Irazú Volcano National Park
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🐦 Highland Hummingbirds & QuetzalsAt 3,432 meters, Irazú is Costa Rica's tallest active volcano — one of the few places on Earth where you can see both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean on a clear day. Beyond the dramatic crater, the Prusia forest sector shelters endemic highland birds including the Volcano Junco and Volcano Hummingbird.
9.983° N 83.849° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Volcano Hummingbird
Selasphorus flammula
★ 
Volcano Junco
Junco vulcani
★ Fiery-throated Hummingbird
Panterpe insignis
★ 
Resplendent Quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno
📊 Most Spotted
Sooty Thrush
Turdus nigrescens
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager
Chlorospingus pileatus
Slaty Flowerpiercer
Diglossa plumbea
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Wilson's Warbler
Cardellina pusilla
Flame-throated Warbler
Oreothlypis gutturalis
Lesser Violetear
Colibri cyanotus
Band-tailed Pigeon
Patagioenas fasciata
Emerald Swift
Sceloporus malachiticus
Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush
Catharus gracilirostris
Large-footed Finch
Pezopetes capitalis
📊 Most Spotted
Coyote
Canis latrans
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
White-nosed Coati
Nasua narica
Variable Pocket Gopher
Orthogeomys heterodus
Mantled Howler Monkey
Alouatta palliata
Chiriqui Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys creper
Red-tailed Squirrel
Sciurus granatensis
Talamancan Deermouse
Peromyscus nudipes
Rodriguez's harvest mouse
Reithrodontomys rodriguezi
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Volcano Hummingbird
Selasphorus flammula
★ Volcano Junco
Junco vulcani
★ Fiery-throated Hummingbird
Panterpe insignis
★ Resplendent Quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno
📊 Most Spotted
Sooty Thrush
Turdus nigrescens
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager
Chlorospingus pileatus
Slaty Flowerpiercer
Diglossa plumbea
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Wilson's Warbler
Cardellina pusilla
Flame-throated Warbler
Oreothlypis gutturalis
Lesser Violetear
Colibri cyanotus
Band-tailed Pigeon
Patagioenas fasciata
Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush
Catharus gracilirostris
Large-footed Finch
Pezopetes capitalis
Mountain Elaenia
Elaenia frantzii
Recent sightings in Irazú Volcano National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Resplendent Quetzal Breeding Season
During the breeding season the male Resplendent Quetzal grows shimmering emerald tail streamers that trail nearly a meter behind him, flashing through the cloud forest as pairs court and nest in old woodpecker cavities. Watch for them near fruiting wild avocado trees, their favorite food while raising young.
2Highland Hummingbird Territory Season
As breeding gets underway, male Volcano and Fiery-throated Hummingbirds fiercely defend flowering slopes, chasing rivals in buzzing aerial duels and flaring their iridescent throats to dazzle. These tiny high-altitude jewels hover at paramo blooms right at the volcano's chilly edge.
3Paramo Specialist Congregation
In the wind-scoured paramo above the tree line, Volcano Juncos and Timberline Wrens grow bold and vocal as they pair up and stake out breeding territories among the stunted shrubs. Both are highland specialists found almost nowhere else, hopping close to visitors on the open volcanic terrain.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Resplendent Quetzal Breeding Season
- 2Highland Hummingbird Territory Season
- 3Paramo Specialist Congregation
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
However, we still saw a pair of Timberline Wrens, one Peg-billed Finch, and other species easier to see.
While going out at 4 or 4:30 am in search of owls is a not-infrequent occurrence, my excursion to find the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl at 1:30 am, makes those other owl-seeking adventures pale in comparison.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Irazú Volcano National Park?
The most likely sightings are Sooty Thrush (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Volcano Hummingbird (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Rufous-collared Sparrow (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Slaty Flowerpiercer (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers) — among 1075 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Irazú Volcano National Park for wildlife?
October 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 Volcano Hummingbird in Irazú Volcano National Park?
Yes — about 90% of wildlife watchers report a Volcano Hummingbird sighting in Irazú Volcano National Park, based on 936 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Volcano Junco in Irazú Volcano National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Volcano Junco sighting in Irazú Volcano National Park, based on 491 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Fiery-throated Hummingbird in Irazú Volcano National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Fiery-throated Hummingbird sighting in Irazú Volcano National Park, based on 621 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Resplendent Quetzal in Irazú Volcano National Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Irazú Volcano National Park, based on 362 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
GoodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
Explore Other Parks
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📍 43 km 🐦 Quetzals and Talamanca Hummingbirds Los Quetzales National Park
📍 48 km 🐦 Highland Hummingbird Cloud Forest