Exploring Caño Negro by boat (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

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 swamp 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?

Common caiman at Caño Negro (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

The common or spectacled caiman, (Caiman crocodilus) or 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.

Plumed basilisk in a tree (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

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.

Golden mantled howler monkey with baby at Caño Negro (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

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

White-faced capuchin monkey family (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

And a few species that I see at home …

Hello there, Prothonotary warbler! These birds 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.

Prothonotary warbler at Caño Negro (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

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

White-tailed deer at Caño Negro (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

(*p.s. The brown basilisk was imported to Florida.)