Chirripó National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🐦 Highland Hummingbird Haven
🌍 #214 Global · 3.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #35 in Central America #95 in Tropical Forest
Talamanca Highlands, Costa Rica 1082 spp. recorded

Chirripó protects Costa Rica's highest peak — Cerro Chirripó at 3,820 m (12,530 ft) — and the country's only páramo ecosystem, an alpine tundra of shrubs and grasses found nowhere else in Central America at this latitude. The park shelters the largest population of Baird's tapir in the country, along with pumas, jaguars, and over 400 bird species including the Resplendent Quetzal, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, and the endemic Volcano Junco.

9.540° N   83.493° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Resplendent Quetzal ★
NT Endemic

Resplendent Quetzal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pharomachrus mocinno

<5% · Rare
Scarlet-rumped Tanager ★
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

60–70% · Likely
Violet Sabrewing ★
LC

Violet Sabrewing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campylopterus hemileucurus

30–40% · Possible
Central American White-faced Capuchin ★
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

5–10% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

60–70% · Likely
Silver-throated Tanager
LC

Silver-throated Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tangara icterocephala

60–70% · Likely
Golden-hooded Tanager

Golden-hooded Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stilpnia larvata

60–70% · Likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

50–60% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely
Palm Tanager

Palm Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis palmarum

50–60% · Likely
Buff-throated Saltator
LC

Buff-throated Saltator

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Saltator maximus

50–60% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely
Speckled Tanager

Speckled Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ixothraupis guttata

50–60% · Likely
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

40–50% · Likely
Emerald Swift
LC

Emerald Swift

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus malachiticus

40–50% · Likely
Gray-headed Chachalaca
LC

Gray-headed Chachalaca

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ortalis cinereiceps

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Central American White-faced Capuchin ★
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

5–10% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible
Red-tailed Squirrel
LC

Red-tailed Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus granatensis

20–30% · Possible
Variegated Squirrel
LC

Variegated Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus variegatoides

20–30% · Possible
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

5–10% · With luck
Sumichrast's Vesper Rat
LC

Sumichrast's Vesper Rat

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Nyctomys sumichrasti

Insufficient data
Spotted Paca
LC

Spotted Paca

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Cuniculus paca

Insufficient data
Central American Spider Monkey
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

5–10% · With luck
Gabb's Cottontail
LC

Gabb's Cottontail

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Sylvilagus gabbi

Insufficient data
Greater Broad-nosed Bat
LC

Greater Broad-nosed Bat

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Platyrrhinus vittatus

Insufficient data
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Sphiggurus mexicanus

Insufficient data
Mexican Deer Mouse
LC Endemic

Mexican Deer Mouse

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Peromyscus mexicanus

Insufficient data
Baird's Tapir

Baird's Tapir

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Tapirella bairdii

<5% · Rare

⭐ Iconic Species

Resplendent Quetzal ★
NT Endemic

Resplendent Quetzal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pharomachrus mocinno

<5% · Rare
Scarlet-rumped Tanager ★
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

60–70% · Likely
Violet Sabrewing ★
LC

Violet Sabrewing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campylopterus hemileucurus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

60–70% · Likely
Silver-throated Tanager
LC

Silver-throated Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tangara icterocephala

60–70% · Likely
Golden-hooded Tanager

Golden-hooded Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stilpnia larvata

60–70% · Likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

50–60% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely
Palm Tanager

Palm Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis palmarum

50–60% · Likely
Buff-throated Saltator
LC

Buff-throated Saltator

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Saltator maximus

50–60% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely
Speckled Tanager

Speckled Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ixothraupis guttata

50–60% · Likely
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

40–50% · Likely
Gray-headed Chachalaca
LC

Gray-headed Chachalaca

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ortalis cinereiceps

40–50% · Likely
Snowy-bellied Hummingbird

Snowy-bellied Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Saucerottia edward

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Emerald Swift
LC

Emerald Swift

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus malachiticus

40–50% · Likely
Many-scaled Anole
LC

Many-scaled Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis polylepis

20–30% · Possible
Side-striped palm pit viper
LC

Side-striped palm pit viper

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Bothriechis lateralis

20–30% · Possible
Humble Anole
LC

Humble Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis humilis

20–30% · Possible
Slender Anole
LC

Slender Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis woodi

10–20% · With luck
🦎 No photo available
LC

South American Milksnake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lampropeltis micropholis

10–20% · With luck
Costa Rica Montane Pitviper

Costa Rica Montane Pitviper

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Cerrophidion sasai

10–20% · With luck
Black-tailed Worm Snake
EN

Black-tailed Worm Snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Geophis talamancae

10–20% · With luck
Blotched Palm-pitviper
LC

Blotched Palm-pitviper

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Bothriechis supraciliaris

10–20% · With luck
Fire-bellied Snake

Fire-bellied Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Erythrolamprus epinephalus

10–20% · With luck
Montane Alligator Lizard

Montane Alligator Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Abronia monticola

10–20% · With luck
Black-speckled Palm Pit Viper

Black-speckled Palm Pit Viper

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bothriechis nigroviridis

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Emerald Glass Frog
LC

Emerald Glass Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Espadarana prosoblepon

30–40% · Possible
Warszewitsch's Frog

Warszewitsch's Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lithobates warszewitschii

20–30% · Possible
Isla Bonita Robber Frog
LC

Isla Bonita Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Craugastor crassidigitus

20–30% · With luck
Fitzinger's Robber Frog
LC

Fitzinger's Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Craugastor fitzingeri

10–20% · With luck
Pygmy Rain Frog
LC

Pygmy Rain Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pristimantis ridens

10–20% · With luck
Masked Tree Frog
LC

Masked Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca phaeota

10–20% · With luck
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

10–20% · With luck
Pugnosed Tree Frog
LC

Pugnosed Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca sila

10–20% · With luck
Golden-groined Robber Frog
LC

Golden-groined Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pristimantis cruentus

5–10% · With luck
Varagua Caecilian
LC

Varagua Caecilian

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Gymnopis multiplicata

Insufficient data
Cerro Utyum Robber Frog
LC

Cerro Utyum Robber Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Craugastor podiciferus

Insufficient data
Savage's Worm Salamander
VU

Savage's Worm Salamander

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Oedipina savagei

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦅

Migrant Raptor Passage

OctNov

Broad-winged Hawks stream overhead in great spiraling kettles, riding thermals along the mountain spine on their long migration. Hundreds can wheel together in a single swirling column before peeling off to glide south.

Broad-winged Hawk
LC

Broad-winged Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo platypterus

10–20% · With luck
🐦

Resplendent Quetzal Breeding Season

FebMarAprMay

During the breeding season the male Resplendent Quetzal grows tail streamers nearly a meter long, flashing emerald and crimson as it courts and defends a nest hollowed into a rotting highland tree. Collared Trogons breed alongside it, their steady calls threading through the same cloud forest canopy.

Collared Trogon
LC

Collared Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon collaris

10–20% · With luck
Resplendent Quetzal
NT Endemic

Resplendent Quetzal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pharomachrus mocinno

<5% · Rare
🐦

Highland Hummingbird Peak

SepOctNov

When the highland shrubs and epiphytes bloom, hummingbirds swarm the flowers in a shimmering rush of activity. The Violet Sabrewing, one of Costa Rica's largest hummingbirds, hovers in deep purple iridescence while the bold Rufous-tailed Hummingbird darts and squabbles over every nectar-rich perch.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

60–70% · Likely
Violet Sabrewing
LC

Violet Sabrewing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campylopterus hemileucurus

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
Resplendent Quetzal
<5
<5
10–20
5–10
5–10
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
Violet Sabrewing
20–30
30–40
30–40
20–30
20–30
50–60
30–40
20–30
30–40
30–40
40–50
20–30
Central American White-faced Capuchin
5–10
10–20
5–10
<5
10–20
10–20
10–20
5–10
10–20
5–10
10–20
5–10
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
50–60
70–80
70–80
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
Silver-throated Tanager
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
80–90
80–90
Golden-hooded Tanager
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
Blue-gray Tanager
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
Clay-colored Thrush
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
Palm Tanager
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
Buff-throated Saltator
50–60
30–40
40–50
30–40
50–60
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
Great Kiskadee
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
40–50
Speckled Tanager
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
Bananaquit
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
40–50
Emerald Swift
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
10–20
10–20
50–60
40–50
60–70
Gray-headed Chachalaca
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
Animal Events
🐦 Resplendent Quetzal Breeding Season
🐦 Highland Hummingbird Peak
🦅 Migrant Raptor Passage

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐦 Highland Hummingbird Haven

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
663
🐒 Mammals
208
🦎 Reptiles
145
🐸 Amphibians
66
1082 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
30 Threatened 82 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
56%
📊
Coverage (223 species at ≥5% of 1082 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
21%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
158
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
6
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
23

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Chirripó National Park?

The most likely sightings are Scarlet-rumped Tanager (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Silver-throated Tanager (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Golden-hooded Tanager (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Blue-gray Tanager (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 1082 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Chirripó National Park for wildlife?

June has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Resplendent Quetzal in Chirripó National Park?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 4% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Chirripó National Park, based on 77 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

Can you see Scarlet-rumped Tanager in Chirripó National Park?

Yes — about 66% of wildlife watchers report a Scarlet-rumped Tanager sighting in Chirripó National Park, based on 1,273 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Violet Sabrewing in Chirripó National Park?

Yes — about 34% of wildlife watchers report a Violet Sabrewing sighting in Chirripó National Park, based on 649 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Central American White-faced Capuchin in Chirripó National Park?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 9% of wildlife watchers report a Central American White-faced Capuchin sighting in Chirripó National Park, based on 18 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

⚖️

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