Skyway Birds of Costa Rica

[Ely Teehankee]

Within the property of Hotel Villa Lapaz there is a mountain trail that they call Skyway. They will drive you up in their van with a guide if you wish to do so, than it is about a two hour trek going downhill back to the hotel. It is a forest with streams and hanging bridges and there are plenty of birds to be seen in that area. Here are some of them.


Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 300mm
f/2.8L IS USM with Canon Extender 2X II.
Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light.



Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) 9 inches (23 cm.)
1/25 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




Rose-throated Becard (Pachyramphus aglaiae) 7 inches (18 cm.)
1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




Orange-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga canicularis) 9 inches (23 cm.)
1/640 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




Gray-capped Flycatcher (Myiozetetes granadensis) 6 inches (15 cm.)
1/2000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




This bird is described as a handsome bird and have racquet-tipped tails, which makes them look very unique.
Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) 16 inches (41cm.)
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) 18 inches ( 46 cm.)
1/100 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




Squirrel Cuckoo
1/125 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600





Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) 9 inches (23 cm.)
1/160 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




Nesting mother of Black-hooded Antshrike
1/160 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




Black-hooded Antshrike (Thamnophilus bridegesi) 6 inches (15 cm.)
1/200 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600