Morelet's Seedeater (Sporophila morelleti)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sporophila ("seed loving") morelleti (for naturalist Pierre Morelet)

 

Female Morelet's Seedeater (Sporophila morelleti) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Sporophila morelleti morelleti
Weight: 6-12g  /  Length: 9.5-11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most northerly ranging member of the seedeaters being found up to to the Rio Grande along the Southern US border. Interestingly, while as adults they live up to their name as seedeaters, they primarily feed their chicks insects as a higher protein food source to help them grow, who then switch to seeds on fledging.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Sporophila
SUBSPECIES: S. m. sharpei, S. m. morelleti
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Semillero de Morelet
A widespread resident of lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

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

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Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sporophila ("seed loving") corvina ("raven black")

 

Male Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Sporophila corvina hoffmannii
Weight: 11g  /  Length: 10.5cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small member of the tanager family, the seedfinches as a group have evolved into a very finchlike form. As the other half of the name suggests, they are visually quite distinct acoss the range, with males ranging from almost entirely black to various levels of black and white. It was formerly considered part of a much broader species under the same name, but unusually, while the variable seedeater retained the common name, the then binomial Sporophila americana went to the wing-barred seedeater.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Sporophila
SUBSPECIES: S. c. corvina, S. c. hoffmannii, S. c. hicksii, S. c. ophthalmica
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Semillero variable

Common resident of lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

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

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Silver-throated Tanager (Tangara icterocephala)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Tangara ("dancer") icterocephala ("yellow headed")

Silver-throated Tanager (Tangara icterocephala) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Tangara icterocephala frantzii
Weight: 22g  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A vividly coloured bird ranging from Costa Rica to Ecuador across montane habitats. They typically range from 600-1800m elevations, but this one was present at the outer edges of the ranges of where it's been recorded at over 2200m, no doubt in this instance attracted to the feeders at the cafe. They are omnivorous but the bulk of their diet is fruit. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Tangara
SUBSPECIES: T. i. frantzii, T. i. oresbia, T. i. icterocephala
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Tangara Dorada ("Golden Tanager")

A widespread upland species
- 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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Cinnamon-bellied Saltator (Saltator grandis)

OTHER NAMES: Northern Grey Saltator
Latin Etymology:  Saltator ("dancer") grandis grandis ("large")

Cinnamon-bellied Saltator (Saltator grandis) at Hotel Robledal, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Saltator grandis grandis
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 20cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Only split in 2021 from the closely related greyish saltator, this species is the most northerly distributed of the saltators. Common but shy though it is found in urban habitats such as the gardens of Hotel Robledal where I saw it. They are largely vegetarian and will eat fruit, seeds, leaves and petals, with the flowers of the morning glory being a particular favourite.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Saltator
SUBSPECIES: S. g. vigorsii, S. g. plumbiceps, S. g. grandis, S. g. yucatanensis, S. g. hesperis, S. g. brevicaudus 

- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Pepitero ventricanelo

Widespread throughout most of the country
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela

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

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Slaty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa plumbea)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Diglossa ("double tounged") plumbea ("lead coloured") 

Adult Male Slaty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa plumbea) at San Gerardo de Dota - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Diglossa plumbea plumbea
Weight: 9g  /  Length: 10cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A near endemic of Costa Rica with an unusual upwardly curved beak that then hooks at the end - specialised as the name suggests for piercing holes in the base of flowers to drain out the nectar without going in through the front as more well known species like hummingbirds do. A species of higher altitude rainforest, and it doesn't breed beneath 1200m, rising to 1900m in places.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Diglossa
SUBSPECIES: D. p. plumbea, D. p. veraguensis
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Pinchaflor Plomizo ("Leaden Flowerpiercer")

A near endemic of the Central Highlands, extending only into Panama
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen atSan Gerardo de Dota

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

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Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Cyanerpes ("dark blue creeper") cyaneus ("dark blue")

 

Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

 Featured Subspecies: Cyanerpes cyaneus carneipes
Weight: 14g  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small member of the tanagers that has specialised as a nectarivore, the males are a striking rich blue and black with distinctive red legs while the females are a more camoflaged muted green. Despite appearances, they are unrelated to species like hummingbirds or sunbirds which have a similar ecological niche. The red legs are the most obvious identifying feature in Costa Rica to differentiate it from the closely related Shining Honeycreeper, which has bright yellow legs. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Cyanerpes
SUBSPECIES: C. c. carneipes, C. c. pacificus, C. c. gigas, C. c. gemmeus, C. c. eximius, C. c. tobagensis, C. c. cyaneus, C. c. dispar, C. c. violaceus, C. c. brevipes, C. c. holti
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - mielero patirrojo
A common species on West Coast lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

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

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Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina)

OTHER NAMES: Johnny Jump Up
Latin Etymology: Volatinia ("flying") jacarina ("Tupi word for a type of finch)

 

Adult male Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Volatinia jacarina splendens
Weight: 9.3g  /  Length: 10cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely distributed species over much of lowland Central and South America, they were formerly considered to be members of the buntings of Emberizidae as they share a similar form and niche. The male has a jumping display where they jump into the air repeatedly for long periods to attract a mate.

 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Volatinia
SUBSPECIES: V. j. splendens, V. j. jacarina, V. j. peruviensis
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Semillero volatinero
A widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles
 

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

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Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)

OTHER NAMES: Blue Jean
Latin Etymology: Thraupis (an unidentified bird mentioned by Aristotle) episcopus ("bishop")

Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Thraupis episcopus cana
Weight: 30-40g  /  Length: 16-18cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the more common and instantly recognisable birds in Costa Rica, the Blue-grey Tanager is precisely the bird of it's name - a distinctively pale blue bird with azure wings and tail. They have adapted well to human disturbance and their varied diet of nectar, insects and fruits is versatile enough to support them in a range of habitats. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Thraupis
SUBSPECIES: T. e. cana, T. e. caesita, T. e. cumatilis, T. e. nesophilus, T. e. berlepschi, T. e. quaesita, T. e. leucoptera, T. e. mediana, T. e. coelestis, T. e. episcopus, T. e. caerulea, T. e. major, T. e. urubambae
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Tanagara Azuleja ("Blue Tanager")
A widespread and common species
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen throughout
 

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

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