Hummingbirds in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a haven for hummingbird enthusiasts, boasting over 50 species.
Costa Rica’s year-round abundance of plants support its hummingbird population. Different altitudes create unique ecosystems along with unique species and challenges for photographers.
High-Land Hummingbird Photography
- Location: Cloud forests like Monteverde, Savegre Valley, and the Talamanca Mountains.
- Species: Fiery-throated, Green-crowned Brilliant, and Talamanca Hummingbirds.
- Lighting: Cloud forests can be misty and dimly lit, creating soft, diffused light. .
- Challenges: The weather can be unpredictable with frequent fog, and cooler temperatures.
- Advantages: Hummingbirds in the highlands tend to frequent flowering plants near feeders or lodges, giving photographers more controlled opportunities to capture close-ups.
Low-Land Hummingbird Photography
- Location: Tropical rainforests such as Sarapiqui, La Selva, Corcovado, and Carara National Park.
- Species: Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Violet-crowned Woodnymph, and Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer.
- Lighting: Lowlands offer brighter, more intense sunlight, especially in clearings or near bodies of water. Photographers can benefit from fast shutter speeds but may need to balance exposure with harsh shadows.
- Challenges: The dense canopy can lead to tricky lighting situations, with high contrasts between light and shadow. Heat and humidity also affect equipment, leading to lens fogging and other technical issues.
- Advantages: There are typically more flowering plants in the lowlands, attracting a higher density of hummingbirds where photographers can witness dynamic behaviors such as territorial disputes and rapid flight maneuvers.
Costa Rica Photo Tour, 2025
We are pleased to announce our 2025 bird photography tour to Costa Rica with famous birding guide Esteban Mendez and photo instructor Joe Fischer. Together they’ll lead us through world famous mountains, wetlands and rain forests for an unforgettable experience.