Great potoo and red-winged blackbirds in Costa Rica

17 March 2014 in Costa Rica. We leave the area of the Sarapiqui river where we were in the morning, for the mountains. In the mountains, we saw this special bird: a great potoo, about which more soon.

From the bus: a grey-breasted martin and a tropical kingbird on a wire.

Then, a sign along the road, saying: potoo. Great potoos are big nocturnal birds. Usually, during daytime, they rest in big trees, well camouflaged by their colour and shape. This great potoo here, however, rests on a leafless branch of a big solitary tree, unusually clearly visible.

The people of the house on the hill near the potoo tree welcome birdwatchers.

This is a video of a great potoo at night. This species does not only live in Central America, but also in South American countries like in Suriname.

There are also golden-hooded tanagers in the great potoo tree. And a clay-coloured thrush.

Four brown-hooded parrots flying overhead.

A ruddy ground-dove sits nearby.

We continue to an area with many meadows. And with many red-winged blackbirds from North America, wintering here.

The red-winged blackbirds sit on grass stems, while singing.

They sit on wires, and on poles.

Barn swallows flying around.

A white-tailed kite hovering.

Three crimson-fronted parakeets flying.

We continue, higher and higher up the mountains.

Stay tuned!

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