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Joan Borreli
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Costa Rica Christmas Bird Count 2025

Costa Rica’s 2025–26 Christmas Bird Count marks the CBC’s 125th year, with early results from Coto Brus, Arenal, and past standout counts.

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the longest-running community science project in the Western Hemisphere, and in 2025 it marks its 125th year. What began in 1900 as a conservation-minded alternative to holiday “side hunts” has grown into a coordinated effort involving tens of thousands of volunteers across the Americas.

Each year, participants survey birds within fixed geographic circles during a defined window from mid-December through early January, following protocols that have remained consistent for more than a century. That continuity makes CBC data uniquely valuable for tracking long-term population trends.

rose breasted grosbeak male
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)
A boreal migrant and regular CBC species in Costa Rica, showing its pink-red breast during the northern winter, spotted during this year’s Arenal / La Fortuna CBC.

Why the Christmas Bird Count Matters

CBC data is now widely used by researchers, conservation organizations, and policymakers to understand:

  • Long-term population changes
  • Habitat loss and land-use impacts
  • Climate-related shifts in bird distribution
  • The effectiveness of conservation actions

Just as important, the CBC remains a social tradition. It brings together experienced birders, professional guides, students, families, and first-time participants through shared fieldwork and local knowledge. While the geographic scope has expanded dramatically — including hundreds of counts across Latin America and the Caribbean — the core idea remains the same: careful observation and collective effort in service of bird conservation.

Costa Rica and the Christmas Bird Count

yellow faced grassquit male costa rica
Yellow-faced Grassquit (male)
A widespread resident and regular CBC species, most often recorded in open habitats and forest edges.

Costa Rica officially joined the CBC in 1985, and participation has grown steadily ever since. For the 2025–26 season, Costa Rica’s count window runs from December 14, 2025 through January 5, 2026, and the first circles are already underway.

One of the earliest counts completed this season is Coto Brus, centered around Las Cruces Biological Station and Wilson Botanical Garden. Now in its fifth consecutive year, the Coto Brus CBC continues to stand out as a strong example of citizen science and community collaboration in southern Costa Rica.

Coto Brus CBC Highlights

Turquoise Cotinga
Emblematic species (2025): Turquoise Cotinga (Cotinga ridgwayi), a canopy species closely tied to forest conservation

Organizers:

The count brings together birders, researchers, and conservationists from across the country, reinforcing the CBC’s role as both a scientific and community-based effort.

Recent Results: What Costa Rica Has Achieved

While full results from the 2025–26 season will only be available once all circles complete their counts, recent years show what Costa Rica consistently delivers.

During the 124th/125th CBC (2024–2025), several Costa Rican count circles ranked among the most species-rich in the region.

Participation levels were equally notable:

  • La Selva: more than 120 field observers
  • Las Cruces: 50 participants, recording 4,886 individual birds
red legged honeycreeper
Red-legged Honeycreeper (male)
A striking resident species, easy to spot during CBCs thanks to its deep blue plumage and bright red legs.

These numbers reflect both Costa Rica’s exceptional biodiversity and the depth of local participation.

Early Results from the 2025–26 Season

anthonya cbc costa rica 2025
Anthony Arce with a group of fellow birders on this years’ Arenal / La Fortuna CBC

Early participation this season already suggests another strong year. Our guide Anthony Arce joined the Arenal / La Fortuna CBC, participating for a half-day due to guiding commitments.

Arenal / La Fortuna CBC Snapshot

Time in field: 7 hours (5:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

Sites covered:

  • Bogarin Trail
  • EcoCentro Danaus
  • Agricultural fields around La Fortuna

Species recorded: 115

Highlights included:
Tree Swallow, Keel-billed Motmot, Black-and-white Owl, and Uniform Crake.

The group itself reflected what makes the CBC special: eight participants, ranging from experienced guides and an artist to a child — including a first-time bird count participant. It was a clear example of how serious data collection, education, and community involvement intersect during the CBC.

streak headed woodcreeper
Streak-headed Woodcreeper
A quiet forest resident, often recorded on CBCs by careful scanning of trunks rather than movement.

What’s Still Ahead This Season

Several major Costa Rican counts are still to come, including:

Each represents a distinct ecosystem — from Caribbean lowland rainforest to high-elevation cloud forest — and each consistently produces high species diversity.

As the 2025–26 Christmas Bird Count season unfolds, birders and conservationists alike are watching closely to see how this year’s results compare to the impressive benchmarks set in recent counts.

Final Thoughts

broad billed motmot
Broad-billed Motmot
A shaded-forest resident, typically seen perched and still, with a heavy bill and turquoise facial markings.

After 125 years, the Christmas Bird Count remains both a scientific cornerstone and a meaningful way for people to engage directly with birds and landscapes they care about. Costa Rica’s continued participation — and leadership in species diversity and volunteer involvement — shows how local effort feeds into a much larger conservation picture.

Costa Rica Christmas Bird Count 2025

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