Rancho Naturalista’s forest is classified as pre-montane Caribbean slope rainforest. As such, it has nearly as many bird species as the steamy, sweaty lowland rainforests but with a much better climate. It also has many specialty birds that are best found at this elevation range. The extensive network of good trails provides access to diverse sections of this forest, ranging from primary forest to reforesting plantation. Several guests have proclaimed that Rancho Naturalista’s forest is a “feel-good forest.” The forest is beautiful, the trails are good, the birding is very good, the climate is mild, and the birder experiences no nuisances apart from occasionally a few mosquitoes; none of the threats of many tropical forests worry the mind here. True, there are venomous snakes hiding in this forest, as in almost every tropical rainforest, but anyone walking these trails in the daytime is unlikely to encounter any snake. Every walk in the forest yields a different list of birds, so to see a long list of special birds it is recommended to make as many forest walks as time allows. Often we encounter mixed foraging flocks of birds. With luck and persistence, we see many species in the flock, perhaps including various antwrens, woodcreepers, tanagers, flycatchers, warblers, and many others. Hopefully spectacular birds such as the Brown-billed Scythebill will be in attendance. Quietly walking the forest trails may produce secretive ground-dwellers including tinamous, doves, leaftossers, antbirds, antpittas, and nightingale-thrushes. For example, one recent visitor and her resident bird guide walking quietly had excellent views of Purplish-backed Quail-Dove, Ruddy Quail-Dove, and Chiriqui Quail-Dove in one afternoon and the following morning! Three species of manakins display in leks in this forest; these can be watched when other birds become quiet during mid-day.

For birding questions email: birding@ranchonaturalista.net