Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pygochelidon ("rump swallow") cyanoleuca ("blue and white")

Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)at Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Pygochelidon cyanoleuca cyanoleauca
Weight: 10g  /  Length: 11-12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A species with a vast range across of South America but the highest peaks of the Andes meets the most Northerly point of its range in Costa Rica. It is a versatile species which can be found from sea-level to 4000m altitude, building its nest in cavities both natural and man made. It is believed to have benefitted from human caused changes to habitat as deforestation has provided more of the open habitats it prefers.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus: Pygochelidon
SUBSPECIES: P. c. cyanoleaca, P. c. peuviana, P. c. patagonica
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Golondrina Barranquera ("Burrowing Swallow")
A widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Collared Whitestart (Myioborus torquatus)

OTHER NAMES: Collared Redstart
Latin Etymology: Myioborus ("fly devouring") torquatus ("collared")

 

Collared Redstart (Myioborus torquatus) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A 
Weight: 10g  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

An endemic of the Talamancan Montane Forests that run down the centre of Costa Rica and Panama, they are found from 1500m up to the timberline. A species I saw reasonably often at San Gerardo de Dota, unusually for a small warbler, they seemed to spend time on the ground willingly.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Myioborus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Candelita Collareja ("Collared Little Candle")
Endemic to the Central Mountains of Costa Rica and neighbouring Panama
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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