Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🐦 Fiery-throated Hummingbirds in Rainy HighlandsOne of Costa Rica's least-visited national parks protects a vast expanse of cloud forest on the edge of the Talamanca Range. With over 400 bird species including the Resplendent Quetzal, 45 mammal species, and annual rainfall exceeding 7,000 mm, Tapantí is a paradise for birders and a sanctuary for some of Central America's most elusive wildlife.
9.688° N 83.742° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Resplendent Quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno
★ 
Fiery-throated Hummingbird
Panterpe insignis
★ Talamanca Hummingbird
Eugenes spectabilis
★ 
Central American White-faced Capuchin
Cebus imitator
📊 Most Spotted
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Lesser Violetear
Colibri cyanotus
Volcano Hummingbird
Selasphorus flammula
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager
Chlorospingus pileatus
Large-footed Finch
Pezopetes capitalis
Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher
Ptilogonys caudatus
Mountain Thrush
Turdus plebejus
White-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis castaneoventris
Emerald Swift
Sceloporus malachiticus
Slaty Flowerpiercer
Diglossa plumbea
Blue-and-white Swallow
Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Red-tailed Squirrel
Sciurus granatensis
White-nosed Coati
Nasua narica
Central American Agouti
Dasyprocta punctata
Mantled Howler Monkey
Alouatta palliata
Baird's Tapir
Tapirella bairdii
Variegated Squirrel
Sciurus variegatoides
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine
Sphiggurus mexicanus
Brown-throated Sloth
Bradypus variegatus
Tayra
Eira barbara
Central American Dwarf Squirrel
Microsciurus alfari
Cacomistle
Bassariscus sumichrasti
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
Choloepus hoffmanni
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Resplendent Quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno
★ Fiery-throated Hummingbird
Panterpe insignis
★ Talamanca Hummingbird
Eugenes spectabilis
📊 Most Spotted
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Lesser Violetear
Colibri cyanotus
Volcano Hummingbird
Selasphorus flammula
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager
Chlorospingus pileatus
Large-footed Finch
Pezopetes capitalis
Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher
Ptilogonys caudatus
Mountain Thrush
Turdus plebejus
White-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis castaneoventris
Slaty Flowerpiercer
Diglossa plumbea
Blue-and-white Swallow
Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
Flame-colored Tanager
Piranga bidentata
📊 Most Spotted
Emerald Swift
Sceloporus malachiticus
Montane Alligator Lizard
Abronia monticola
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
Ctenosaura similis
Green Iguana
Iguana iguana
American Crocodile
Crocodylus acutus
Bighead Anole
Anolis capito
Border Anole
Anolis limifrons
Basiisk Verde
Basiliscus plumifrons
Humble Anole
Anolis humilis
Neotropical Green Anole
Anolis biporcatus
Middle American Ameiva
Holcosus festivus
Fer-de-lance
Bothrops asper
📊 Most Spotted
Warszewitsch's Frog
Lithobates warszewitschii
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
Oophaga pumilio
Red-legged Webfoot Salamander
Bolitoglossa pesrubra
Masked Tree Frog
Smilisca phaeota
Red-eyed Treefrog
Agalychnis callidryas
Giant Marine Toad
Rhinella horribilis
Wet Forest Toad
Incilius melanochlorus
Emerald Glass Frog
Espadarana prosoblepon
Green Climbing Toad
Incilius coniferus
Fitzinger's Robber Frog
Craugastor fitzingeri
Clay-colored Rain Frog
Pristimantis cerasinus
Red-webbed Tree Frog
Boana rufitela
Recent sightings in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Resplendent Quetzal Nesting
During breeding season the male Resplendent Quetzal grows metallic green tail streamers that trail nearly a meter behind him, flashing crimson and emerald as he darts between the canopy. Pairs turn loud and conspicuous while excavating tree cavities and feasting on wild avocados, making this the easiest time to catch the highlands' most dazzling bird.
3Migratory Warbler Arrival
Tiny songbirds that bred far to the north pour into the cool highland forest to spend the winter here, swelling the park's warbler ranks. Wilson's Warbler flits through the undergrowth in flashes of yellow while the Black-throated Green Warbler works the mid-canopy, foraging restlessly among the mossy branches.
2Highland Hummingbird Gathering
When the high-elevation flowers burst into bloom, Talamanca-endemic hummingbirds swarm the forest edges and gardens in a whirring rush of color. The Talamanca, Fiery-throated, and Volcano hummingbirds jostle at the same nectar sources, their throats glinting jewel-bright as they hover and spar.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Resplendent Quetzal Nesting
- 2Highland Hummingbird Gathering
- 3Migratory Warbler Arrival
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park?
The most likely sightings are Rufous-collared Sparrow (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), Clay-colored Thrush (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), Talamanca Hummingbird (seen by about 50% of wildlife watchers), Lesser Violetear (seen by about 50% of wildlife watchers), Volcano Hummingbird (seen by about 50% of wildlife watchers) — among 1261 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park for wildlife?
March 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 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park?
Yes — about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park, based on 2,991 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Fiery-throated Hummingbird in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Fiery-throated Hummingbird sighting in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park, based on 6,133 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Talamanca Hummingbird in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Talamanca Hummingbird sighting in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park, based on 7,036 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Central American White-faced Capuchin in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park?
Yes — about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Central American White-faced Capuchin sighting in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park, based on 48 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
ExcellentHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
GoodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
