Blue-gray TanagerCosta Rica bird species · Tanagers, honeycreepers, euphonias and finches
Tanagers, honeycreepers, euphonias and finches in Costa Rica: all 113 species, and where to see them
113 species, 24 found only in this corner of the world, from garden fruit trees to the cloud forest canopy.
Costa Rica's official list has 113 birds in this group, about one bird in every eight on it, spread over eight families: the tanagers and honeycreepers, the euphonias, the finches, and the sparrows and grosbeaks the AOCR files beside them. The four whose sizes we have written down run between 11 and 14 cm, and none is longer than a new pencil.
Twenty-four of the 113 are regional endemics, which means they live only in this small corner of the world. That is more than any other type on our list: the hummingbirds have 19, the wrens and thrushes 15.
You do not have to climb for the first ones. At Talari, in the San Isidro valley, the Red-legged Honeycreeper comes to the fruit trees, and at Hotel Quelitales above Cartago the tanagers and euphonias come to the suite balconies. Higher up the work is slower and the reward bigger: above 1,200 metres the Spangle-cheeked Tanager, black scaled with blue, arrives with a mixed flock, several species feeding together through the treetops.
Where to see them
These are the 24 places where we name them, from our hotspot pages and each bird's own page.
San Gerardo de Dota and the Savegre valleyRancho Naturalista's reserve, above TurrialbaBraulio Carrillo National ParkTortuguero National Park and its canalsRincón de la Vieja National ParkCarara National ParkCorcovado National Park and the OsaLos Cusingos and the San Isidro valley
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap- Place where we name them
- Highlands
- Caribbean Foothills
- Caribbean Lowlands
- Northern Pacific Lowlands
- Central and Southern Pacific Lowlands
- 1San Gerardo de Dota and the Savegre valleyHighlandsYellow-thighed Brushfinch, White-winged Tanager
- 2Los Quetzales National ParkHighlandsYellow-bellied Siskin, Peg-billed Finch
- 3Cerro de la Muerte and the km 70 lookoutsHighlandsYellow-bellied Siskin, Volcano Junco, Large-footed Finch, Peg-billed Finch
- 4Tapantí National Park, above the Orosí valleyHighlandsElegant Euphonia, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Sooty-capped Chlorospingus, Spangle-cheeked Tanager
- 5Monteverde Cloud Forest ReserveHighlandsRed-crowned Ant-Tanager, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager
- 6Santa Elena Cloud Forest ReserveHighlandsSpangle-cheeked Tanager
- 7Rancho Naturalista's reserve, above TurrialbaCaribbean FoothillsBay-headed Tanager
- 8The Río Tuis valley, below Rancho NaturalistaCaribbean FoothillsRose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis
- 9Arenal Volcano National ParkCaribbean LowlandsYellow-throated Euphonia, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Common Chlorospingus, Orange-billed Sparrow, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Black-thighed Grosbeak, Blue-black Grosbeak, White-throated Shrike-Tanager, Rufous-winged Tanager, Emerald Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator, Black-headed Saltator, Slate-colored Grosbeak
- 10Selva Verde, on the Sarapiquí RiverCaribbean LowlandsScarlet-rumped Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager
- 11La Selva Biological Station, SarapiquíCaribbean LowlandsDusky-faced Tanager, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Black-faced Grosbeak, Plain-colored Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Nicaraguan Seed-Finch, Buff-throated Saltator
- 12Braulio Carrillo National ParkCaribbean LowlandsTawny-capped Euphonia, Dusky-faced Tanager, Black-and-yellow Tanager
- 13Tortuguero National Park and its canalsCaribbean LowlandsLesson's Seedeater
- 14Tirimbina Biological Reserve, SarapiquíCaribbean LowlandsScarlet-rumped Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager
- 15Palo Verde National Park and the Tempisque RiverNorthern Pacific LowlandsTricolored Munia, Lark Sparrow, Grassland Yellow-Finch
- 16Rincón de la Vieja National ParkNorthern Pacific LowlandsBotteri's Sparrow, Rusty Sparrow
- 17Santa Rosa and Guanacaste National ParksNorthern Pacific LowlandsTricolored Munia
- 18Carara National ParkCentral and Southern Pacific LowlandsTricolored Munia, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Blue-black Grosbeak, Gray-headed Tanager, White-shouldered Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager
- 19The Tárcoles River mangroves, by boatCentral and Southern Pacific LowlandsRuddy-breasted Seedeater, Slate-colored Seedeater
- 20Piedras Blancas National Park and the Golfo DulceCentral and Southern Pacific LowlandsBlack-cheeked Ant-Tanager
- 21Corcovado National Park and the OsaCentral and Southern Pacific LowlandsBlack-cheeked Ant-Tanager, Blue-black Grosbeak
- 22Los Cusingos and the San Isidro valleyCentral and Southern Pacific LowlandsBay-headed Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Red-legged Honeycreeper
- 23Wilson Botanical Garden and Las CrucesCentral and Southern Pacific LowlandsSpot-crowned Euphonia, Costa Rican Brushfinch, Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Streaked Saltator
- 24Golfito Wildlife RefugeCentral and Southern Pacific LowlandsBlack-cheeked Ant-Tanager
The 24 regional endemics
The ones you can only see in this part of the world.
Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Spot-crowned Euphonia, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Sooty-capped Chlorospingus, Costa Rican Brushfinch, Sooty-faced Finch, Volcano Junco, Large-footed Finch, Cabanis's Ground-Sparrow, Yellow-thighed Brushfinch, Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager, Carmiol's Tanager, Black-thighed Grosbeak, White-throated Shrike-Tanager, Blue-and-gold Tanager, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Plain-colored Tanager, Sulphur-rumped Tanager, Black-and-yellow Tanager, Slaty Flowerpiercer, Peg-billed Finch, Nicaraguan Seed-Finch, Cocos Finch.
All 113 tanagers and finches on the list
The full group as Costa Rica's official list has it, in the list's own order. Tick them off on the printable checklist.
Tricolored MuniaLonchura malaccaSeen at Carara National Park, Palo Verde National Park, 1 more
House SparrowPasser domesticusAn introduced town sparrow of markets, parks and café patios.
Elegant EuphoniaChlorophonia elegantissimaSeen at Tapantí National Park
Golden-browed ChlorophoniaChlorophonia callophrysA chunky emerald and gold fruit eater of mossy highland forest.
Scrub EuphoniaEuphonia affinisTiny black-throated euphonia of the dry Pacific northwest, found at mistletoe
Yellow-crowned EuphoniaEuphonia luteicapillaTiny, constantly singing mistletoe eater with a fully yellow cap.
White-vented EuphoniaEuphonia minutaCosta Rica's smallest euphonia, with a white undertail and a taste for mistletoe.
Yellow-throated EuphoniaEuphonia hirundinaceaSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park
Thick-billed EuphoniaEuphonia laniirostrisTiny blue and yellow fruit eater and mimic of gardens and edges.
Spot-crowned EuphoniaEuphonia imitansSeen at Wilson Botanical Garden
Olive-backed EuphoniaEuphonia gouldiA tiny green fruit-eater of Caribbean lowland canopy and foothill feeders.
Tawny-capped EuphoniaEuphonia anneaeSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park, Braulio Carrillo, 1 more
Lesser GoldfinchSpinus psaltriaTiny yellow and black finch of open highland country, shy and nomadic.
Yellow-bellied SiskinSpinus xanthogastrusSeen at Cerro de la Muerte, Los Quetzales National Park
Rosy Thrush-TanagerRhodinocichla roseaA shy, raspberry-faced skulker of the southwest, found by its duet.
Ashy-throated ChlorospingusChlorospingus canigularisOlive-crowned canopy bird of Caribbean foothill forest, often with tanager flocks.
Sooty-capped ChlorospingusChlorospingus pileatusSeen at Tapantí National Park
Common ChlorospingusChlorospingus flavopectusSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park
Stripe-headed SparrowPeucaea ruficaudaA masked-looking sparrow of Guanacaste's dry scrub, often perched in plain view.
Botteri's SparrowPeucaea botteriiSeen at Rincón de la Vieja
Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarumA buzzing, mouse-like grassland sparrow, resident in the northwest and a winter visitor.
Olive SparrowArremonops rufivirgatusA low, shy sparrow of Pacific dry forest, found by ear first.
Black-striped SparrowArremonops conirostrisA shy, striped-headed sparrow of lowland scrub and gardens, found by its song.
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaA rare vagrant sparrow here, easy to mistake for Clay-colored.
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaA small northern sparrow, accidental here, first recorded in 2013.
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSeen at Palo Verde National Park
Costa Rican BrushfinchArremon costaricensisSeen at Wilson Botanical Garden
Orange-billed SparrowArremon aurantiirostrisSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park
Chestnut-capped BrushfinchArremon brunneinuchaShy chestnut-capped finch of mountain forest floors, often at feeders.
Sooty-faced FinchArremon crassirostrisShy ravine finch with a white cheek stripe and a yellow belly.
Volcano JuncoJunco vulcaniSeen at Cerro de la Muerte
Rufous-collared SparrowZonotrichia capensisA crested, confiding sparrow of highland lawns, gardens and pastures.
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysAn accidental visitor, recorded once on Isla del Coco in 2018.
Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensisA small streaked sparrow of open ground, and a rare stray here.
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiA secretive, streaky winter sparrow of Costa Rica's scrubby highlands, rare here.
Large-footed FinchPezopetes capitalisSeen at Cerro de la Muerte
White-eared Ground-SparrowMelozone leucotisA black-headed 'four eyes' sparrow of coffee farms, gardens and thickets.
Cabanis's Ground-SparrowMelozone cabanisiA shy, rusty-headed endemic of Central Valley coffee farms and hedgerows.
Rusty SparrowAimophila rufescensSeen at Rincón de la Vieja
White-naped BrushfinchAtlapetes albinuchaBlack head, white crown stripe, yellow throat, in highland thickets.
Yellow-thighed BrushfinchAtlapetes tibialisSeen at San Gerardo de Dota
Dusky-faced TanagerMitrospingus cassiniiSeen at Braulio Carrillo, La Selva Biological Station
Hepatic TanagerPiranga flavaA dusky brick red tanager of mountain treetops, told by its dark, toothed bill.
Summer TanagerPiranga rubraA rose-red North American visitor, common in the lowlands mid September to late April.
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaA black-winged migrant tanager that passes through in fall and spring.
Western TanagerPiranga ludovicianaA red-headed winter visitor, here late October to April, mostly Pacific side.
Flame-colored TanagerPiranga bidentataA fiery highland tanager with a streaked back and bold white wing bars.
White-winged TanagerPiranga leucopteraSeen at San Gerardo de Dota
Red-crowned Ant-TanagerHabia rubicaSeen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Wilson Botanical Garden
Red-throated Ant-TanagerDriophlox fuscicaudaSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park, Carara National Park, 1 more
Black-cheeked Ant-TanagerDriophlox atrimaxillarisSeen at Corcovado National Park, Golfito Wildlife Refuge, 1 more
Carmiol's TanagerChlorothraupis carmioliA noisy olive flock leader of the Caribbean slope forest
Black-faced GrosbeakCaryothraustes poliogasterSeen at La Selva Biological Station
Black-thighed GrosbeakPheucticus tibialisSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSeen at Río Tuis Valley
Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalusA very rare stray here; check every grosbeak in a flock of calandrias
Blue SeedeaterAmaurospiza concolorA shy, nearly black bamboo specialist of the high mountains.
Blue-black GrosbeakCyanoloxia cyanoidesSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park, Carara National Park, 1 more
Blue GrosbeakPasserina caeruleaViolet blue finch of brushy fields, with two chestnut wingbars
Indigo BuntingPasserina cyaneaA small winter visitor, mostly brown here, in weedy fields and open second growth.
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisA violet, green and red winter visitor to the dry Pacific side.
DickcisselSpiza americanaA yellow-browed prairie migrant that winters in Pacific rice fields.
Gray-headed TanagerEucometis penicillataSeen at Carara National Park
White-shouldered TanagerLoriotus luctuosusSeen at Carara National Park
Tawny-crested TanagerTachyphonus delatriiBlack tanager with a tawny crest, in noisy flocks of wet Caribbean forest.
White-lined TanagerTachyphonus rufusA black male and a rufous female, paired all year in scrub and edges.
White-throated Shrike-TanagerLanio leucothoraxSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park
Crimson-collared TanagerRamphocelus sanguinolentusBlack tanager, red collar, pale blue bill, on Caribbean-slope edges and feeders
Flame-rumped TanagerRamphocelus flammigerusAn accidental yellow-rumped visitor, accepted from one 2017 record near San Vito.
Scarlet-rumped TanagerRamphocelus passeriniiSeen at Selva Verde, Tirimbina, 1 more
Crimson-backed TanagerRamphocelus dimidiatusAn accidental visitor: one vagrant recorded at Ojochal, Osa.
Blue-and-gold TanagerBangsia arcaeiA red-eyed canopy tanager of Caribbean slope forest, found only in Costa Rica and Panama.
Blue-gray TanagerThraupis episcopusSky-blue wings, noisy pairs and a regular at fruit feeders.
Yellow-winged TanagerThraupis abbasA bluish tanager with a yellow wing patch, found only in the far north.
Palm TanagerThraupis palmarumA plain, squeaky tanager of palms, gardens and feeders, common to about 1500 m
Speckled TanagerIxothraupis guttataA small green tanager spotted with black, found in foothill fruit flocks.
Golden-hooded TanagerStilpnia larvataSeen at Selva Verde, Tirimbina, 1 more
Spangle-cheeked TanagerTangara dowiiSeen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, 1 more
Plain-colored TanagerTangara inornataSeen at La Selva Biological Station
Rufous-winged TanagerTangara laviniaSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park
Bay-headed TanagerTangara gyrolaSeen at Carara National Park, Los Cusingos, 1 more
Emerald TanagerTangara floridaSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park
Silver-throated TanagerTangara icterocephalaSeen at Los Cusingos, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Scarlet-thighed DacnisDacnis venustaSeen at Río Tuis Valley
Blue DacnisDacnis cayanaSeen at La Selva Biological Station
Shining HoneycreeperCyanerpes lucidusTiny purple-blue canopy bird with yellow legs, common on the Caribbean slope
Red-legged HoneycreeperCyanerpes cyaneusSeen at Los Cusingos
Green HoneycreeperChlorophanes spizaBlue-green male, yellow bill, red eye; at fruit feeders and flowers all year.
Sulphur-rumped TanagerHeterospingus rubrifronsGray tanager with a bold yellow rump, found only in the South Caribbean.
Black-and-yellow TanagerChrysothlypis chrysomelasSeen at Braulio Carrillo
Slaty FlowerpiercerDiglossa plumbeaA hook-billed highland nectar thief, endemic to Costa Rica and western Panama.
Slaty FinchHaplospiza rusticaA rare grey finch that appears when highland bamboo seeds.
Peg-billed FinchAcanthidops bairdiSeen at Cerro de la Muerte, Los Quetzales National Park
Grassland Yellow-FinchSicalis luteolaSeen at Palo Verde National Park
Wedge-tailed Grass-FinchEmberizoides herbicolaA secretive, long-tailed grassland finch found only in the Térraba region.
Blue-black GrassquitVolatinia jacarinaA tiny black seedeater that springs up from fence lines to sing
Lesson's SeedeaterSporophila bouvronidesSeen at Tortuguero
Lined SeedeaterSporophila lineolaA tiny black and white seedeater, recorded once near Quepos in 2013.
Ruddy-breasted SeedeaterSporophila minutaSeen at Tárcoles River Mangroves
Thick-billed Seed-FinchSporophila funereaA tiny black finch with an oversized bill, found along wet-country roadsides.
Nicaraguan Seed-FinchSporophila nuttingiSeen at La Selva Biological Station
Variable SeedeaterSporophila corvinaA tiny seedeater of grassy edges, black on the Caribbean, pied on the Pacific.
Morelet's SeedeaterSporophila morelletiA small seedeater with two broad white wingbars, in weedy grass across Costa Rica.
Yellow-bellied SeedeaterSporophila nigricollisA tiny black-hooded seedeater of grassy fields, roadsides and corn
Slate-colored SeedeaterSporophila schistaceaSeen at Tárcoles River Mangroves
BananaquitCoereba flaveolaTiny nectar thief with a white eyebrow, common in gardens and forest edges.
Yellow-faced GrassquitTiaris olivaceusTiny black-chested seedeater with a yellow face, common in weedy fields.
Cocos FinchPinaroloxias inornataFound only on Cocos Island, 580 km out in the Pacific.
Buff-throated SaltatorSaltator maximusSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park, La Selva Biological Station
Black-headed SaltatorSaltator atricepsSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park
Cinnamon-bellied SaltatorSaltator grandisA gray garden bird with a bold white eyebrow and a rising whistle.
Streaked SaltatorSaltator striatipectusSeen at Wilson Botanical Garden
Slate-colored GrosbeakSaltator grossusSeen at Arenal Volcano National Park
Names and status: AOCR Lista Oficial 2025-2026, June 2026 update.
Trips that find them
Most of our trips cross a tanager or two. These name at least one of them on the way.
- The Deep South: Quetzals, San Vito and the Golfo DulceSee the itinerary
- Manuel Antonio and the Quetzal ValleySee the itinerary
- Carara, the Osa and the QuetzalSee the itinerary
- The Grand Birding CircuitSee the itinerary
- Arenal, the Pacific and the Quetzal ValleySee the itinerary
- Birding in Costa Rica's Top Three DestinationsSee the itinerary
- Northern Volcanoes and WetlandsSee the itinerary
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.