In the 1970s a couple of botanists from Harvard University who were studying micro-orchids finalized their research in the
San Gerardo de Dota area which had been recently pioneered in (1954). In their report they included a note mentioning how
high the concentration of Resplendent Quetzals was. This comment triggered the visit of early birdwatchers that started
coming to this area since the 70s to look for the Quetzal. Aside from the Quetzal, which is a good enough reason to
visit the area, the presence of regional endemic species which evolved in the highest mountains of Costa Rica and
Western Panama makes this site a perfect destination for birders. Even non-birders will appreciate looking at the
fantastic avifauna of the area and will be thrilled with the stunning views of the Resplendent Quetzal, over 170
species have been recorded in San Gerardo de Dota Oak Tropical Cloud Forest and nearby Sub-Alpine Rain Paramo
covered peaks. Good places to stay are the famous Savegre Mountain Lodge of the Chacon Family, pioneers of the
valley, and the Sueños del Bosque Lodge next to Savegre.
Both properties have the most strategic location for
birding this valley. Another good option is Dantica Lodge for which you definitely need a vehicle to drop into
the valley and explore the trails down at Savegre Lodge, however a nice property and good birds around too.
Outside of San Gerardo de Dota and heading towards San isidro de El General you can birdwatch from Bosque del Tolomuco Lodge,
a nice property with a great combination of middle and high elevation bird species. This is a good site for Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge,
Red-fronted Parrolet, Barred Parakeets, Sulfur-winged Parakeets, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, White-winged Tanager, Golden-crowned Warbler,
Red-headed Barbet, Spotted Barbtail, Green-fronted Lancebill, Collared Trogon, and even Resplendent Quetzal. El Bosque del Tolomuco
offers good trails and it is just 30 minutes away from Cerro de la Muerte or from San Isidro de El General.
Natural History
Over 60 million years ago when Costa Rica didn't even exist, the North American continent would extend down
to where currently we find Nicaragua which was then a tropical peninsula. 50 million years ago an intense
process of volcanism and tectonic lifts started forming islands between North America and South America.
From 5 to 3 million years ago a complete isthmus had been formed, making possible the colonization of
species from continental land to these islands. One of the biggest islands was the current Talamanca
Mountain Range, which heads South-east into Western Panama. The highest peak of Costa Rica, Mount Chirripo,
rises to 3,820 meters / 12,532 feet and is found in this mountain range overlooking El General Valley.
As the best suitable place for colonizing bird life it ended up being a paradise for the generation of
new species. Also, as the mountain range/island gained elevation, new species evolved within the same
because the territory was divided between Caribbean and Pacific slopes with well defined slopes.
The most dominant habitat found in Talamanca is the Tropical Cloud Forest, with about 74% of the trees being oaks, this forest
is a massive garden and trees themselves serve as nurseries, the branches and trunks of most trees are full with bromeliads,
orchids, mosses, ferns, ericaceaes (very liked by hummingbirds) and gesneraceaes (gold fish plant)... you will be delighted!
All this epiphytic and parasitic growth is stimulated by the constant clouds through daylight hours which create a constant
mist that triggers the diverse forest structures and functions. The understory in the Cloud Forest grows from 1 to 6 meters
tall and it is dominated in most cases by bamboo species of the genus Chusquea such longifolia, tomentosa,and talamancensis.
Dwarf palms, tree ferns, and cyclanths are also dominant. Shrubs are also found here with members from the Asteraceae, Ericaceae,
Melastomataceae, Onagraceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, and Solanaceae. Clusiaceae species occur as shrubs or small trees.
The upper canopy is mostly dominated by Oak trees of the genus Quercus, White Oaks and Black Oaks are massive.
Other tree include the Lauraceae family which are known as wild avocados, these are the main source of food for
Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno), as well as very liked by Emerald Toucanets (Aulacorhynchus prasinus) ,
Black Guans (Chamaepetes unicolor), Collared Trogons (Trogon collaris) and others.
The average annual temperature in these oak forests range from 8 Celsius at its highest elevations (3,300 m / 10,827 feet)
to about 17 Celsius at it is lower elevations (2,000 m / 6,562 feet), and of course even higher temperature as habitats lose
altitude. The most drastic temperature variations occur in the driest months from December to April. Annual rainfall ranges
from 2,000 to 3,500 millimeters. Just above the Cloud Forest near Savegre Lodge the Talamanca Mountain Range exposes another
fantastic type of habitat; The Sub-Alpine Tropical Rain Paramo, with elevations reaching 3,491 m ( 11,453 feet )
just east from the lodge this great habitat is mostly dominated by a short stiffed bamboo of the genus Chusquea
and other numerous grasses, as well as representatives of the families Ericaceae, Asteraceae (asters), Apiaceae,
Rosaceae, Campanulaceae (bell flowers), Melastomataceae, Bromeliaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Pteridaceae (ferns),
and colorful beautiful looking mosses, lichens, and club mosses.
Since the Paramo is a tropical ecosystem of the high mountains it is characterized by certain physical, chemical, and climatic
aspects that influence the biology of all the organisms that live in it. The plant life of these mountains adapt to high elevation
air with less density of oxygen and carbon dioxide, low temperatures and frost , high ultraviolet radiation, quick changes of temperature,
and the dehydrating effects of the wind, among some other factors. Generally speaking, the paramos present a humid and cold climate, with
sudden changes in weather and great daily temperature fluctuations which can go from temperatures below 0 Celsius (freezing) to over 25
Celsius producing many times a daily cycle of freezing and unfreezing. Some animal species found in the Páramo are the Green Spiny Lizard
(Sceloporus variabilis), Highland Alligator Lizard (Mesaspis monticola), Coyote (Canis latrans), Puma (Puma concolor), Dice's Rabbit
(Silvilagus dicei), Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii), Red-brocket Deer (Mazama Americana), Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis),
Sooty Robin (Turdus nigrescens), Flame-throated Warbler (Parula gutturalis), Volcano Junco (Junco vulcanii), Black-capped Flycatcher
(Empidonax atriceps), Timberline Wren (Thryorchilus brownii), Peg-billed Finch (Acanthidops bairdii), Volcano Hummingbird
(Selasphorus flammula), Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis), Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus gracilirostris),
just to mention a few.
San Gerardo de Dota and Cerro de la Muerte Bird Checklist
Specialty birds of San Gerardo de Dota, the Sub-Alpine Rain Paramo area and lower middle elevations
Gray-tailed Mountain-Gem - A very common hummingbird at the feeders and gardens of the lodge, also found in the forest.
Fiery-throated Hummingbird - In occasions you can find it around the lodge usually being territorial of a particular flowering bush,
however your best chances are in the Sub-Alpine Rain Páramo and La Georgina Restaurant on the Panamerican Highway as you drop towards San Isidro.
Volcano Hummingbird - Found in around the feeders and gardens around the lodge, very abundant in the higher elevations, they fly all over the Páramo.
Scintillant Hummingbird - The smallest hummingbird in Costa Rica, found at feeders and all over the valley.
Resplendent Quetzal - The very beautiful and popular Quetzal can be found pretty much anywhere in the valley, often flies across the
lodge's grounds looking for fruiting Lauraceae Trees. Guides most of the time know where to look for them.
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper - Found in primary, secondary, and disturbed areas, it usually accompanies mixed flocks.
Buffy Tuftedcheek - Most of the time found in the primary oak forest where trees are covered with epiphytes, Los Robles and
La Quebrada Trails are the ones that offer a better chance to see this bird.
Streak-breasted Treehunter - Most of the time found in mixed flocks in primary and secondary forest, in forest edge too.
Spotted Wood-Quail - Can be found on the forest floor of primary and secondary cloud forest, you can hear them quite often but it takes
some work to find them. The first 150 meters of Los Robles Trail tend to be good for the, although you can run into them pretty much on any forest trail.
Sulphur-winged Parakeet - They fly and perch around the lodge and the whole valley, as loud as parakeets are your first sight will be
probably be them flying over you as you arrive to the valley. They often perch on the apple orchard.
Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl - This interesting little owl can be found mostly in the forest trails, the first section of Los Robles Trail has been
quite productive and we see them in numerous occasions.
Dusky Nightjar - Heard at dawn or dusk near the lodge, the first 300 meters of the road to the forest are quite good, also seen on the main
road up to the highway at dawn and well into the night.
Silvery-fronted Tapaculo - Most of the time this little fellow is found in the thick understory of primary and secondary growth, it has a
distinctive call the alerts you of its presence, but hard to see as it almost acts like a mouse. You probably want to see your bare eyes rather then binoculars.
Black-capped Flycatcher - This nice looking and small flycatcher can be found perching in trees, bushes, or even barbed wires of fences in
open areas or forest edge.
Ochraceous Pewee - Usually found in primary forest and forest edge, La Quebrada and Los Robles Trails have been quite productive to find this
flycatcher that most of the time perches mid to high level in tall trees.
Golden-bellied Flycatcher - Look for it in primary and secondary forest tree tops, forest edge or light gaps in the forest are good locations to find it.
Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher - Common around the lodge, very often see on the trees behind the restaurant, however widespread in the valley
and even see in the Páramo sometimes.
Timberline Wren - To be looked for in the Sub-Alpine Rain Páramo, most of time in thick bamboo patches.
Silvery-throated Jay - It doesn't seem to be as abundant as in other portions of the mountain range, however its best spot in the valley is Los Robles Trail.
Yellow-winged Vireo - Commonly found alone or in mixed flocks on forest edge and primary and secondary growth. It vocalizes quite often.
Black-cheeked Warbler - Fairly common in the understory of primary oak forests and also at the Paramo.
Flame-throated Warbler - Very common warbler that forages in primary and secondary growth, comes out to forest patches and scattered trees in
open areas, most of the time in mixed flocks. Often seen in the Páramo.
Collared Redstart - Common everywhere in the valley, very common in the primary and secondary forest, forest edge and disturb areas, not very
concern about human presence and many times catches flies next to you. This particular behavior has made locals called this bird "Amigo del Hombre" (Friend of man)
Wrenthrush (formerly Zeledonia) - Very hard to spot, usually found in primary growth around fallen trees or along creeks, also around dense
Bamboo of the genus Chusquea. To be looked for in the Páramo as well.
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager - A core species of most mixed flocks in the valley and in the Páramo.
Flame-colored Tanager - Very common tanager all around the gardens, roadsides and forest. The best looks would be around the gardens of the
lodge, you might be able to get incredible photos of this tanager.
Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush - Common in primary forests and forest edge above the lodge, can either be found in Los Robles Trail or on
the road as you come in San Gerardo de Dota, also seen abundantly in the Páramo. It is lowest range is usually 2,500 m, however it can be found as low as the lodge at 2,200 m, specially in rainy months.
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush - Very common in the woods and open areas of the valley usually below 2,500 m. You will probably see it
around the cabins.
Sooty Robin - Rarely found near the lodge, but hard to miss on the road into the valley and quite abundant in the Páramo.
Yellow-thighed Finch - Found in the forest trails, forest edge and bushy areas around the lodge, it even comes out to the gardens.
Mostly in groups and many times following mixed flocks of bush-tanagers.
Peg-billed Finch - Very uncommon finch because of its nomadic behavior as in most cases searches for seeding bamboo. It might show up in
bamboo patches in the forest and in the chusquea genus bamboos in the Páramo. Having a guide is ideal!
Volcano Junco - One of the fantastic inhabitants of the Sub-Alpine Rain Páramo, quite common here.
Black-thighed Grosbeak - Found in the primary and secondary forest, forest edge, and open areas around the lodge. A lot of times found on
the trail to the waterfall 150m after you go across the river for the first time.
Large-footed Finch - A lot of times you hear the dry fallen leaves being turned, kicked and it eally seems to be noisy in the undergrowth.
Look for this finch, it can be found in primary and secondary forest, forest edge, bushy areas, and up in the Sub-Alpine Rain Páramo.
Yellow-bellied Siskin - Found all over the valley in open areas, quit often seen in the orchards, a good number of them arrive around 5:25 p.m.
each day to roost next to the souvenir shop, locate the tree next to the public phone.
White-tailed Emerald - often found below 2000 meters of elevation in forest, forest edge, or open areas. Visits ericaceas, fushias, campanulaceas, bomareas, and many other
types of flowers. Very common in Bosque del Tolomuco around Porterweed.
Striped-tailed Hummingbird - some individuals show up in Savegre Lodge area, specially on the road towards the waterfall. Recently a femae has been coming to feeders in Savegre. More common at
lower elevations at Bosque del Tolomuco.
Red-headed Barbet - typical sighting around Bosque del Tolomuco
White-winged Tanager - good possibilities to see this tanager in the forest and forest edge at Bosque del Tolomuco, also found ocassionally in San Gerardo de Dota.
San Gerardo de Dota and Cerro de la Muerte Bird Checklist
