them feeding quietly in the canopy.
Acorn woodpecker
The acorn woodpecker is a lively and highly social bird of Costa Rica’s highland forests. Family groups gather noisily around trees used to store acorns in carefully drilled holes. Their bold facial markings and energetic behaviour make them particularly enjoyable subjects for bird photography.
Great currasow
The great curassow is a large and surprisingly elegant bird of the rainforest floor. Males are glossy black with a distinctive curled crest, while females wear intricate shades of brown. Often encountered quietly walking along forest trails, they make striking photographic subjects in soft jungle light.
Central American pygmy owl
Tiny yet fiercely efficient, the Central American pygmy owl hunts insects and small birds from hidden perches in the forest canopy. During daylight it is often betrayed by the alarm calls of surrounding birds. Spotting one peering from its nesting hole is always a rewarding experience.
Montezuma oropendula
Oropendulas are best known for their remarkable hanging nests, woven into long clusters from tall trees. Colonies buzz with activity as adults weave new nests and feed their demanding chicks. The spectacle offers wonderful opportunities to photograph both intricate structures and lively bird behaviour.
Tiger heron
Tiger herons stalk quietly along rivers and mangrove edges, moving slowly through shallow water in search of fish and crabs. Their beautifully patterned plumage blends perfectly with muddy banks and tangled roots. Soft early morning light often produces wonderfully atmospheric photographic conditions around wetlands.
Sunbittern
The elegant sunbittern is usually encountered along shaded rivers and forest streams. At rest it appears modestly patterned, but when alarmed or sunning itself, it spreads its wings to reveal striking eye-like markings. Patient observation near waterways can reward photographers with one of the rainforest’s most beautiful displays.
Boat-billed heron
Wetlands and mangrove lagoons support a rich variety of waterbirds, including the curious boat-billed heron. Often active at dusk, it hunts quietly along still waterways. Early morning boat trips reveal herons, kingfishers and egrets reflected in calm water – ideal conditions for atmospheric wildlife images.
Lesser violetear
Tiny yet dazzling, hummingbirds are among the jewels of the Costa Rican rainforest. Their iridescent feathers flash brilliantly as they hover at flowers, wings beating faster than the eye can follow. Capturing their suspended flight in good light is one of the great challenges – and joys – of bird photography.
Grey-capped flycatcher
Beyond the more colourful species, the forest is alive with smaller birds – flycatchers, warblers and tanagers among them. Perched quietly on branches before darting out to snatch insects, they reward careful observation. Their subtle colours and delicate shapes offer excellent opportunities for classic bird portraits.
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