23 January 2026: Day 5, Boat ride at Refugio Caño Negro — Road Scholar Birding in Northern Costa Rica: Tanagers to Toucans

Today we’re taking two boat tours through the Caño Negro wetlands on the Rio Frio with close looks at many animals that live in the water or would run away if we approached on foot. All of these photos are from Wikimedia Commons and were taken at Caño Negro.

Well, hello there. Who are you?

The common or spectacled caiman, (Caiman crocodilus), also called the American crocodile, is a “cousin” to the alligator. They are both in the same family, Alligatoridae, but the two don’t meet. In the Western Hemisphere alligators live in North America, caimans / crocodiles live in Central and South America.

The plumed basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) has a mythical name. According Pliny the Elder, looking into the eyes of a basilisk will kill you! The European legend persisted despite the fact that no basilisks have ever lived in Eurasia. The four species that do exist are in Central and South America(*) and were probably named for their resemblance to the mythical creature.

Howler monkeys are heard more often than seen. This golden-mantled howler (Alouatta palliata palliata) mother is a lot smaller than she appears in the photo. Notice the size of the branches around her.

There are also families of Panamanian white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator) at Caño Negro.

And a few species that I see at home …

Hello there, Prothonotary warbler! These warblers spend only half the year in North America, the rest of the time in Central America, Colombia and western Venezuela. What a welcome sight in winter at Caño Negro.

A deer? At home in Pittsburgh I see white-tailed deer crossing the street in front of buses. I’m surprised to see this one was photographed at Caño Negro.

(*p.s. The  brown basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus) was imported for the pet trade and is invasive in Florida.)