Marked by its superb natural beauty, Costa Rica has the greatest percentage of preserved land of any nation worldwide; nearly a third of the country is protected in national parks, reserves, and refuges. The wildlife that abounds in these tropical areas includes a stunning diversity of more than 820 bird species. In A Bird-Finding Guide to Costa Rica, Barrett Lawson offers detailed information that makes it easy for both expert and novice birders to plan and enjoy an exciting trip to this birders' paradise.

Lawson describes fifty-three of the best birding destinations in Costa Rica. Birders will appreciate the detailed descriptions of how to bird each area, as well as the site-specific lists: "Target Birds" and "Species to Expect." The site descriptions are structured for ease of use and clarity; each provides a general introduction, exact driving directions, road maps, and lodging information. Other important elements include a general introduction to Costa Rica, an overview of tropical birds, sample itineraries, a comprehensive checklist to the birds of the country, and information about the best locations to find endemics and other sought-after species. The sites are grouped into six regions that reflect general patterns of avian distribution; this helps readers understand Costa Rica's complex bird diversity as well as plan a dynamic trip.

This useful handbook includes numerous features:

* details on fifty-three top birding locations from across the country;
* "Species to Expect" lists inform readers of birds that can be found at featured sites; especially common birds are presented in bold;
* "Target Birds" lists alert birders to rare and exciting species;
* all bird lists include plate references to the two most respected field guides, A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica by F. Gary Stiles and Alexander F. Skutch and The Birds of Costa Rica: A Field Guide by Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean (both also published by Cornell);
* eight sample itineraries and 107 maps are accompanied by information-birding times, driving times, and road indications-that will help readers customize their own itineraries;
* a complete checklist to the birds of the country with abundance ratings for eight representative sites.

About the Author

Barrett Lawson, a graduate of Bowdoin College, lives and birds in Costa Rica.

Reviews
"This is a comprehensive bird-finding guide that contains a wealth of information on many sites. Costa Rica has one of the richest avifaunas in the world. There is no better place in the world to begin birding the tropics." -- Victor Emanuel, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
"Though I'm an old Panama hand, the appearance of this comprehensive birdfinding guide to Costa Rica's avian riches has me salivating to return to that wonderful country. Meticulously researched, Barrett Lawson's well-organized book describes the country's amazingly wide range of accommodations that are suitable, indeed ideal, for birding. Planning a birding trip to Costa Rica has now been made easy, and that should entice even more birders to get on the next plane bound for San Jose." -- Robert S. Ridgely, World Land Trust-US, coauthor of The Birds of Ecuador



Book Information
ISBN 9780801475849
Author Barrett Lawson
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Comstock Publishing Associates
Publisher Cornell University Press
Weight(grams) 907g