Black-bellied Whistling-DuckCosta Rica bird species · Ducks and grebes
Ducks and grebes in Costa Rica: all 27 species on the official list
27 ducks, geese and grebes, 11 of them accidental, and one place in our notes so far.
Costa Rica's official list has 27 ducks, geese and grebes: 24 in the duck and goose family, Anatidae, and 3 grebes, the Least Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe and Eared Grebe. Eleven of the 27, 41 percent, are accidental, recorded once or very few times. Nine are migrants, five are residents (the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Muscovy Duck, Masked Duck and Least Grebe), and none is a regional endemic.
Every one of the 27 has its own page with a photo. Our notes place them at one spot so far, and we would rather tell you that than point you at a pond we have not written down.
If one of these is on your list, tell us when you plan your trip and we will look with our guides.
Where to see them
So far we name them at one place, Palo Verde National Park and the Tempisque River.
- Place where we name them
- Highlands
- Caribbean Foothills
- Caribbean Lowlands
- Northern Pacific Lowlands
- Central and Southern Pacific Lowlands
All 27 ducks and grebes on the list
The full group as Costa Rica's official list has it, in the list's own order, with the accidentals marked. Tick them off on the printable checklist.
White-faced Whistling-DuckDendrocygna viduataA rare whistling-duck with a bright white face, hanging on in Tempisque wetlands.
Black-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalisSeen at Palo Verde National Park
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorSeen at Palo Verde National Park
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsA very rare vagrant goose, first recorded in Guanacaste in 2021.
Comb DuckSarkidiornis sylvicolaA big black and white duck with a knobbed bill, accidental in Costa Rica.
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSeen at Palo Verde National Park
Blue-winged TealSpatula discorsSeen at Palo Verde National Park
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraA rare chestnut duck hidden in winter flocks of Blue-winged Teal.
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSeen at Palo Verde National Park
American WigeonMareca americanaSeen at Palo Verde National Park
MallardAnas platyrhynchosA familiar duck, but a very rare stray here, last described near Turrialba.
White-cheeked PintailAnas bahamensisA very rare vagrant duck with a white face and a red-based bill.
Northern PintailAnas acutaSeen at Palo Verde National Park
Green-winged TealAnas creccaA tiny migrant duck, only casual to accidental in Costa Rica
CanvasbackAythya valisineriaAn accidental diving duck, first recorded at Cachí lake in 2012
RedheadAythya americanaA rare North American diving duck, recorded here only as a winter vagrant.
Common PochardAythya ferinaAn Old World diving duck, recorded in Costa Rica only once, near Turrialba.
Ring-necked DuckAythya collarisA diving duck that winters on Costa Rican lakes, marked by a white bill ring.
Greater ScaupAythya marilaA diving duck recorded once in Costa Rica, in 1974.
Lesser ScaupAythya affinisA small winter diving duck, regular only in Guanacaste.
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusA small crested diving duck, and a mega rarity in Costa Rica
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorA crested, fish-eating duck, first documented in Costa Rica in 2020.
Masked DuckNomonyx dominicusA small, shy stiff-tailed duck that hides in dense pond plants.
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisA small stiff-tailed diving duck, accidental here since 2010.
Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicusTiny, dark, yellow-eyed diver of ponds across Costa Rica.
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsA stocky, duck-like grebe of calm lagoons that sinks out of sight when alarmed.
Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollisAccidental in Costa Rica: one 1987 record, never documented.
Names and status: AOCR Lista Oficial 2025-2026, June 2026 update.
Trips that find them
None of our trips names a duck or a grebe in its bird list yet.
Is this bird on your list?
Tell us the birds you most want to see, your dates and how you like to travel, and one of our Costa Rica specialists comes back to you personally with a first itinerary built around them. That first version is just a place to start.
Or call us: 1 (800) 996-1139 from the US and Canada, +506 4052-2140 in Costa Rica.