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Costa Rica doesn’t whisper beauty—it shows off. And when it comes to birds, this small country punches way above its weight. Step into the lush green rainforests, cloud-draped mountains, and sunlit forest edges through the lens of Javier Chaves Alvarado, and suddenly the bird world feels louder, brighter, and wildly alive. His photography isn’t about ticking species off a list—it’s about storytelling. Every image feels like a moment borrowed from the forest, caught just before it disappears again into leaves and light.
Javier’s work captures birds exactly where they belong: deep in their natural habitat. You see hummingbirds glowing like sparks in the shadows, toucans flexing color like living murals, and raptors locked in quiet focus above the canopy. Composition and framing are dialed in, but never forced. The rainforest sets the stage, and the birds do the talking. These photos celebrate Costa Rica’s insane biodiversity—tiny jewels like the Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, bold characters like the Keel-billed Toucan, and secretive forest dwellers that reward patience and respect.
What makes these images hit hard is detail. Feathers glow, eyes lock with the viewer, and colors feel almost unreal—yet every shot is grounded in reality. This is bird photography with soul, powered by time in the field and deep love for the wild. These 30 photos aren’t just stunning—they’re proof that Costa Rica is one of the planet’s greatest bird playgrounds.
You can find Javier Chaves Alvarado on the web:
#1. Fiery-throated Hummingbird
This hummingbird is native to the Talamanca Mountain Range. It has a straight black bill and dark legs. Its plumage is bright green on the body, a blue tail, and a white patch behind the eye.
#2. Bat Falcon
Found on high, exposed perches in partially or mostly open areas. Captures its prey in flight. Feeds on other birds, mammals, insects, and small reptiles.
#3. Fiery-billed Aracari
Distinguished by its reddish-orange upper mandible and red belly band. Small groups travel through mature, very humid forest, forest edges, and adjacent gardens. Measures 43 cm.
#4. Yellow-throated toucan
Distinguished by its yellow and dark brown bill. Common in the lowlands of the Caribbean and South Pacific slopes. Inhabits wooded and semi-open areas. Measures 56 cm.
#5. Keel-billed Toucan
Its black plumage contrasts with the yellow of its neck and chest; its skin around the eye is green, its iris and tarsi are blue, and its long, serrated bill is light green with a combination of blue and yellow tones, highlighting the orange-red tip.
Rainforest Royalty: Birds of Color and Character
Costa Rica’s rainforests are basically nature’s art gallery, and Javier knows exactly where to look. Birds like the Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Green-crowned Brilliant, and Snowy-bellied Hummingbird explode with color against deep green backdrops. These aren’t studio-perfect moments—they’re real-life encounters where light, motion, and patience collide.
The rainforest demands respect, and these birds reward it. You’ll see flashes of emerald, electric blue, and copper tones woven into dense foliage. Javier frames his subjects so the forest feels alive, never cluttered. The result? Images that feel immersive, like you’re standing there holding your breath while wings buzz past your ear. This section is pure rainforest magic—messy, loud, and breathtaking.
#6. Green-crowned Brilliant Hummingbird
This is a fairly large, elegant, long-tailed hummingbird with a straight bill. The male is entirely emerald green with a small blue throat patch, visible only from certain angles. The female has a mottled green breast, a white mustache stripe, and a white spot behind the eye.
#7. Snowy-bellied Hummingbird
It is mostly bright green with a white belly. The wings are brown and the rump is copper-colored. It forages at forest edges, gardens, and thickets, usually alone. It measures 10 cm.
#8. Golden-hooded Tanager
This is a very distinctive bird, common in gardens and forest edges from very humid lowlands to mid-elevations. It typically travels in pairs or small groups, often in mixed flocks. It measures 13 cm.
#9. Green Honeycreeper
A small, lowland tropical tanager. Found in humid forests, edges, and gardens. It feeds at all levels, especially in the canopy of fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs. Measures 13 cm.
#10. Speckled Tanager
This is a small tanager, generally lime green above and whitish below with black spots all over its body. The bill is quite thick. The wing feathers have pale blue edges. It is found in pairs or small flocks, often mixed with other songbirds, in forests and edges. It tends to stay in the mid-levels or canopy. It feeds on fruit; they may visit fruit feeders. It measures 13 cm.
Toucan Energy: Bold Beaks and Bigger Attitude
Few birds scream “Costa Rica” louder than toucans, and Javier captures them with swagger. The Keel-billed Toucan, Yellow-throated Toucan, and Fiery-billed Aracari look like they were designed by a fearless color addict. Massive beaks, electric palettes, and expressions full of attitude dominate the frame.
These birds don’t hide—and neither does Javier’s approach. Clean compositions, sharp focus, and smart use of negative space let the birds command attention. Whether perched in humid forest edges or gliding between trees, these portraits feel iconic. Loud colors, calm confidence, and undeniable charisma—this is toucan photography done right.
#11. Orange-throated Chispita
The male is distinguished by its bright orange ruff. It is usually found in fairly open areas, including forest edges and gardens. It measures 8 cm.
#12. Turquoise-browed Motmot
A tropical lowland motmot, primarily found in dry areas. It prefers dry forest and its edges, semi-open areas with sparse trees, and gardens. It is distinguished by its plumage, which includes turquoise eyebrows, turquoise-blue wings, and a tail with large rackets. Its nests are hollows excavated in hillsides. It measures 33 cm.
#13. Red-capped Manakin
The male has a courtship display in which he moves rapidly backward, similar to a dance move popularized by Michael Jackson known as the “moonwalk.” The male’s plumage is primarily black, with a bright red head and nape. The thighs are bright yellow, and the chin and wing coverts are pale yellow. It measures 10 cm.
#14. Collared Trogon
Perches at all levels within the forest, less common at the edges. The male’s tail is dark on the underside with fine white bars. Measures 25 cm.
#15. Black-bellied Hummingbird
This is a small and distinctive hummingbird. The male has mostly black body plumage and glossy white outer tail feathers. It prefers mature, very humid montane forest, clearings, and forest edges. It measures 8 cm.
Small but Mighty: Hummingbirds and Forest Jewels
Hummingbirds are chaos in motion, and freezing them in time is no joke. Javier nails it. From the Volcano Hummingbird to the White-crested Coquette, these tiny birds shine with personality and precision. You see iridescent throats, delicate wing shapes, and expressions that feel almost curious.
What stands out is scale. These birds are tiny, but the photos feel powerful. Backgrounds melt away, allowing feather detail and color to take center stage. It’s a reminder that size means nothing in the bird world—presence is everything.
#16. Red-fronted Parrot
This is a large, bright green parrot endemic to the tropical lowlands. It is found in forests, semi-open areas with scattered tall trees, and forest patches. It is most commonly seen flying high overhead, usually in pairs. It measures 33 cm.
#17. Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
A very attractive, medium-sized crested woodpecker of humid tropical lowlands. It feeds at mid to upper levels. It measures 23 cm.
#18. Pacific Screech-Owl
This is a medium-sized owl with small ears and yellow eyes. Its natural habitat consists of tropical dry and humid forests. It feeds on insects and occasionally small rodents.
#19. Volcano Hummingbird
This small hummingbird feeds on small flowers in gardens, secondary forests, and forest edges. It measures 8 cm.
#20. Gray-crowned Yellowthroat
This shy bird is olive-green and yellow; it inhabits savannas and grasslands with scattered shrubs. It perches on bushes and fences to sing and call, often moving and tilting its tail, and sometimes raising its crest. It measures 13 cm.
Forest Drama: Raptors, Owls, and Quiet Power
Not all beauty screams. Birds like the Hook-billed Kite, Pacific Screech-Owl, and Spectacled Owl bring a darker, moodier energy. These images slow things down. Eyes glow. Feathers blend into shadow. The forest feels hushed.
Javier leans into atmosphere here—soft light, strong eye contact, and thoughtful framing. These birds feel ancient, patient, and watchful. It’s a reminder that Costa Rica’s birdlife isn’t just colorful—it’s powerful.
#21. Black-and-white warbler
It is distinguished by its black and white stripes all over its body. It glides along branches looking for insects. It measures 13 cm.
#22. White-crested Coquette
The male is unmistakable with its pointed white crest and dark green feathers that extend backward from the sides of its neck. It has a white breast, a reddish belly, and a white rump band. It can be found at all levels of the forest but is most often found low, sometimes feeding on small purple flowers in gardens. It measures 8 cm.
#23. Hook-billed Kite
Tropical raptor. Found singly, in pairs, or in small family groups in forests, often near water. Hunts within the forest. Distinguished by its long tail and broad, rounded wings. Also by its hooked bill with a yellow base and yellow legs. Males are gray with white barring on the belly. Females are brown above with rufous below, and the head is mostly gray. Juveniles are paler on the underside with thinner barring. Feeds mainly on snails. Measures 43 cm.
#24. Golden-browed Chlorophonia
Distinguished by its combination of bright green and intense yellow. Often seen in the forest canopy, though also found at the forest edge and in gardens. It measures 13 cm.
#25. Scintillant Hummingbird
The male is distinguished by its bright orange ruff. It is usually found in fairly open areas, including forest edges and gardens. It measures 8 cm.
Everyday Wonders: Songbirds, Tanagers, and Motion
From the Golden-hooded Tanager to the Red-capped Manakin, this final group shows everyday magic. Birds mid-song, mid-flight, mid-dance. Javier captures motion without chaos, letting behavior tell the story.
These images feel joyful and alive—birds being birds. No drama needed. Just rhythm, color, and life unfolding naturally.
#26. Shining Honeycreeper
Distinguished by its bright yellow legs. The male is mostly dark blue with a black throat and wings. The female has a collar of bluish stripes. It is quite common in very humid lowlands and foothills. It forages in the forest canopy, at forest edges, and in gardens. It measures 10 cm.
#27. Fiery-billed Aracari
Distinguished by its reddish-orange upper mandible and red belly band. Small groups travel through mature, very humid forest, forest edges, and adjacent gardens. It measures 43 cm.
#28. Spectacled Owl
This is a large owl found in tropical lowlands and mountain slopes. It usually perches at mid to low levels, hidden in shady spots. At night, it prefers the edges and canopy of open forests. It measures 48 cm.
#29. Lesson’s Motmot
Distinguished by the intense blue ring separating the crown and the black sides of the head. Prefers forest edges and shady gardens. Measures 41 cm.
#30. Baltimore oriole
It’s a migratory ave. It feeds on the nectar of flowers and fruits at the edge of the forest and in the gardens. Mid 20cm.
In Summary
Who is Javier Chaves Alvarado?
He is a Costa Rica–based bird photographer known for capturing birds in their natural rainforest habitats.
Why is Costa Rica famous for bird photography?
Because it hosts an incredible diversity of bird species across rainforests, cloud forests, and coastal regions.
How many bird species are featured in this collection?
This collection highlights 30 different bird species found across Costa Rica.
What makes these bird photos special?
They combine stunning color, natural behavior, strong composition, and authentic wild settings.
Are these birds photographed in captivity?
No. All birds are photographed in their natural habitats, showcasing real wildlife moments.
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