Rufous-tailed Jacamar Rufous-tailed Jacamar: A Flash of Color in the Living Wetland In a place like the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro, where nature never stops moving, some moments feel almost unreal. One of those is spotting the Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda), a bird that...
Collared Forest Falcon of Caño Negro Collared Forest Falcon: A hidden predator of the wetland forest In the rich mosaic of wetlands, gallery forests, and river edges that define Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, one of the most elusive and fascinating birds is the Collared Forest Falcon (Micrastur...
Snail Kite of Caño Negro The Snail Kite of Caño Negro: A Specialist of the Wetlands In the vast wetlands of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, where water levels rise and fall with the seasons, one bird stands out for its remarkable specialization. The Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)...
Chestnut-Colored Woodpecker The Chestnut-Colored Woodpecker: A Hidden Jewel of Caño Negro In the vast and ever-changing wetlands of Caño Negro, some wildlife encounters feel almost magical. Among them is the Chestnut-colored Woodpecker (Celeus castaneus)—a species that many birders dream of seeing, yet few encounter easily. Unlike more...
Slaty-tailed Trogon Slaty-tailed Trogon: One of the Quiet Jewels of Caño Negro In the dense green world surrounding Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge in northern Costa Rica, some birds announce themselves loudly, while others reveal themselves quietly. The Slaty-tailed Trogon (Trogon massena) belongs to the second group.This elegant...
Black-headed Trogon at Caño Negro Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus) The Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus) is one of the most visually striking tropical birds found from southern Mexico through Central America. With its bold black head, bright yellow belly, and electric turquoise eye ring, this species stands out...
A Living Wetland That Still Works Caño Negro Wetland: A Living Wetland That Still Works Not all wetlands still function the way they once did. Many have been drained, fragmented, or reduced to isolated patches of water surrounded by development.Caño Negro is different.Located in northern Costa Rica,...
Tiger Heron Bare-throated Tiger Heron (Tigrisoma mexicanum) The Bare-throated Tiger Heron, locally known as Garza Tigre Garganta Desnuda, is one of Costa Rica’s most impressive wetland birds. Recognized for its powerful posture, cryptic plumage, and bare yellow-orange throat, this species thrives in well-preserved wetlands such as Caño...
Why Wetlands Matter Why Wetlands Matter: The Most Important Ecosystems You’ve Probably Overlooked Every year on February 2nd, the world celebrates International Wetlands Day. But wetlands don’t need just one day of attention — they need understanding, respect, and protection all year long.Often mistaken for “swamps” or...
Why Caño Negro Is a Photographer’s Dream All Year Round The Living Wetland Why Caño Negro Is a Photographer’s Dream All Year Round Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is not a place you “visit once and check off a list.” It is a living system—constantly changing, constantly offering...