Iguanas are one of the most fascinating reptiles found in Caño Negro. With their prehistoric appearance, strong bodies, colorful tones, and close connection to water and vegetation, these reptiles are an important part of the tropical wetland ecosystem....
Meet the Boat-billed Heron, one of Caño Negro’s most secretive wetland birds. Learn how to identify it, where it lives, and why patient birdwatchers love this unusual nocturnal species....
Slow, gentle, and endlessly captivating, sloths have become one of Costa Rica’s most beloved wildlife icons. Here is why this calm mammal continues to win hearts around the world....
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,...