For beginner and expert birders alike, Selva Verde is the perfect birding destination. One third of the 910 species that reside in Costa Rica can be found within Selva Verde’s 500 acres of protected rainforest, making it a safe haven for birds and bird watchers alike. In part 2 of our series, we introduce a couple of the breathtaking species visitors come face to face with at Selva Verde, from toucans and hummingbirds to trogons and motmots.

Toucans and Aracaris

These richly-colored birds are a favorite for travelers and photographers to spot. Toucans are known for having large beaks that can range from one-third to half the length of their body. They are also very social birds who often travel in large groups together. Nestled up in the trees of the reserve, you can see 3 different members of the toucan family at Selva Verde: the Keel-billed Toucan, Yellow-throated Toucan, and Collared Aracari.

Yellow-throated Toucan

Photo by Andrea and Antonella Ferrari

 Collared Aracari

Photo by Ann and Rob Simpson

   Keel-billed Toucan​

Photo by Martin van Lokven

Hummingbirds

Of the 338 known species of hummingbird worldwide there are around 50 in Costa Rica. Named for the distinctive sound made by their rapidly flapping wings, hummingbirds are among the smallest birds on the planet, making them a challenging but rewarding species to photograph. At Selva Verde, visitors can witness the bright and bold colors of some 18 different species, such as the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird,White-necked Jacobin, Long-billed Hermit, and Brown Violetear.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Photo by Sanford M Sorkin

White-necked Jacobin

Photo by Sanford M Sorkin

Brown Violetear

Photo by Dixie Sommers

 Long-billed Hermit

Photo by Jennifer Shea Moses

Motmots

Found across Central and South America, the motmot is a vibrant and unique bird species. They are known for their unusual tail feather design. Adult motmots have two long, extremely skinny tail feathers, each with a racquet-shaped feather at the end. Two species that reside at Selva Verde are the Rufous Motmot, which is known for being shy and hard to spot, and the Broad-billed Motmot.

Broad-billed Motmot

Photo by Debbie Sturdivant Jordan

 Rufous Motmot

Photo by John Hannan

Trogons

These striking birds are known for their colorful plumage, which comes in many different combinations depending on the species. They are named after the Greek word for “gnawing” due to their nest-making technique of nibbling a hole into rotten wood or termite nests with their beak. Of the 10 species of trogon in Costa Rica, Selva Verde Lodge is home to four: the Gartered Trogon, Black-throated Trogon, Slaty-tailed Trogon, and the Lattice-tailed Trogon.

 Slaty-tailed Trogon

Photo by Ann and Rob Simpson

Gartered Trogon

Photo by Joaquin Garcia

 Black-throated Trogon

Photo by Sanford M Sorkin