Listen for the mournful evocative whistles in lowland and foothills rainforests. It can sing any time of day or night.

If you hear loud, odd sort of barking or honking calls coming from the forest canopy, this species is probably around.

Birding in the Dota Valley? Listen for this bird’s rollicking song in the cool montane airs of the early morning.

This loud, drunken sounding bird calls from riparian zones in many parts of the country, urban green space included.

Another bird that sounds like it may have had a few too many. It blends its prehistoric sounding calls with an equally prehistoric appearance.

Heard much more often than seen. If its sounds like eggs are sizzling in a marsh or tall wet grass, this species is the cook.

The typical doveish calls of this common bird are good ones to learn.

Ditto for Costa Rica’s most common pigeon.

The Barred Owl isn’t the only bird that says, “Who cooks for you”? This plain colored rainforest pigeon asks the same question.

Some people claim this bird is being rude and saying, “Up Your’s!” I just think its living up to its cuckoo family antics.

A common bird in many of the dry parts of the Pacific slope.

One of Costa Rica’s most frequently heard owls.

The standard nightjar in many parts of Costa Rica.

A common bird, vocal, and a good one to know so you can admire its plumage of many colors.

Not as common but one of the most spectacular birds on the planet. They are vocal and hearing them is one of the best ways to find them.

Hear a dog or owl giving a double bark or hoot? You might be hearing a Lesson’s Motmot.

This motmot makes a funny nasal sounding noise that is difficult to describe.

Vocal, locally common, and a good bird to know.

This aracari doesn’t sound anything like the larger toucans.

Loud and proud, the yelps of this big-beaked badboy are typical of the audio rainforest scene.

It sort of laughs like a Pileated but still sounds quite different.

Learn its mournful calls to realize how common this reclusive species actually is.

The laughter of this masked snake eater carry for some distance.

It is good to know what the screams of this magnificent bird sound like.

A common parrot in many parts of Costa Rica.

Another common bird with a characteristic song.

The friendly whistled notes of this understory species are synonymous with rainforest.

One of the more common woodcreeper species in the humid lowlands.

A common bird of mixed flocks in foothill and cloud forest habitats.

The loud calls of this special bird are incredible.

Another bird heard more often than seen, you will hear its loud staccato vocalizations in cloud forest and high elevation habitats.

It’s just nice to know that some birds sound like cartoon pigs.

A bird that says its name and says it often.

A kiskadee look-a-like. Maybe it complains about kiskadees getting more attention?

Common in gardens and second growth and very vocal.

The intriguing calls of this beautiful bird are frequently heard.

Another common manakin, this one calls and displays from second growth.

Easy to overlook but common and often heard. A good vocalization to learn.

No, that’s not a titmouse even if it does remind you of one.

Hear some typically jayish calls? It’s probably this bird.

(and other wrens especially Rufous-and-white and Nightingale)- You will hear plenty of wrens, including the friendly song of this bird while birding in cloud forest.

The song of this bird may remind you of the American Robin or Eurasian Blackbird.

One of the best songs in the country!

You will probably hear quite a few of these in the lowland and foothill forests of the Caribbean slope.

Another commonly heard euphonia.

This is one of the first species heard at first light in the Central Valley.

The ringing calls of this common species have become a regular part of the audio backdrop in many places.

Another loud and very common urban species.

The hurried song of this friendly species is typical of high elevation sites.

A nice, beautiful song to learn.