Skip to main content

Tico Explorers

Cart Items

No products in the cart.

Monteverde

Explore Category

Location

Regions
Central Highlands

Towns & nearby places
Monteverde

Highlights

explore monteverde + nearby discoveriesCloud Forest Curiosity

Monteverde invites families to look into the layers of a living forest. Mist, leaves and bird calls create a different rhythm from the coast, while nearby Santa Elena provides a base for learning about the area’s communities and conservation.

Explore with Pico & Tati
Turn a walk into a shared question, notice the world around you and discover how small choices help care for the places we visit.

Zip Lining

Pico looks toward the next platform with excitement. Tati asks how the harness supports a rider. Both learn that asking questions and following instructions help them approach a new experience with confidence.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Choose an authorized route through this cloud-forest reserve and let the changing light and vegetation set the pace. Check current booking and arrival instructions directly with the reserve. A clear view or a particular wildlife sighting is never guaranteed.

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve

Santa Elena is a separate reserve with its own entrance and visitor arrangements. Notice how mist and wind shape the forest along an open route suited to your group. Check current access before setting out.

Curi-Cancha Reserve

This private reserve offers forest and more open habitat for guided observation or permitted walks. Ask about current routes and choose an outing for your family’s abilities. Watch birds and other wildlife from a respectful distance.

Bajo del Tigre

Bajo del Tigre is a visitor sector of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest near Monteverde. Check its current guided or independent visit arrangements and enjoy noticing a forest setting with its own character. Stay on designated paths.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest Story

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest connects conservation with support from children and communities. Learn about its wider protected landscape through its own interpretation, and choose the specific visitor sector carefully rather than assuming all entrances are near one another.

Monteverde Orchid Garden

A garden visit can reveal flowers far smaller than the orchids many people imagine. Ask a host what is visible during your visit and look closely without picking or touching plants. Confirm current visitor arrangements directly.

Monteverde Butterfly Gardens

A guided garden visit introduces butterflies and other invertebrates through observation and explanation. Ask about the current program and follow handling rules. Use questions about life cycles and habitat to extend what your family notices.

Santa Elena as a Town Base

Santa Elena is a local town base for the wider Monteverde area, not just the name of a reserve. Check the exact meeting point for each outing and leave time to notice local life between longer forest visits.

Cloud-Forest Layers

On a permitted forest route, compare the ground, understory and canopy. Notice where moisture, light and leaf shapes differ without removing anything. A slow observation can help children understand why a forest is more than a collection of trees.

Epiphytes in the Mist

Plants growing on other plants are part of the cloud-forest landscape. Ask a guide how orchids, bromeliads or mosses use their surroundings. Observe from the trail and leave plants attached to their living habitat.

A Guided Forest After Dark

Some reserves offer organized night walks with their own access arrangements. Choose an authorized guide and an outing suited to your family. Use lights as instructed and let wildlife remain undisturbed; darkness does not guarantee sightings.

Coffee and Community in Monteverde

A hosted farm or food experience offers another perspective on the Monteverde area. Ask what a visit includes and which growing or processing stages can be seen. Stay in permitted areas and let the host handle picking or tasting.

MONTEVERDE WEATHER

local life + insider tipsA Little Local Know-How

Choose the particular reserve or experience you want to visit: Monteverde and Santa Elena reserves have different entrances and arrangements. Allow time for mountain roads, changing weather and a slower walk. A quiet pause may reveal more than rushing along a trail.

No. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve are separate protected places. Santa Elena is also the name of the nearby town; check your exact destination.

Monteverde is in Puntarenas province and now has its own canton. It should not be assigned to Puntarenas canton just because the province shares that name.

No. A guide can help you notice birds and understand habitat, but sightings depend on wildlife and conditions. Enjoy the forest as a whole rather than planning around one guaranteed animal.

No. A bridge walk and a zip line experience involve different routes, equipment and participation requirements. Check the operator’s specific arrangements and suitability for your family.

Confirm the meeting point, access, transport and facilities with the responsible host or authority. Choose the route and activity for your group’s abilities and the current conditions.

Keep a flexible plan and check the forecast for the specific place you will visit. Local conditions can affect roads, trails, outdoor events and water activities.

Use public or authorized routes, ask before photographing people and support local hosts. Leave plants and wildlife in place and take your rubbish with you.

Choose one thing to observe closely, share what you noticed and ask a new question. You do not need a long checklist to learn something together.

things to doLittle Adventures Around Monteverde

Step Into the Cloud Forest

Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, where moss-covered branches, climbing plants and mist create a very different landscape from the coast. Take a guided walk to understand how moisture supports this mountain ecosystem. Bring a light rain jacket and choose a route that leaves time to enjoy the forest without rushing.

Go Birdwatching at Curi-Cancha

Make an early guided visit to Curi-Cancha Reserve, where forest and more open habitats offer different birdwatching opportunities. Ask about quetzals, bellbirds and other species that may be active during your visit. A guide’s spotting scope can help children enjoy details that are difficult to see high in the branches.

Follow Coffee From Farm to Cup

Join a locally hosted coffee experience to connect your morning cup with the farms around Monteverde. Learn how coffee cherries are harvested and how processing and roasting change the beans. Children can explore the growing and preparation stages while adults discover more about the flavors in the finished brew.

Discover a World of Tiny Orchids

Visit the Monteverde Orchid Garden in Santa Elena for a closer introduction to flowers that are easily missed in the forest. A guided tour reveals miniature blooms alongside larger orchids and explains their unusual forms. This makes a rewarding shorter outing between longer walks and other adventures.

Walk Among the Treetops

Explore Selvatura’s hanging bridges for a different perspective on Monteverde’s cloud forest. The route combines forest trails with elevated crossings, bringing you closer to branches and canopy plants. Allow time for the whole walk, and check the terrain and bridge heights before choosing this experience for your family.

Meet Butterflies and Remarkable Insects

Spend time at Monteverde Butterfly Gardens, where a guided visit introduces butterflies and other fascinating invertebrates. Discover how insects grow, defend themselves and contribute to forest life. This is a chance for children to move beyond “beautiful” or “scary” and learn what makes these small animals so remarkable.

Explore the Forest After Dark

Join a guided night walk to experience Monteverde after the daytime crowds have left. Operators such as Kinkajou Night Walk introduce the forest’s nighttime world, where animal activity changes after sunset. Choose an early departure that suits your children, wear closed shoes and let your guide direct the lighting around wildlife.

Add a Canopy Adventure

For families ready for more excitement, book a guided zip-line experience at a Monteverde adventure park such as Selvatura. Traveling between platforms offers a different perspective on the forest landscape. Confirm age, size and participation requirements before booking, and leave enough time to enjoy the activity without squeezing it between other tours.

Explore Nature Field Guide cards from this province and the surrounding travel regions named below. Habitats and species vary by locality.

Nature Field Guide

Nature & Wildlife Around Monteverde

Discover the quetzals, hummingbirds, orchids and remarkable insects of Monteverde’s cloud forests. Explore life among moss-covered branches, towering trees and misty mountain trails, then meet more species from Costa Rica’s Central Highlands.

76 profiles

Nature Field Guide

Acorn Woodpecker

Spanish name
Carpintero careto
Scientific name
Melanerpes formicivorus
Birds Cloud Forest · Oak Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “That face has bold black, white and red shapes!”

Tati: “Let’s look for clues on the tree without touching them.”

Identification

Key Features of the Acorn Woodpecker

  • Red cap, pale face and black patch around the bill.

  • White wing patches and white rump in flight.

  • Straight bill and stiff supporting tail.

Habitat & range

Mainly middle and high elevations in the Central and Talamanca ranges, especially oak landscapes. South Pacific refers to upland slopes, not the coastal plain.

Conservation & care

Stay on authorized trails or viewing routes. Give birds space, keep voices low and leave nests undisturbed. Observe without bait, feeding or recorded calls.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Baird’s Tapir

Spanish name
Danta
Scientific name
Tapirus bairdii
Mammals Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Its nose can reach the leaves!”

Tati: “Let’s keep the path open and give it plenty of room.”

Endangered

Identification

Key Features of the Baird’s Tapir

  • Large dark body and short flexible snout.

  • Pale edges around the ears.

  • Young calves have pale spots and stripes.

Habitat & range

Corcovado National Park’s forest and wetland landscape, including the Sirena area. Puerto Jiménez, Bahía Drake and Carate are gateways.

Conservation & care

Keep a respectful distance and leave an open route for the animal. Stay on authorized paths, secure food and rubbish, and observe without feeding, touching, baiting or chasing.

Threats & pressures

Habitat clearing and fragmentation, hunting and vehicle collisions threaten tapirs. Slow reproduction limits rapid recovery.

Conservation assessment

Global IUCN category as reported by the linked source, checked 7 October 2026. The source does not give an assessment year here. National legal protection and local abundance are separate questions.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Bare-necked Umbrellabird

Spanish name
Pájaro sombrilla
Scientific name
Cephalopterus glabricollis
Birds Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “That crest makes such an unusual shape!”

Tati: “We can learn about a shy bird without following it.”

Endangered

Identification

Key Features of the Bare-necked Umbrellabird

  • Large dark bird with a heavy crest.

  • Short, square tail.

  • Male and female throat structures differ.

Habitat & range

Humid Caribbean-facing foothills and adjacent lowlands, with seasonal movement into montane breeding forest. Guanacaste refers to humid mountain slopes, not its dry coastal plain.

Conservation & care

Stay on authorized trails or viewing routes. Give birds space, keep voices low and leave nests undisturbed. Observe without bait, feeding or recorded calls.

Threats & pressures

UCAN identifies forest fragmentation and climate pressures on seasonal fruit availability as conservation concerns.

Conservation assessment

UCAN identifies the species as Endangered. Source checked 7 October 2026. This is a global species category, not a count of birds in the tagged towns.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Black Guan

Spanish name
Pava negra
Scientific name
Chamaepetes unicolor
Birds Cloud Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “A big bird is moving through the branches!”

Tati: “Look for its face and legs as well as its feathers.”

Least Concern

What does Least Concern mean?

In the linked conservation assessment, this species does not qualify as threatened or near threatened with extinction. It still needs care: local populations and habitats can face problems even when the species has a lower extinction risk overall.

This label describes conservation status. It does not tell us whether a plant is safe for children or pets. Select the status button to read the assessment.

Identification

Key Features of the Black Guan

  • Black body without a curassow’s curled crest.

  • Blue bare skin around a red eye.

  • Reddish legs.

Habitat & range

Montane forest, generally from about 1000 m to the upper forest limit. South Pacific refers to high Talamanca slopes, not coastal lowlands.

Seasonal Calendar

Resident presence

Costa Rica; suitable highland forest

Year-round

Resident nationally; presence and detectability vary among local sites.

Event source ↗

Conservation & care

Stay on authorized trails or viewing routes. Give birds space, keep voices low and leave nests undisturbed. Observe without bait, feeding or recorded calls.

Threats & pressures

Dependence on forest makes clearing and fragmentation relevant pressures despite the global Least Concern category.

Conservation assessment

BirdLife gives Least Concern, last assessment 2021. Source checked 7 October 2026. This is a global species category, not a count of birds in the tagged towns.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Black Vulture

Spanish name
Zopilote negro
Scientific name
Coragyps atratus
Birds Farms & Cultivated Land · Open Woodland

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Which vulture is that one?”

Tati: “Look for the short tail and pale patches just at the wingtips.”

Identification

Key Features of the Black Vulture

  • Bare dark head

  • Short rounded tail

  • White patches at outer wingtips

Habitat & range

Widespread over towns and open landscapes from the coast into the mountains, becoming less frequent above about 2000 m. A regional tag does not identify a nesting site.

Conservation & care

Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Black-faced Solitaire

Spanish name
Jilguero / Solitario carinegro
Scientific name
Myadestes melanops
Birds Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “The song seems to be coming from a different place now!”

Tati: “Listening is a discovery, even without a photograph.”

Identification

Key Features of the Black-faced Solitaire

  • Slate-gray body and dark face.

  • A distinctive, varied mountain-forest song.

  • Singer may stay low and move within vegetation.

Habitat & range

Humid mountain forest on both slopes; after breeding some birds descend into Caribbean foothills and lowlands. Broad lowland tags represent seasonal forest habitat, not general abundance.

Conservation & care

Stay on authorized trails or viewing routes. Give birds space, keep voices low and leave nests undisturbed. Observe without bait, feeding or recorded calls.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Blue-gray Tanager

Spanish name
Tangara azuleja
Scientific name
Thraupis episcopus
Birds Forest Edge · Gardens · Open Woodland

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “It looks like a piece of the sky!”

Tati: “Let’s see where the blue is pale and where it is brighter.”

Identification

Key Features of the Blue-gray Tanager

  • Powder blue-gray body

  • Brighter blue wings and shoulder

  • Dark eye and stout bill

Habitat & range

Widespread in gardens, towns and semi-open wooded areas, mainly below about 2000 m. In the dry northwest it is less frequent and associated with moister sites near homes.

Conservation & care

Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Cacomistle

Spanish name
Ostoche
Scientific name
Bassariscus sumichrasti
Mammals Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

A cacomistle's long ringed tail is a memorable clue.

Identification

Key Features of the Cacomistle

  • Slender body, pointed face and relatively large ears.

  • Very long bushy tail with alternating pale and dark bands.

  • Usually associated with wooded habitat and climbing.

Habitat & range

Evergreen and mountain forests, with some use of seasonally dry forest.

Conservation & care

Explore with an adult or local guide. Observe quietly from a distance, stay on established trails and leave shelter undisturbed. Do not feed, touch, capture or corner wildlife. Keep pets away.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Carpenter Bees

Spanish name
Abejas carpinteras
Scientific name
Xylocopa spp. — genus card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the carpenter bees!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Carpenter Bees

  • Robust body

  • often shiny abdomen

  • some nest in wood

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Central American Banded Gecko

Spanish name
Geco bandeado centroamericano
Scientific name
Coleonyx mitratus
Reptiles Forest Edge · Tropical Dry Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Central American Banded Gecko

  • Dark bands on yellow-tan tones

  • Movable eyelids

  • Clawed toes without broad wall-climbing pads

Habitat & range

Northwestern and western Pacific-slope forests, including Guanacaste and San Luis de Monteverde.

Conservation & care

Observe from permitted paths with an adult. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, stones, logs and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and give animals an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Cherrie’s Ground Skink

Spanish name
Eslaboncillo pardo / Escinco de Cherrie
Scientific name
Scincella cherriei
Reptiles Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What clues help us recognize this reptile?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its shape, markings and habitat from a respectful distance.”

Identification

Key Features of the Cherrie’s Ground Skink

  • Smooth glossy-looking scales

  • Dark lateral stripe

  • Short legs and a tapering tail

Habitat & range

Pacific-slope forest floor and wooded edges, including southwestern Costa Rica and the Monteverde foothill area.

Conservation & care

Observe with an adult from permitted paths. Do not catch, chase, touch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, logs, rocks and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and allow animals an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect habitat connections and natural shelters. Avoid road mortality, collection and deliberate killing. Leave reptiles in their habitat rather than keeping or relocating them.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Cicadas

Spanish name
Chicharras
Scientific name
Cicadidae — family card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the cicadas!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Cicadas

  • Large transparent wings

  • broad head

  • loud calls from some males

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Clay-colored Thrush

Spanish name
Mirlo pardo / Yigüirro
Scientific name
Turdus grayi
Birds Farms & Cultivated Land · Forest Edge · Gardens · Open Woodland

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “That brown bird has a beautiful song!”

Tati: “That is the yigüirro. We can learn its voice as well as its colors.”

Identification

Key Features of the Clay-colored Thrush

  • Warm brown plumage

  • Yellowish bill

  • Fine throat streaks and orange-brown eye

Habitat & range

Widespread across Costa Rica from lowlands to about 2450 m, in gardens, farms, secondary growth and wooded urban areas. Less numerous in the dry northwest and higher mountains.

Conservation & care

Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Coffee

Spanish name
Café
Scientific name
Coffea arabica
Agriculture & Crops Farms & Cultivated Land

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “The coffee bean starts inside a fruit!”

Tati: “Let's find the cherry before we think about the bean.”

Identification

Key Features of the Coffee

  • Glossy leaves arranged in pairs

  • Small fruits clustered along branches

  • Ripe cherries are often red, though some varieties ripen yellow

  • Small white flowers when flowering

Habitat & range

Cultivated farms in several Costa Rican coffee zones, including the Central and Western Valleys, Los Santos, Turrialba, Orosi, Tres Rios, Guanacaste and Brunca. ICAFE also documents production in San Carlos and Sarapiqui, mapped here to Northern Plains. Coffee requires suitable elevation and local growing conditions; a regional tag does not mean all climates within that region are suitable.

Conservation & care

Visit farms only with permission and follow the host's instructions. Stay clear of machinery, chemical applications and working areas. Do not pick or taste plants without a responsible adult and the host's approval.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Common Squirrel-Cuckoo

Spanish name
Cuco ardilla
Scientific name
Piaya cayana
Birds Forest Edge · Gardens · Open Woodland · Tropical Dry Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “That tail is longer than I expected!”

Tati: “Follow its movement through the branches without chasing it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Common Squirrel-Cuckoo

  • Rusty upperparts

  • Very long graduated white-tipped tail

  • Greenish-yellow bill

Habitat & range

Widespread in wooded habitats on both slopes, including forest canopy, secondary growth, plantations and tree-rich gardens. It can occur well above the lowlands where trees remain.

Conservation & care

Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Copper Anole

Spanish name
Anolis cobrizo
Scientific name
Anolis cupreus
Reptiles Forest Edge · Gardens · Tropical Dry Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Copper Anole

  • Tan-to-coppery brown body

  • Variable spots, bars or darker markings

  • Long tail and low-perching posture

Habitat & range

Northwestern and western Pacific slope, including Guanacaste, Monteverde and Quepos, with populations in the Central Valley.

Conservation & care

Observe from permitted paths with an adult. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, stones, logs and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and give animals an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Coppery-headed Emerald

Spanish name
Esmeralda de coronilla cobriza
Scientific name
Microchera cupreiceps
Birds Cloud Forest · Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Does this tiny bird live only in Costa Rica?”

Tati: “Yes. Endemic means its natural range is limited to one place.”

Identification

Key Features of the Coppery-headed Emerald

  • Male coppery crown

  • White outer tail feathers

  • Small size and slightly curved bill

Habitat & range

Costa Rican endemic of humid northern and central mountain slopes, from the Guanacaste range toward the northern Reventazon valley. Seasonal descent occurs; dry coastal Guanacaste is unsuitable.

Conservation & care

Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Costa Rican Oak

Spanish name
Roble / Encino
Scientific name
Quercus costaricensis
Trees Cloud Forest · Oak Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Acorns and leathery leaves belong to this mountain-forest oak.”

Tati: “Let’s notice the leaves, flowers and habitat without disturbing the plant.”

Identification

Key Features of the Costa Rican Oak

  • Acorns in scaly cups

  • Simple leathery leaves

  • Mountain-forest habitat

Habitat & range

Highland forests of the Talamanca range, including Dota, Chirripó and adjoining mountain slopes.

Conservation & care

Explore with an adult on permitted paths. Observe and photograph without picking leaves, flowers or fruits. Do not taste plants or let pets chew them. Avoid climbing trees and disturbing roots, seedlings or visiting wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect suitable habitat, mature trees and natural regeneration. Avoid trampling, unauthorized clearing and collection.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Coyote

Spanish name
Coyote
Scientific name
Canis latrans
Mammals Farms & Cultivated Land · Open Woodland · Tropical Rainforest · Woodland Edges

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Its ears and bushy tail look different from a fox!”

Tati: “A wild animal should keep finding its own food.”

Identification

Key Features of the Coyote

  • Pointed muzzle and large upright ears.

  • Mixed gray-brown coat with paler underside.

  • Bushy tail usually carried low.

Habitat & range

Sierra Zapote’s forest-edge landscape in Las Juntas, Abangares, and other Guanacaste lowlands.

Conservation & care

Keep a respectful distance and leave an open route for the animal. Stay on authorized paths, secure food and rubbish, and observe without feeding, touching, baiting or chasing.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Damselflies

Spanish name
Caballitos del diablo
Scientific name
Odonata: Zygoptera — group card
Other Insects Freshwater

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the damselflies!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Damselflies

  • Slender body

  • widely separated eyes

  • many fold wings above abdomen

Habitat & range

Vegetation near ponds, wetlands and streams; individual species use different waters.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Decorated Anole

Spanish name
Anolis decorado / Lagartija gigante de bandas
Scientific name
Anolis insignis
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What helps this reptile fit into its habitat?”

Tati: “Let’s look at its shape, colors and surroundings while giving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Decorated Anole

  • Large anole with a broad head

  • Green body with pale markings

  • Long tail and tree-perching posture

Habitat & range

Humid foothill and montane forests, including the Guanacaste volcanic range and the central mountains. Documented at San Gerardo Biological Station in Área de Conservación Guanacaste.

Conservation & care

Observe with an adult from permitted paths. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, logs, stones and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and allow an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect connected habitat and natural shelters. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in place and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Dice’s Cottontail

Spanish name
Conejo de Dice
Scientific name
Sylvilagus dicei
Mammals Cloud Forest · Woodland Edges

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Dice's cottontail is a mountain rabbit found in Costa Rica and western Panama.

Vulnerable

Identification

Key Features of the Dice’s Cottontail

  • Small brown rabbit with fairly short ears.

  • Often a darker or reddish area around the nape.

  • Highland locality is important; appearance alone may be insufficient.

Habitat & range

Costa Rican highlands, including the Talamanca mountain region.

Conservation & care

Explore with an adult or local guide. Observe quietly from a distance, stay on established trails and leave shelter undisturbed. Do not feed, touch, capture or corner wildlife. Keep pets away.

Conservation assessment

Global IUCN category reported by Mammal Diversity Database, checked October 2026. Vulnerable means assessed as facing a high risk of extinction in the wild; it does not mean every local population has the same condition.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Dragonflies

Spanish name
Libélulas
Scientific name
Odonata: Anisoptera — group card
Other Insects Freshwater

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the dragonflies!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Dragonflies

  • Large eyes

  • two pairs of wings

  • wings usually held open at rest

Habitat & range

Vegetation near ponds, wetlands and streams; individual species use different waters.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Dung Beetles

Spanish name
Escarabajos estercoleros
Scientific name
Scarabaeinae — subfamily card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the dung beetles!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Dung Beetles

  • Compact beetle body

  • digging legs

  • some species roll dung balls

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Ecuadorian Milksnake

Spanish name
Falsa coral / Serpiente de leche
Scientific name
Lampropeltis micropholis
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Ecuadorian Milksnake

  • Young animals may have red, pale and dark bands

  • Smooth-looking scales

  • Appearance can darken with age

Habitat & range

Eastern and southern Costa Rican forest landscapes and mountain slopes; province assignments refer to suitable habitat rather than all parts of each province.

Conservation & care

Observe only from a distance with an adult or qualified guide. Never touch, catch, feed, corner or move any snake. Keep children and pets away. Colors, head shape and pupil shape must never be used to decide a snake is safe.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Elephant Beetle

Spanish name
Escarabajo elefante
Scientific name
Megasoma elephas
Other Insects Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the elephant beetle!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Elephant Beetle

  • Large rounded beetle

  • fine golden body hairs

  • males have a forward horn

Habitat & range

Most often associated with lowland wooded habitats; larvae develop in decaying wood and damp plant material. A documented Tortuguero record supports Caribbean rainforest habitat. A Costa Rican specialist account places most records below 500 m, with some to 1,500 m. Existing broad region tags require further locality checks and should not be read as presence throughout the highlands.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Expanded Lobster Claw

Spanish name
Platanilla / Caliguate
Scientific name
Heliconia latispatha
Other Plants Forest Edge · Gardens · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “An upright open arrangement of colorful bracts rises among broad green leaves.”

Tati: “Let’s notice the leaves, flowers and habitat without disturbing the plant.”

Identification

Key Features of the Expanded Lobster Claw

  • Broad banana-like leaves

  • Upright open inflorescence

  • Separated orange-to-red bracts holding small flowers

Habitat & range

Both slopes, including Guanacaste, the Northern Plains, Caribbean, Central Pacific and Osa; also cultivated in gardens.

Conservation & care

Explore with an adult on permitted paths. Observe and photograph without picking leaves, flowers or fruits. Do not taste plants or let pets chew them. Avoid climbing trees and disturbing roots, seedlings or visiting wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect suitable habitat, mature trees and natural regeneration. Avoid trampling, unauthorized clearing and collection.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Fireflies

Spanish name
Luciérnagas
Scientific name
Lampyridae — family card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the fireflies!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Fireflies

  • Soft beetle wing covers

  • some show glowing abdominal segments

  • light patterns vary

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Green Heron

Spanish name
Garcilla verde
Scientific name
Butorides virescens
Birds · Coastal Birds · Herons & Egrets Estuary & Mangroves · Rivers & Streams · Wetlands

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

A small hunched shape almost disappears among the roots. Pico and Tati learn that patient looking beats noisy searching.

Identification

Key Features of the Green Heron

  • Small hunched silhouette

  • Greenish back and chestnut neck

  • Straight pointed bill and yellowish legs

Habitat & range

Scan shallow water, quiet mangrove channels and vegetated wetland margins from an established viewpoint. Follow a local guide’s directions around estuaries.

Conservation & care

Give feeding and resting birds space. If a bird stops feeding, repeatedly looks at you or moves away, increase your distance. Keep dogs away from flocks, avoid playback and feeding, and leave nests and natural shoreline debris undisturbed.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Green Lacewings

Spanish name
Crisopas verdes
Scientific name
Chrysopidae — family card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the green lacewings!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Green Lacewings

  • Delicate green body

  • finely veined wings

  • long antennae

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Green Ratsnake

Spanish name
Ratonera / Culebra ratonera
Scientific name
Senticolis triaspis
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Forest Edge · Tropical Dry Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What helps this reptile fit into its habitat?”

Tati: “Let’s look at its shape, colors and surroundings while giving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Green Ratsnake

  • Long body and elongated head

  • Adults may be tan, golden or olive-brown

  • Juveniles show darker blotches

Habitat & range

Northwestern and western Pacific-slope woodland and forest, including the San Luis de Monteverde area.

Conservation & care

Observe from a distance with an adult or qualified guide. Do not touch, catch, corner, feed or move any snake. Keep children and pets away. Colors, head shape and pupil shape must never be used to decide a snake is safe.

Threats & pressures

Protect connected habitat and natural shelters. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in place and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Green Spiny Lizard

Spanish name
Lagartija espinosa verde
Scientific name
Sceloporus malachiticus
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Forest Edge · Open Woodland

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico and Tati invite you to learn about the green spiny lizard. Compare a photo of its rough scales with a smooth-looking anole. Describe texture without touching either animal.

Identification

Key Features of the Green Spiny Lizard

  • Pointed, strongly textured body scales.

  • A dark shoulder marking.

  • Adult males often show green coloration.

Habitat & range

Costa Rican uplands, including suitable forest edges and rocky or open perches.

Conservation & care

Watch wildlife with an adult from a safe path. Do not touch, feed, capture or move reptiles, and keep pets away. Leave eggs, shelters and vegetation undisturbed.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Groove-billed Ani

Spanish name
Garrapatero piquiestriado / Tijo
Scientific name
Crotophaga sulcirostris
Birds Farms & Cultivated Land · Gardens · Open Woodland

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Its beak has tiny lines!”

Tati: “Those grooves are helpful, but we need a clear view.”

Identification

Key Features of the Groove-billed Ani

  • All-black plumage

  • Long loosely held tail

  • Heavy upper bill with grooves

Habitat & range

Open and shrubby country, pasture margins and settled areas across Costa Rica, reaching middle elevations. It is less frequent in much of the southern Pacific, where Smooth-billed Ani predominates.

Conservation & care

Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Heavy-footed Anole

Spanish name
Anolis de patas robustas
Scientific name
Anolis pachypus
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Oak Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Heavy-footed Anole

  • Compact brown mountain anole

  • Stout-looking feet

  • Camouflaged body and long tapering tail

Habitat & range

Middle and upper elevations of the Talamanca mountain system in southern Costa Rica.

Conservation & care

Observe from permitted paths with an adult. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, stones, logs and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and give animals an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

High Anole

Spanish name
Anolis de altura
Scientific name
Anolis altae
Reptiles Cloud Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the High Anole

  • Small slender brown body

  • Relatively short legs

  • Long tail and subtle camouflage

Habitat & range

Central volcanic highlands, including the Barva, Irazú and northern Alajuela mountain areas.

Conservation & care

Observe from permitted paths with an adult. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, stones, logs and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and give animals an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Hoffmann’s Earth Snake

Spanish name
Culebra de tierra de Hoffmann
Scientific name
Geophis hoffmanni
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Hoffmann’s Earth Snake

  • Small head and dark slender body

  • Usually plain dark upper surfaces

  • Paler underside; young may have a pale neck mark

Habitat & range

Humid lowland and foothill habitats and central mountain slopes, including the Monteverde area.

Conservation & care

Observe only from a distance with an adult or qualified guide. Never touch, catch, feed, corner or move any snake. Keep children and pets away. Colors, head shape and pupil shape must never be used to decide a snake is safe.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Hot Lips Plant

Spanish name
Labios ardientes / Botón rojo
Scientific name
Palicourea elata
Other Plants Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Two bright red bracts surround tiny pale flowers in the forest understory.”

Tati: “Let’s notice the leaves, flowers and habitat without disturbing the plant.”

Identification

Key Features of the Hot Lips Plant

  • Two conspicuous red floral bracts

  • Small white or creamy flowers

  • Opposite glossy leaves

Habitat & range

Humid understory and forest edges on both slopes, with records from Guanacaste, Sarapiquí, Talamanca, Cartago and Osa.

Conservation & care

Explore with an adult on permitted paths. Observe and photograph without picking leaves, flowers or fruits. Do not taste plants or let pets chew them. Avoid climbing trees and disturbing roots, seedlings or visiting wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect suitable habitat, mature trees and natural regeneration. Avoid trampling, unauthorized clearing and collection.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Jaguar

Spanish name
Jaguar / Tigre
Scientific name
Panthera onca
Mammals Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “A forest can hide a very large cat!”

Tati: “A camera-trap record helps us learn without approaching it.”

Protected Near Threatened

Identification

Key Features of the Jaguar

  • Broad head and muscular body.

  • Rosettes often contain smaller dark spots.

  • Relatively thick limbs and shorter tail than a puma.

Habitat & range

Tortuguero National Park’s protected forest landscape; ACG camera traps also document the species in Pitilla.

Conservation & care

Keep a respectful distance and leave an open route for the animal. Stay on authorized paths, secure food and rubbish, and observe without feeding, touching, baiting or chasing.

Threats & pressures

Forest loss, hunting of prey and retaliatory killing after livestock conflict are documented pressures.

Protection & recovery

Costa Rica’s government wildlife guide explicitly identifies this species as protected nationally. This legal designation is separate from its global IUCN category.

Conservation assessment

Global IUCN category as reported by the linked source, checked 7 October 2026. The source does not give an assessment year here. National legal protection and local abundance are separate questions.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Katydids

Spanish name
Esperanzas
Scientific name
Tettigoniidae — family card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the katydids!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Katydids

  • Very long antennae

  • leaf-like wings in many species

  • strong jumping hindlegs

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Lady Beetles

Spanish name
Mariquitas
Scientific name
Coccinellidae — family card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the lady beetles!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Lady Beetles

  • Rounded beetle body

  • hard wing covers

  • spot patterns vary

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Long-tailed Manakin

Spanish name
Saltarín toledo
Scientific name
Chiroxiphia linearis
Birds Estuary & Mangroves · Forest Edge · Tropical Dry Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Two birds are moving together on the branches!”

Tati: “We can watch the rhythm without interrupting.”

Identification

Key Features of the Long-tailed Manakin

  • Adult male: black body, blue back and red crown.

  • Long central tail feathers in males.

  • Female: less conspicuous greenish plumage.

Habitat & range

Gallery forest, mature secondary woodland and mangrove edges in the northern Pacific, extending toward Carara, the Central Valley and suitable Dota slopes. Shaded woodland is essential.

Conservation & care

Stay on authorized trails or viewing routes. Give birds space, keep voices low and leave nests undisturbed. Observe without bait, feeding or recorded calls.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Long-tailed Weasel

Spanish name
Comadreja de cola larga
Scientific name
Neogale frenata
Mammals Farms & Cultivated Land · Open Woodland · Rivers & Streams · Woodland Edges

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

A long-tailed weasel has a narrow flexible body that helps it move through cover and investigate small spaces.

Identification

Key Features of the Long-tailed Weasel

  • Very slender body with short legs and a small head.

  • Brown upper coat and pale underside.

  • Long tail with a black tip.

Habitat & range

Wooded edges, scrub and other suitable partly open landscapes.

Conservation & care

Explore with an adult or local guide. Observe quietly from a distance, stay on established trails and leave shelter undisturbed. Do not feed, touch, capture or corner wildlife. Keep pets away.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Mountain Alligator Lizard

Spanish name
Dragón de altura
Scientific name
Abronia monticola
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Oak Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What clues help us recognize this reptile?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its shape, markings and habitat from a respectful distance.”

Identification

Key Features of the Mountain Alligator Lizard

  • Elongated body with short legs

  • Distinct rows of armored-looking scales

  • Brown-gray highland camouflage

Habitat & range

Cool highlands, including the Irazú region and the Talamanca mountain range.

Conservation & care

Observe with an adult from permitted paths. Do not catch, chase, touch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, logs, rocks and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and allow animals an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect habitat connections and natural shelters. Avoid road mortality, collection and deliberate killing. Leave reptiles in their habitat rather than keeping or relocating them.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Northern Forest Racer

Spanish name
Corredora de bosque
Scientific name
Dendrophidion percarinatum
Reptiles Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Northern Forest Racer

  • Slender body and long fine tail

  • Relatively large eyes

  • Narrow crossmarks along the body

Habitat & range

Humid lowland and foothill forests, including southwestern Costa Rica, Monteverde and Caribbean-slope localities.

Conservation & care

Observe only from a distance with an adult or qualified guide. Never touch, catch, feed, corner or move any snake. Keep children and pets away. Colors, head shape and pupil shape must never be used to decide a snake is safe.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo

Spanish name
Armadillo de cola desnuda
Scientific name
Cabassous centralis
Mammals Cloud Forest · Farms & Cultivated Land · Tropical Dry Forest · Tropical Rainforest · Woodland Edges

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

The northern naked-tailed armadillo is a digging specialist.

Least Concern

What does Least Concern mean?

In the linked conservation assessment, this species does not qualify as threatened or near threatened with extinction. It still needs care: local populations and habitats can face problems even when the species has a lower extinction risk overall.

This label describes conservation status. It does not tell us whether a plant is safe for children or pets. Select the status button to read the assessment.

Identification

Key Features of the Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo

  • Dark armored body with flexible bands.

  • Mostly unarmored tail with thin, widely spaced plates.

  • Large digging claws and a relatively broad head.

Habitat & range

Forests and wooded edges, including documented Costa Rican secondary-forest sites.

Conservation & care

Explore with an adult or local guide. Observe quietly from a distance, stay on established trails and leave shelter undisturbed. Do not feed, touch, capture or corner wildlife. Keep pets away.

Conservation assessment

IUCN specialist-group account reports Least Concern; checked October 2026. The account stresses limited population knowledge. Least Concern does not mean the animal faces no threats.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Northern Olingo

Spanish name
Olingo norteño
Scientific name
Bassaricyon gabbii
Mammals Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

The northern olingo is a forest mammal that moves among branches and eats fruit, with nectar also reported in its diet.

Identification

Key Features of the Northern Olingo

  • Gray-brown fur, rounded ears and a fairly pointed muzzle.

  • Long bushy tail that is not prehensile.

  • Compare several features with a kinkajou; a quick glimpse may be inconclusive.

Habitat & range

Forested canopies, including documented Monteverde sites.

Conservation & care

Explore with an adult or local guide. Observe quietly from a distance, stay on established trails and leave shelter undisturbed. Do not feed, touch, capture or corner wildlife. Keep pets away.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Ocellated Anadia

Spanish name
Anadia ocelada
Scientific name
Anadia ocellata
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Ocellated Anadia

  • Elongated body and short limbs

  • Long tapering tail

  • Small eyelike flank markings

Habitat & range

Forested foothill and upland habitats in Costa Rica, including Monteverde, the Aguacate mountains and humid mountain slopes.

Conservation & care

Observe from permitted paths with an adult. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, stones, logs and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and give animals an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Orchid Bees

Spanish name
Abejas de las orquídeas
Scientific name
Euglossini — group card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the orchid bees!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Orchid Bees

  • Often metallic colors

  • two pairs of wings

  • males may visit scented flowers

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Osprey

Spanish name
Águila pescadora
Scientific name
Pandion haliaetus
Birds · Coastal Birds · Coastal Raptors · Raptors Estuary & Mangroves · Freshwater · Ocean

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico sees a fish hunter high above the water. Tati follows its shape with binoculars while keeping both feet on the trail.

Identification

Key Features of the Osprey

  • White head with broad dark eye stripe

  • Brown back and pale underparts

  • Hooked bill and powerful feet

  • Long angled wings in flight

Habitat & range

Scan exposed branches and the sky above fish-bearing rivers, estuaries and coastal water. Watch from a safe shore viewpoint.

Conservation & care

Give feeding and resting birds space. If a bird stops feeding, repeatedly looks at you or moves away, increase your distance. Keep dogs away from flocks, avoid playback and feeding, and leave nests and natural shoreline debris undisturbed.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Picado’s Pitviper

Spanish name
Mano de piedra costarricense
Scientific name
Atropoides picadoi
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What helps this reptile fit into its habitat?”

Tati: “Let’s look at its shape, colors and surroundings while giving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Picado’s Pitviper

  • Very robust body

  • Broad head and rough-looking keeled scales

  • Dark angular blotches on a lighter background

Habitat & range

Wet Caribbean-slope forests, including northern foothills and the Central Volcanic and Talamanca mountain systems.

Conservation & care

VENOMOUS. Observe only from a distance with a qualified guide. Keep children and pets well away. Never approach, touch, catch or provoke this snake, and do not reach into nearby vegetation.

Threats & pressures

Protect connected habitat and natural shelters. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in place and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Praying Mantises

Spanish name
Mantis
Scientific name
Mantodea — order card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the praying mantises!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Praying Mantises

  • Triangular head

  • grasping front legs

  • alert upright posture

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Puffing Snake

Spanish name
Pajarera / Culebra pajarera
Scientific name
Phrynonax poecilonotus
Reptiles Forest Edge · Tropical Dry Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Puffing Snake

  • Large elongated forest snake

  • Variable colors and darker markings

  • Distinct head and long climbing body

Habitat & range

Forests and wooded edges on both Costa Rican slopes, including lowlands and foothills; documented in the Monteverde area.

Conservation & care

Observe only from a distance with an adult or qualified guide. Never touch, catch, feed, corner or move any snake. Keep children and pets away. Colors, head shape and pupil shape must never be used to decide a snake is safe.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Puma

Spanish name
Puma / León de montaña
Scientific name
Puma concolor
Mammals Tropical Dry Forest · Tropical Rainforest · Woodland Edges

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “This cat has no rosettes!”

Tati: “Its shape helps us tell it apart from a jaguar.”

Identification

Key Features of the Puma

  • Uniform tawny adult coat, without jaguar rosettes.

  • Long tail with a darker tip.

  • Relatively small head and long legs.

Habitat & range

Reserva Sierra Zapote, Las Juntas district, Abangares, and suitable forests elsewhere in Costa Rica.

Conservation & care

Keep a respectful distance and leave an open route for the animal. Stay on authorized paths, secure food and rubbish, and observe without feeding, touching, baiting or chasing.

Threats & pressures

Forest fragmentation and loss of prey are habitat-level pressures relevant to wide-ranging predators.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Resplendent Quetzal

Spanish name
Quetzal
Scientific name
Pharomachrus mocinno
Birds Cloud Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Can you find green feathers among the green leaves?”

Tati: “Let’s watch the fruiting trees quietly.”

Near Threatened

Identification

Key Features of the Resplendent Quetzal

  • Shimmering green upperparts and a red belly.

  • Adult males have very long upper-tail feathers.

  • Look in forest trees, especially where fruit is available.

Habitat & range

Forested mountains from the Tilaran range south through the Central and Talamanca ranges, principally cloud forest at suitable elevations. Lower-elevation seasonal movements need site-specific treatment.

Conservation & care

Stay on authorized trails or viewing routes. Give birds space, keep voices low and leave nests undisturbed. Observe without bait, feeding or recorded calls.

Threats & pressures

Forest loss and fragmentation can remove nesting cavities and interrupt access to seasonal feeding habitat.

Conservation assessment

American Bird Conservancy reports Near Threatened and a decreasing population trend. Source checked 7 October 2026. This is a global species category, not a count of birds in the tagged towns.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Ringed Snail-eating Snake

Spanish name
Caracolera anillada
Scientific name
Sibon annulatus
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What clues help us recognize this reptile?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its shape, markings and habitat from a respectful distance.”

Identification

Key Features of the Ringed Snail-eating Snake

  • Slender body with contrasting rings

  • Large eyes

  • Branch-climbing posture

Habitat & range

Humid Caribbean-slope forest and foothills, with records around Cartago and northern mountain forests.

Conservation & care

Observe only from a distance with an adult or qualified guide. Do not touch, catch, corner or attempt to move any snake. Step back and tell your adult; keep children and pets away. Do not use colors, head shape or pupil shape to decide a snake is safe.

Threats & pressures

Protect habitat connections and natural shelters. Avoid road mortality, collection and deliberate killing. Leave reptiles in their habitat rather than keeping or relocating them.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Salmon-bellied Racer

Spanish name
Corredora de vientre salmón
Scientific name
Mastigodryas melanolomus
Reptiles Forest Edge · Tropical Dry Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What helps this reptile fit into its habitat?”

Tati: “Let’s look at its shape, colors and surroundings while giving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Salmon-bellied Racer

  • Slender long-tailed body

  • Brown-to-olive upper surfaces

  • Pale or salmon-colored underside

Habitat & range

Pacific-slope forest, edges and foothill landscapes, including northwestern Costa Rica, San Luis de Monteverde and the South Pacific.

Conservation & care

Observe from a distance with an adult or qualified guide. Do not touch, catch, corner, feed or move any snake. Keep children and pets away. Colors, head shape and pupil shape must never be used to decide a snake is safe.

Threats & pressures

Protect connected habitat and natural shelters. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in place and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Salvin’s Anole

Spanish name
Anolis de Salvin
Scientific name
Anolis salvini
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Salvin’s Anole

  • Short legs and compact outline

  • Mottled barklike pattern

  • Mountain-forest setting

Habitat & range

Pacific premontane and lower montane forests of Talamanca, from the central-southern highlands toward the Panama border.

Conservation & care

Observe from permitted paths with an adult. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, stones, logs and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and give animals an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Semipalmated Plover

Spanish name
Chorlitejo semipalmado
Scientific name
Charadrius semipalmatus
Birds · Coastal Birds · Shorebirds Beach · Estuary & Mangroves · Sand & Mud Flats

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico follows a run, then a stop. Tati notices one breast band on a small round shorebird.

Identification

Key Features of the Semipalmated Plover

  • Small compact brown-and-white body

  • One dark breast band

  • Short bill and orange legs

  • Run-and-pause feeding

Habitat & range

Scan exposed shoreline feeding areas and nearby resting places with binoculars. The tide changes which flats are available; remain on a safe established route.

Conservation & care

Give feeding and resting birds space. If a bird stops feeding, repeatedly looks at you or moves away, increase your distance. Keep dogs away from flocks, avoid playback and feeding, and leave nests and natural shoreline debris undisturbed.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Side-striped Palm Pitviper

Spanish name
Lora venenosa
Scientific name
Bothriechis lateralis
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Farms & Cultivated Land · Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What helps this reptile fit into its habitat?”

Tati: “Let’s look at its shape, colors and surroundings while giving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Side-striped Palm Pitviper

  • Thin pale line along each side

  • Adults often green; juveniles may be brown

  • Climbing body with a gripping tail

Habitat & range

Mountain forests and wooded agricultural landscapes of Costa Rica, including Monteverde and the central and Talamanca ranges.

Conservation & care

VENOMOUS. Observe only from a distance with a qualified guide. Keep children and pets well away. Never approach, touch, catch or provoke this snake, and do not reach into nearby vegetation.

Threats & pressures

Protect connected habitat and natural shelters. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in place and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Spotted Coffee Snake

Spanish name
Culebra cafetalera manchada
Scientific name
Ninia maculata
Reptiles Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Spotted Coffee Snake

  • Small dark-headed snake

  • Keeled scales and dark crossmarks

  • Spotted underside studied from references only

Habitat & range

Humid forest and foothill habitats on both slopes, including Monteverde, central highland margins and southwestern Costa Rica.

Conservation & care

Observe only from a distance with an adult or qualified guide. Never touch, catch, feed, corner or move any snake. Keep children and pets away. Colors, head shape and pupil shape must never be used to decide a snake is safe.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Spotted Sandpiper

Spanish name
Andarríos maculado
Scientific name
Actitis macularius
Birds · Coastal Birds · Shorebirds Beach · Estuary & Mangroves · Rivers & Streams

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico looks for spots but finds a plain white belly. Tati learns that the name does not describe every season.

Identification

Key Features of the Spotted Sandpiper

  • Brown back and white underparts

  • Frequent tail bobbing

  • Short straight bill

  • Belly spots may be absent outside breeding

Habitat & range

Scan exposed shoreline feeding areas and nearby resting places with binoculars. The tide changes which flats are available; remain on a safe established route.

Conservation & care

Give feeding and resting birds space. If a bird stops feeding, repeatedly looks at you or moves away, increase your distance. Keep dogs away from flocks, avoid playback and feeding, and leave nests and natural shoreline debris undisturbed.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Stingless Bees

Spanish name
Abejas sin aguijón
Scientific name
Meliponini — group card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the stingless bees!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Stingless Bees

  • Usually small bees

  • busy nest entrances

  • shape varies among species

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Striped Glasstail

Spanish name
Hojarasquera de cola frágil
Scientific name
Urotheca guentheri
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Striped Glasstail

  • Slender body with lengthwise stripes

  • Long delicate tail

  • Ground-dwelling forest posture

Habitat & range

Northern and Caribbean-facing wet forests, the Tilarán range on both slopes and southern Pacific-facing Talamanca. Documented near La Fortuna.

Conservation & care

Observe only from a distance with an adult or qualified guide. Never touch, catch, feed, corner or move any snake. Keep children and pets away. Colors, head shape and pupil shape must never be used to decide a snake is safe.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Summer Tanager

Spanish name
Tangara veranera
Scientific name
Piranga rubra
Birds Forest Edge · Gardens · Open Woodland · Tropical Dry Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Even its wings are red!”

Tati: “That helps us compare it with the scarlet tanager.”

Identification

Key Features of the Summer Tanager

  • Adult male entirely red

  • Hefty pale bill

  • Female yellowish and young males patchy

Habitat & range

A migrant and nonbreeding visitor, generally mid-September through April. Uses forest, edges and wooded gardens on both slopes, with fewer birds at higher elevations.

Conservation & care

Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Migrants depend on suitable habitat across their full annual journey. Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Swift Anole

Spanish name
Anolis de montaña
Scientific name
Anolis tropidolepis
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Oak Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What helps this reptile fit into its habitat?”

Tati: “Let’s look at its shape, colors and surroundings while giving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Swift Anole

  • Small brown mountain anole

  • Long tail and slender limbs

  • Subtle darker markings on a camouflaged back

Habitat & range

High-elevation forest in the Costa Rican mountains, including Irazú, Monteverde and the Dota highlands.

Conservation & care

Observe with an adult from permitted paths. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, logs, stones and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and allow an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect connected habitat and natural shelters. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in place and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Three-wattled Bellbird

Spanish name
Pájaro campana
Scientific name
Procnias tricarunculatus
Birds Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “That call sounds like a forest bell!”

Tati: “Let’s look high in the trees without calling it closer.”

Vulnerable

Identification

Key Features of the Three-wattled Bellbird

  • Adult male: white head, chestnut body and three hanging wattles.

  • Females lack the male’s conspicuous wattles.

  • A loud, distinctive call from high forest perches.

Habitat & range

Breeds in mountain forest and moves downslope seasonally. Guanacaste includes mountain habitats; South Pacific includes Talamanca slopes and the General Valley. Not a year-round lowland bird throughout these regions.

Seasonal Calendar

Seasonal presence

Monteverde / Tilarán mountains

Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Reported upland presence; not a guarantee of calling, nesting or sightings throughout each month.

Event source ↗

Breeding

Caribbean slope of the Tilarán mountains, east of Monteverde

Feb, Mar, Apr, May

Reported for the Monteverde population; a different area from its later Pacific-slope feeding habitat.

Event source ↗

Post-breeding feeding movement

Pacific slope around Monteverde

Jun, Jul, Aug

Reported movement into fruiting forest; some birds remain into September.

Event source ↗

Conservation & care

Stay on authorized trails or viewing routes. Give birds space, keep voices low and leave nests undisturbed. Observe without bait, feeding or recorded calls.

Threats & pressures

Loss of mature forest and breaks in habitat along seasonal movement routes can reduce feeding and breeding opportunities.

Conservation assessment

American Bird Conservancy reports Vulnerable. Source checked 7 October 2026. This is a global species category, not a count of birds in the tagged towns.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Tiny Anole

Spanish name
Anolis microtus
Scientific name
Anolis microtus
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What helps this reptile fit into its habitat?”

Tati: “Let’s look at its shape, colors and surroundings while giving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Tiny Anole

  • Large rather than tiny anole

  • Broad head and relatively short legs

  • Green-and-brown camouflage on a long-tailed body

Habitat & range

Premontane and lower montane forest in the Costa Rican highlands, particularly the Talamanca mountain system on both slopes.

Conservation & care

Observe with an adult from permitted paths. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, logs, stones and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and allow an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect connected habitat and natural shelters. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in place and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Tropical Kingbird

Spanish name
Tirano tropical
Scientific name
Tyrannus melancholicus
Birds Farms & Cultivated Land · Forest Edge · Gardens · Open Woodland

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “That bird keeps returning to the same branch!”

Tati: “A perch gives a flycatcher a place to watch for food.”

Identification

Key Features of the Tropical Kingbird

  • Gray head without bold white eyebrow

  • Yellow underparts

  • Long dark bill and brown tail

Habitat & range

Widespread in open country, farms, towns and forest clearings, mainly below about 1850 m and less commonly higher. Regional tags apply only where suitable open habitat exists.

Conservation & care

Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Turkey Vulture

Spanish name
Zopilote cabecirrojo
Scientific name
Cathartes aura
Birds Open Woodland · Tropical Dry Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Its wings look like a gentle V!”

Tati: “That posture and the pale flight feathers give us clues.”

Identification

Key Features of the Turkey Vulture

  • Red head in adults

  • Pale flight feathers beneath dark wings

  • Longer tail and shallow V in flight

Habitat & range

Widespread over open and wooded landscapes, less numerous at high elevations. Resident birds are joined by migrants, with especially conspicuous passage along Caribbean lowlands.

Conservation & care

Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Two-banded False Coral Snake

Spanish name
Falsa coral de dos bandas
Scientific name
Erythrolamprus bizona
Reptiles Forest Edge · Tropical Dry Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What helps this reptile fit into its habitat?”

Tati: “Let’s look at its shape, colors and surroundings while giving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Two-banded False Coral Snake

  • Dark bands often arranged in pairs

  • Reddish body with narrow pale markings

  • Small head and slender build

Habitat & range

Forest and forest-edge habitats on both slopes; documented in San Luis de Monteverde.

Conservation & care

Observe from a distance with an adult or qualified guide. Do not touch, catch, corner, feed or move any snake. Keep children and pets away. Colors, head shape and pupil shape must never be used to decide a snake is safe.

Threats & pressures

Protect connected habitat and natural shelters. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in place and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Violet Sabrewing

Spanish name
Ala de sable violáceo
Scientific name
Campylopterus hemileucurus
Birds Cloud Forest · Forest Edge · Rivers & Streams · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “It looked dark until it turned!”

Tati: “Iridescent feathers can change appearance as the light changes.”

Identification

Key Features of the Violet Sabrewing

  • Large hummingbird shape

  • Thick curved bill

  • White outer tail corners

Habitat & range

Humid mountain forest and forest edges on both slopes. Breeding is mainly at middle elevations, with seasonal descent into foothills. Guanacaste means humid mountain habitat, not dry beaches.

Conservation & care

Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.

Threats & pressures

Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Walking Sticks

Spanish name
Insectos palo
Scientific name
Phasmatodea — order card
Other Insects Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the walking sticks!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Walking Sticks

  • Twig-like body

  • six long legs

  • camouflage among branches

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Western Sandpiper

Spanish name
Correlimos occidental
Scientific name
Calidris mauri
Birds · Coastal Birds · Shorebirds Beach · Estuary & Mangroves · Sand & Mud Flats

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

A tiny gray bird makes Pico slow down. Tati learns that some identifications deserve a question mark.

Identification

Key Features of the Western Sandpiper

  • Very small gray-and-white nonbreeding bird

  • Fine dark bill often slightly downcurved

  • Dark legs

  • Compare carefully with other small sandpipers

Habitat & range

Scan exposed shoreline feeding areas and nearby resting places with binoculars. The tide changes which flats are available; remain on a safe established route.

Conservation & care

Give feeding and resting birds space. If a bird stops feeding, repeatedly looks at you or moves away, increase your distance. Keep dogs away from flocks, avoid playback and feeding, and leave nests and natural shoreline debris undisturbed.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

White Anole

Spanish name
Anolis de vientre liso
Scientific name
Anolis laeviventris
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Forest Edge

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What can we learn from this reptile’s shape?”

Tati: “Let’s notice its markings and habitat while leaving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the White Anole

  • Small gray-to-brown anole

  • Mottled twig-colored camouflage

  • Fine tapering tail

Habitat & range

Upland forest and edges in Costa Rica, including San Luis de Monteverde and central mountain areas.

Conservation & care

Observe from permitted paths with an adult. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, stones, logs and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and give animals an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect natural shelters and connected habitat. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in its habitat and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

White Hawk

Spanish name
Gavilán blanco
Scientific name
Pseudastur albicollis
Birds Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “A white shape is circling above the forest!”

Tati: “Let’s compare its wings and tail before naming it.”

Identification

Key Features of the White Hawk

  • Mostly white plumage, with black wing and tail markings.

  • Broad wings while soaring.

  • Patient perching near forest gaps.

Habitat & range

Forested foothills and uneven terrain on the Caribbean side and southern Pacific, locally to about 1400 m. Dry northwestern lowlands are unsuitable.

Conservation & care

Stay on authorized trails or viewing routes. Give birds space, keep voices low and leave nests undisturbed. Observe without bait, feeding or recorded calls.

Threats & pressures

The Peregrine Fund reports declines where forest is cleared for agriculture and livestock.

View full profile →

Nature Field Guide

Wood’s Anole

Spanish name
Anolis de Wood
Scientific name
Anolis woodi
Reptiles Cloud Forest · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “What helps this reptile fit into its habitat?”

Tati: “Let’s look at its shape, colors and surroundings while giving it plenty of space.”

Identification

Key Features of the Wood’s Anole

  • Long legs and a narrow tail

  • Olive-to-brown body

  • Bluish eyes can be a useful supporting clue

Habitat & range

Humid mountain forests of the central volcanic range and Talamanca, including the Poás area and the San Vito/Las Cruces region in southern Puntarenas.

Conservation & care

Observe with an adult from permitted paths. Do not touch, chase, catch or feed reptiles. Leave bark, logs, stones and leaf litter in place. Keep pets away and allow an open escape route.

Threats & pressures

Protect connected habitat and natural shelters. Avoid collection, unnecessary clearing and deliberate killing. Leave wildlife in place and support responsible observation.

View full profile →

learning adventuresKeep Exploring,
Keep Learning

Choose a Learning Adventure to turn a local outing into shared discovery. These activities offer questions, observation games and ways to care for God’s creation. Pick one that suits your family and the setting.

Family Story Treasure Hunt with Pico & Tati

Story Cards on the Veranda-2

Costa Rica Rhythm Explorers with Pico & Tati

Pico Learns the Costa Rican Marimba-13

Garden to Table Explorers with Pico & Tati

Pico Harvests a Ripe Tomato-16

get in touchLet's Keep Exploring Together.

Have a question or an idea to share? We’d love to hear from you. Connect with us about our stories, family activities or bringing Tico Explorers into your classroom.

Email

pico@ticoexplorers.com

Social network
Instagram Facebook Youtube Tiktok Pinterest
Our Pura Vida Promise

At Tico Explorers™, we encourage families and children to explore with curiosity, learn with kindness, and care for God’s creation.

Our adventures invite families to notice the world together, respect local communities, and leave the places they visit cared for.

 

©Tico Explorers™ 2026. All rights reserved.

Terms of use & Refund Policy |  Privacy

My Tico Explorer Experience

Save nature, towns, discoveries and learning adventures for your next experience.

Your list stays in this browser on this device.