Hotel Rivel

birding

A Shy Songster: Unveiling the Gray-Cheeked Thrush in the Costa Rican Highlands

High in the Costa Rican mountains, where the emerald embrace of the rainforest thins and gives way to a cooler, coniferous embrace, a secretive songbird takes center stage – the Gray-cheeked Thrush. Unlike its vibrantly plumaged neighbors, this thrush favors … Read More

The Yigüirro: A Song of Costa Rica’s Mountains

As you wake to the soft glow of dawn here at our mountain retreat, a beautiful melody might greet your ears. It’s the unmistakable song of the Yigüirro, also known as the Clay-colored Thrush, Costa Rica’s national bird. This common … Read More

A Shy Songster: Unveiling the Black-Headed Nightingale-Thrush

Here at our Costa Rican mountain retreat, mornings erupt in a symphony of birdsong. But amidst the vibrant chorus, there exists a more secretive vocalist: the Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush. This elusive thrush, with its subtle charm, might take some patience to … Read More

The Double-Striped Thick-Knee: A Cryptic Camouflaged Resident

High up in the Costa Rican mountains, where the air thins and the emerald embrace of the rainforest loosens its grip, another kind of magic unfolds. Here, on the drier, sun-drenched slopes, a fascinating resident calls this wild haven home: … Read More

A Shy Songster: The Enigmatic Silvery-fronted Tapaculo

Welcome back, birding enthusiasts, to another exciting encounter with the phenomenal feathered residents of Costa Rica! Today, we delve into the secretive world of the Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, a skulking songbird that dwells in the highland forests of our country. Make … Read More

A Flash of Sunshine: The Yellow-Winged Tanager Visits Our Mountain Retreat

Even amidst the lush greenery and vibrant hues of our mountain retreat, a splash of color can truly stand out. This week, we turn our binoculars to a resident who brings a touch of sunshine with it – the aptly … Read More

A Flash of Sunshine: The Sulphur-Rumped Tanager

High up in the canopy, a flit of movement catches your eye. A flash of bright yellow disappears behind a bromeliad, then emerges again, a dapper little bird with a surprising splash of color. This, my friends, is the Sulphur-rumped … Read More

A Mountain Mystery: The Intriguing Peg-billed Finch

High in the misty mountains of Costa Rica, where the air grows thin and the emerald forests cling to steep slopes, lives a bird unlike any other. This feathered resident, the aptly named Peg-billed Finch, is a captivating creature shrouded … Read More

A Flash of Yellow Through the Grass: The Wedge-Tailed Grass-Finch

While our mountain retreat offers breathtaking vistas and emerald forests teeming with colorful birds, a keen eye might spot a smaller wonder flitting amongst the grasses – the Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch. Often overlooked, this little bird holds its own charm and … Read More

The Enigmatic Streaked Saltator: A Touch of Olive Charm in the Costa Rican Mountains

Here at our Costa Rican mountain retreat, nature unfolds its wonders around every corner. From the vibrant hues of the quetzal to the melodic calls of the toucan, our haven provides a stage for an extraordinary avian cast. Today, we … Read More