A Guide To The Birds Of Costa Rica

by F. Gary Stiles, Alexander F. Skutch

Catalogs the more than 800 species of birds found in Costa Rica, with notes on identification, habits, and distribution

Genres: Birds, Reference, Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Travel, Science Nature

656 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 1989

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of birds packed into a small book. I like the layout of the 2nd edition. I would love to see at least the major headings in Spanish and English...it would have been nice to share my love of herons with someone in a way other than hand gestures to indicate Boat Billed Herons Fighting. (I got laughed at, by the way.)

You should buy a copy, and then you should invite me to go bird watching with you in Costa Rica.

[max · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually brought this with me when I travelled to Costa Rica for a week a couple decades ago. The country is a birder's paradise and this book is the key that unlocks all the secrets. Gorgeous.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a decade this was the Field Guide for Costa Rica. But in the past few years birders quickly realized the book was very outdated. Certain species had expanded their ranges or disapeared from certain areas. The lack of detailed range maps also made using the book a bit challanging. Even for all the detractions A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica was in most serious birders collection. Virtually every species is illustrated (which is the most important aspect of a field guide) and the information, while outdated for some species, is still relevant for most of the birds covered. If traveling on a birding trip to CR definently buy the book for home preparation but Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean's new book is the one you should take on the plane.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still the better field guide for Costa Rica. Plumage colors on the plates more closely match the birds in real life than the Garrigues' new paperback guide does. We used both books side-by-side during birding trips at Arenal and Monteverde.

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

not a book book, but very useful :)

[Woody Debris]

i need a new copy

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good bird guide book. I saw a lot of beautiful and interesting birds. I also learned I didn't really like Costa Rica.