The Boat-billed Heron has an unusually wide flattened bill and large dark eyes.
Explore Puntarenas & the Gulf Islands
Puntarenas and the Gulf Islands offer a maritime view of Costa Rica, where coastal communities, island landscapes and boat journeys connect across the Gulf of Nicoya. Discover how people and wildlife depend on these Pacific waters. Let curiosity lead to understanding, gratitude and care for the people and landscapes that welcome you.
Magnificent Frigatebird
Frigatebirds use very long wings and a deeply forked tail to soar above tropical coasts.
Wood Stork
The Wood Stork is a large white wader with black flight feathers and a mostly bare dark adult head.
Royal Tern
The Royal Tern is a large pale coastal tern with a substantial orange bill and ragged dark crest.
Hudsonian Whimbrel
This large shorebird uses its long downward-curved bill to find crabs and other small animals on coastal flats.
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.