PrintAnimals on the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Marsh Birds
The White Ibis is a medium-sized wading bird with a long, red, down-curved bill often encountered in mangrove lagoons and shallow wetlands. They are often found in groups of birds probing for food in soft mud. For nesting and night roosting ibisses congregate in colonies with dozens or hundreds of birds.
Its pink plumeage and bizarre spoon-shaped bill make the Roseate Spoonbill a quite conspicious bird. It is almost three feet tall and you often see him
alone or in small flocks among other water birds, especially in the Northern part of the Nicoya Peninsula.
The Northern Jacana is a medium-sized bird with extremely long toes which enable him to walk on lily pads and other water plants.
The much larger female has 1 - 4 male partners with whom she mates. The males incubate the eggs and raise the young, while the female defends
the territory.
The surest bet to see large numbers of all kind of waterfowl is a visit to the
Palo Verde National Park.
It harbors Central Americas largest concentration of migratory aquatic birds.