Frigatebirds use very long wings and a deeply forked tail to soar above tropical coasts.
Explore Northern Plains
Costa Rica’s Northern Plains connect rural communities with rivers, forests and the wider Arenal landscape. Places such as La Fortuna, Guatuso and Los Chiles offer different ways to learn about life shaped by water and land. Explore with curiosity, learn from local people and help care for the landscapes and traditions that make this place special.
Royal Tern
The Royal Tern is a large pale coastal tern with a substantial orange bill and ragged dark crest.
Ruddy Turnstone
A Ruddy Turnstone uses a short sturdy bill to flip small objects and search for hidden invertebrates.
Tricolored Heron
A white belly and pale stripe along the front of the neck distinguish this slender heron from the uniformly dark adult Little Blue Heron.
Black-necked Stilt
Black-necked Stilts have exceptionally long pink legs, a thin straight dark bill and contrasting black-and-white plumage.
Green Heron
The Green Heron is a compact hunter with a dark greenish back, chestnut neck and a short crest.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
This sturdy heron often hunts crabs and other crustaceans around coastal wetlands.