LuisSandovaletal. 237 Bull. B.O.C.2010 130(4) Recent records of new and rare bird species in Costa Rica Luis Sandoval, Cesar Sanchez, Esteban Biamonte, Jim R. Zook, Julio E. & Sanchez, Daniel Martinez, Daryl Loth Jerry O'Donahoe Received2 December2009 — Summary. We report new data on distribution, colonisation and breeding of 17 speciesrecentlyrecordedinCostaRicaforthefirsttime,suchasGreaterShearwater Puffinus gravis and Savanna Hawk Buteogallus meridionalis, as well as information for nine other species with few previous records in Costa Rica, e.g. Green-winged Teal Anas crecca, Ocellated Poorwill Nyctiphrynus ocellatus and Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina. The majority ofnew records involve species that have expanded their range north from Panama (11 species), due principally to deforestation. Since thepublication ofStiles & Skutch (1989), the distribution and abundance ofsome resident(Sandoval2004,Sandoval&Ellis2006) andmigratoryspecieshaschangedinCosta Rica (Garrigues & Dean 2007). For example, species such as Melodious Blackbird Dives dives have become common throughout the country (Sanchez et al. 1998). Furthermore, 19 species have been recorded for the first time, primarily from the Pacific south-west, the Caribbean coast, and on Cocos Island (Acevedo-Gutierrez 1994, Sanchez et al. 1998, Barrantes et al. 2002, Solano-Ugalde & Herrera 2005, Garrigues & Dean 2007, Obando et al. 2007a, 2008). Most recently recorded species inhabit open areas, forest edge or secondary forest (Sanchez et al. 1998, Garrigues & Dean 2007), all of which habitats have recently increased in Costa Rica due to deforestation (Roxero-Bixby et al. 2002,Barrantes & Lobo 2005, Joyce 2006). Here we provide information on distribution, colonisation and breeding of 17 species recently recorded in Costa Rica (including the country's territorial waters) for the first time (Fig. 1). We also provide new information for nine other species with few previous records for the country. Most data included here were obtained in 1997- 2009, and photographs will be archived at the Union de Ornitologos de Costa Rica, San Jose. We also include data provided by other observers, whose full names are given in the Acknowledgements. Figure. 1. MapshowingCostaRica'sprovincesandborders. LuisSandovaletal. 238 Bull. B.O.C. 2010 130(4) Species accounts GREEN-WINGED TEALAnas crecca The firstand onlyprevious record was in 1962 (Stiles & Skutch 1989). Five new records are as follows. An adult male was at Finca Las Concavas, Cartago (09°50,N 83°53'W; 1,300 m) / in late December 1999-early March 2000 (CS, JES & RG). It was with Blue-winged Teals Anas discors and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks Dendrocygna antumnalis. A male was in Palo Verde National Park, Guanacaste (10°20'N, 85°21'W; 25 m) on 12-16 February 2000 (JZ). Two males were at Lagunas Catfish Farms, near Comunidad, Guanacaste (10°32/N, 85°37'W;40m) on 15-29February2008 (JZ&CJ)withmanyotherducks. Afemalewasseen thereon 16March2008 (JH). AfemalewaswithsixA. discors onasmallpond atCenizas de Perez Zeledon, SanJose (09°18'N, 83°42'W; 750 m) on 1 March 2008 (JZ). GREATER SHEARWATER Puffinusgravis AlthoughthebonesofashearwaterfoundinTortuguero,Limon,wereconsideredtobelong to a Greater Shearwater (Carr 1979), their identification has been questioned, and there are no confirmed Costa Rican records (Stiles & Skutch 1989, Obando et al. 2007a). On 22 June 2007 an exhausted male was found on the beach at Tortuguero, Limon (10°33'N, 83°30'W); it died the same day (Museo de Zoologia, Universidad de Costa Rica; UCR 4156). To our knowledge,theclosestrecordstoCostaRicaarefromVenezuela,wherethespecieshasbeen seen offshore in June and August (Hilty 2003), Trinidad & Tobago (Hayes & White 1999), and Quintana Roo, Mexico (Ash & Watson 1980). The date of the Costa Rican specimen coincides with the species' northbound migration (Harrison 1985), which in the Caribbean Basin seems to peak in early to mid June through the Lesser Antilles (Buckleyetal. 2009). AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN Pelecanus erythrorhynchos AccidentalinCosta Rica, withjusttwo previous reports (Stiles & Skutch 1989, Garrigues & Dean 2007). A single was at the mouth ofthe rio Parismina, Limon (10°18'N, 83°21'W; 1 m) on 5 January-19 February 1999 (JES). It was observed with Brown Pelicans'?, occidentalis on a riverbank. A few days later, one was at Parque Vargas, in downtownLimon (09°59'N, 83°01'W; 2 m), close to the port (JES). We suspect that the same individualwas involved in these two records, given their geographical proximity. STRIATED HERON Butorides striata The two previous records for Costa Rica involve a specimen taken in April 1923 at Canas, Guanacaste (Stiles & Skutch 1989) and a sight record from Alajuela in 2005 (Obando et al. 2007b). The third record, and the first from the Pacific coast, was an adult photographed at theborderofaricefieldnearmangroveatEsterillos,Parrita,Puntarenas (09°31'N,84°28'W), on 2 March 2008 (WC). SAVANNA HAWK Buteogallus rheridionalis We report the first records for Costa Rica. The first was observed on 15 April 2008, 5 km south of Zancudo, Puntarenas (08°29'N, 83°06'W; 5 m), perched on a fence at the edge of a rice field being ploughed (JOD). Subsequently, two adults and an immature were nearby, at La Cuesta, Puntarenas (08°28'N, 82°52'W; 60 m), on 24 February 2009 (SE) and 5 March 2009 (JZ), also in a rice field being ploughed. Common in open country west of Colon, Panama (CS pers. obs.), the species was expected in Costa Rica (Stiles & Skutch 1989) given its preference for open habitats, which are now widespread in the Pacific lowlands (Joyce 2006). LuisSandovaletal. 239 Bull. B.O.C. 2010 130(4) PEARL KITE Gampsonyx swainsonii The first report in Costa Rica was on 30 November 1996 at La Trocha de Perez Zeledon, San Jose (09°21'N, 83°40'W; 650 m). Most subsequent observations are from the south of the country, especially in the Pacific lowlands to 1,200 m. We report the first breeding records and the first sightings on the Caribbean coast. Breeding has been noted mainly in the southern Pacific lowlands, where at least four nests have been found at two localities. The firstwas atTalariMountain Lodge, Perez Zeledon, SanJose (09°25'N, 83°40'W; 840 m), earlyin2000 (PW). Anotherwas at Bajo Coto, Buenos Aires, Puntarenas (08°57'N, 83°04'W; 313m) inFebruary2005; itcontained twochicks ofunknownage (EB). In2006, presumably m the same pair built a nest c.50 away; on 17 March it contained three fully feathered chicks. Another nest was observed on 19 March 2006 in Talari (CS), but its stage could not be determined. All nests were of sticks and small branches, were placed in partially m leafless trees 18-20 up in the canopy, and were similar to those described elsewhere (Thiollay 1994). AllnestsinCosta RicahavebeenonthePacific slope duringthe dryseason (December-April). The species has presumably dispersed north from Panama as far as Rincon de la Vieja and PaloVerde inGuanacaste. Since 2006, there havebeen three records on the Caribbean coast: singles near Sixaola, Limon, near the Panama border (09°33'N, 82°53'W;50m) on4January2008 (LS), onthecoastc.30kmsouthofPuertoLimon (09°47'N, 82°54'W; 2 m) on 1 December 2007 (FPM), and between Estero Negro and Puerto Viejo, Limon (09°47'N, 82°53'W; 2 m) on 31 January 2009 (DM). CLAPPER RAIL Rallus longirostris One observed in a mangrove by JES, on 16 June 1997, near the confluence of the rfos Bebedero and Tempisque, atthehead oftheGulfofNicoya, Guanacaste (10°15'N, 84°14'W; 21 m) was the firstrecord for Costa Rica. Despite the lack ofsubsequentreports, Garrigues & Dean (2007) suggested that the species is resident in mangrove on the Gulf of Nicoya. The species' status and distribution in the tropics is poorly understood, and given the lack offurther records, and the dispersal ability ofrails, we cannoteliminate thepossibilitythat thisbird was a wandering individual. SOUTHERN LAPWING Vanellus chilensis SincethefirstrecordforCostaRica,in 1993, alongtherioSarapiqm (Sanchezetal. 1998),the species has increased throughout the country. On the Pacific slope it has reached north as far as Palo Verde National Park and its environs (Trama et al. 2006), and on the Caribbean slope as far north as Arenal (CS). Two were in the Central Valley, atValle del Sol, SanJose (09°56'N, 54°12'W), on 2 October 2007 (LB), increasing its elevational range in the country to 850 m. Nesting has been observed at two sites at Los Lagos, Arenal (10°29'N, 84°43'W; 300 m), in consecutive years. The species continues to expand its range, mainly in humid lowland pastures (JZ). LONG-BILLED CURLEWNumenhis americanus Three recent observations of this rare migrant (Stiles & Skutch 1989, Garrigues & Dean 2007). Singles were at Playa Azul, Garabito, Puntarenas (09°78'N, 84°64'W) on 26 February 2005 (DM), ina fallow rice field atPelon de La Bajura, Guanacaste (10°26'N, 85°25'W; 20m) on19November2005 (JZ),andatSalinasSantos,ColoradodeAbangares (10°10'N,85°06'W; 5 m) on 10 September 2008 (FPM). LuisSandovaletal. 240 Bull. B.O.C.2010 130(4) LARGE-BILLED TERN Phaetusa simplex The first reportwas on 15 March 2003 at the no Tortuguero, Limon (Obando et al. 2007a,b, Garrigues & Dean 2007), while the second record involved one at Matina, Limon (10°06,N, 83°irW; 2m) on 13June2007 (DL), c.58 kmsouth ofthe first. P. simplexinhabitsfreshwater habitats and is commonthroughoutSouthAmerica as farnorth as the Colombia / Panama border (Ridgely & Gwynne 1989). Vagrancy even further north is known, as there are two specimen records from Cuba, both from the north coast, one on an unknown date and the other taken on 28 May 1910 (Garrido & Kirkconnell 2000). WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON Patagioenas leucocephala Just one previous record, involving one seen in flight, on the Caribbean coast, at the mouth of the rio Tortuguero, Limon, in March 1987 (Stiles & Skutch 1989). Garrigues & Dean (2007) mentioned subsequent records, but without dates or locations. JES observed one on 8 February 2005, also in Tortuguero (10°33'N, 83°30'W), feeding on Miconia sp. (Melastomataceae) fruits at the edge of a canal in mature secondary forest with Yolillo palmsRaphia taedigera (Arecaceae). FurtherrecordsfromCostaRicawere considered likely, giventhatthespeciesapparentlyrangestomainlandareasfromitsislandbreedinggrounds in search offood (Stiles & Skutch 1989). BROWN-THROATED PARAKEET Aratinga pertinax First recorded in 1996 near the Panama border in the southern Pacific (Sanchez et al. 1998). Since then, its range has expanded through the disturbed lowlands west to La Gamba-Golfito (83°10'N,08°43'W;80m) (Garrigues &Dean2007). Furtherrange expansion is evidenced by a flock at Palmar Sur (08°55'N, 83°27,W; 14 m) on 13 January 2006 (LS), the westernmost report in Costa Rica. The highest-elevation report involved a small flock at Sabalito de Coto Brus, Puntarenas (08°49'N, 82°55,W; 920 m) on 24 August 2002 (JZ). Although we are unaware of any breeding records, we expect that this parakeet nests in thecountry,becausethepopulationisresidentand is quitecommoninthePacificlowlands near the Panama border. GREATER ANI Crotophaga major First reported in Costa Rica in 2003-04 at Tortuguero (10°33'N, 83°30'W) (Garrigues & Dean 2007), during 2005 andJanuary2010 a single was observed (DL) on several occasions in forest edge vegetation along freshwater channels in Tortuguero, Limon, to Cuatro Esquinas Island (10°32'N, 83°30'W). The habitat is similar to that occupied by the species elsewhere (Hilty2003). There is oneprevious record evenfurthernorth, twobirdscollected in Tamaulipas, Mexico, in 1960 (Olson 1978). NORTHERN POTOO Nyctibius jamaicensis Considered uncommon in the Pacific dry forest (Garrigues & Dean 2007), although there are few data on the species' range and habitat preferences in Costa Rica (Barrantes ct al. 2002, Obando et al. 2007a). There is a previous report of one at Santa Rosa National Park Guanacaste (10°50'N, 85°37'W; 50 m), in April 2006 (Obando et al. 2007a). The easternmost record in Costa Rica involves a single observed at Punta Morales, Puntarenas (10°04'N, 84°57'W; 5 m), on 16 November 2008 (LS & EB), feeding on insects attracted to a light at the edge of a mangrove. Approximately one hour later, the bird was heard singing. On 2 December2008,JES&JFobserved a pairatthesame locality. Ourobservationsinnorth-west Costa Rica, and the Santa Rosa record; were in deciduous forest and adjacent mangrove. LuisSandovaletal. 241 Bull. B.O.C.2010 130(4) OCELLATED POORWILL Nyctiphrynus ocellatus Previously recorded only at Brasilia de Upala, Alajuela (Stiles & Skutch 1989), the species' currentstatusinCostaRicaisconsidereduncertain(Garrigues&Dean2007).On13February 2007onewasheard callingatFinca LasCrucitas, SanCarlos, Alajuela (10°52'N, 84°19'W; 56 m), 86 km east of the first record (CS). Thebird vocalised continually from 19.00 to 20.30 h nextto apatchofpartiallylogged forest,withtalltrees (c.35m) anda denseunderstorey,in an area where gold mining has reduced the forest to remnantpatches. The nightwas clear with no moon. Next night, one was heard in the same area, at c.18.30 h, but it only called twice'. Thespecies' rangeinCentralAmericaispoorlyknown. Forexample,innorthernand m central Nicaragua it is rare and inhabits montane forest at 800-1,000 (Martinez-Sanchez 2007), whilst in Honduras there is an isolated population (Anderson 2000) and in Panama there isjust unconfirmed record from the Canal Zone (AOU 1998). MOUSE-COLOURED TYRANNULET Phaeomyias murina First recorded in Costa Rica in 1996, when one was mist-netted at La Trocha de Perez Zeledon, San Jose (Sanchez et al. 1998). The northernmost observation on the Pacific coast was at Carara National Park, Puntarenas (09°46'N, 84°36'W; 34 m) on 13 December 2008 (LS). The first report on the Caribbean coast involved one atComadre-Fila Carbon, Limon (09°42'N, 82°49'W; 20 m) on 22January 2009 (DM). Direct evidence forbreeding is lacking, but it presumably breeds in the San Vito Valley, where the species is apparently resident and increasing (JZ). RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER Myiozetetes cayanensis The first report was at La Gamba, Golfito, Puntarenas, on 7 April 2004 (MD; Garrigues 2004), while the second was at Tiskita Lodge, Pavones, Puntarenas (08°21'N, 83°08'W; 5 m), on2 March 2005 (CS), perched beside an airstrip in second growth. On 26 March 2006, RG found a nest at La Gamba, Golfito, Puntarenas (83°10'N, 08°43'W, 80 m). The nest was typicalofthe genus,beinga roofed structureconstructed ofgrass fibres (Skutch 1976,Stiles & Skutch 1989). Itwas in a shrub, 1 m above a freshwater canal. The entrance was possibly at the bottom, as the nest did not appear to have a side entrance, and the nest tree was 3 m from a dirt road, in a pasture. The birds perched c.30 cm from the nest. The date and location above water are consistent with Dyrcz's (2002) observations on Barro Colorado Island in Panama. TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD Mimusgilvus The first report for Costa Rica was at Siquirres, Limon, in 2000 (JES). M. gilvus is now a resident breeder, with nesting recorded in several areas on both slopes (e.g. in downtown Limon(09°59'N,83°01'W;5m),Siquirres (10°05'N,83°30'W;90m) andLaFortunadeArenal (10°28'N, 84°39'W; 250 m). Several have been observed in the Central Valley, including at Cartago, where two were seen in July-August 2004 (CS) visiting a feeder, consuming bananas. Also in this area, another adult was feeding a juvenile at Las Concavas (09°50'N, 83°53'W) on 29 October 2008 (JES, LS, DM). A report in El Rodeo-Coronado, San Jose (09°58'N,84°00'W; 1,434m),on14November2006(EB),andanotherinOratorio-Oreamuno, Cartago (09°53'N, 83°49'W; 1,700 m), on 11 April 2009 (DM), are the highest-elevation records in Costa Rica. In Panama, the species has expanded its range since the 1930s (Ridgely & Gwynne 1989). To the north, the population has also been expanding rapidly south through Nicaragua (JZ pers. obs.). Thus, mockingbirds appear tobe expanding their ranges from both the north and south in Central America. In addition, numbers in Costa LuisSandovaletal. 242 Bull. B.O.C. 2010 130(4) Ricahaveincreasedsincetheirarrival.Wepredictthatitwillbecomecommoninresidential and open areas ofCosta Rica, as has occurred elsewhere (Cody2005). NASHVILLE WARBLER Vermivora ruficapitta Recorded sporadically in the last 20 years (Stiles & Skutch 1989, Garrigues & Dean 2007), withtwo recentobservations. The firstwas atChomes, Puntarenas (10°02,N, 84°54'W; 5 m) on21 September 2006 (LS, EB), where two birds foraged in a mangrove next to saltponds. One was at Tirimbina Forest Reserve, Sarapiqm (10°23'N, 84°08,W; 187 m) on 13 and 22 February 2007 (JZ). GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER Dendroica chrysoparia The first records in Costa Rica are as follows. A female in non-breeding plumage was in a shade-coffee plantation at Cerro Pata de Gallo, Palmares, Alajuela (10°02'N, 84°28'W; 1,450 m), on 2 September 2002 (JZ). Single females were observed in Coronado, San Jose (09°58'N, 84°00'W), at 1,434-1,800 m, on9 and 16 September 2003 (EB). The firstwas a lone bird foraging in a pine (Pinus sp.) in a garden and the second was accompanying a mixed- species flock in an area of pastures, living fences, second-growth alders Almis acuminata and remnants of natural vegetation. These are the southernmost reports for this globally threatened species, whose wintering grounds extend from the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, to northern Nicaragua (AOU 1998). CHIPPING SPARROW Spizella passerina Previously known in Costa Rica from observations in San Pedro, San Jose, in September 1977 (Stiles & Skutch 1989) and at Cahuita, Limon, in November 2001 (Garrigues & Dean 2007). Two additional observations are as follows. One was at Coronado, San Jose, on 20 October 2001 (EB); it fed on a dirt road with three Rufous-collared Sparrows Zonotrichia capensis. One in breeding plumage was at Savegre, Cerro de la Muerte (09°33'N, 83°48'W; m 2,320m),inNovember2008 (IA);itwasperched2 highinabushattheedgeofsecondary forest. LARK SPARROW Chondestesgrammacus First observed in Costa Rica in the early 1990s at Carara National Park, Puntarenas, where the specieswasseeninDecember (CG), ataborderbetweenforestand extensive grassland. No further records until 2005, since when three observations have been made, all by JZ. The firstwas atCenizas de Perez Zeledon, SanJose, on 5 March2005, perched atop a citrus tree within a new, mixed-species, reforestation plot (Terminalia amazonia, Corribretaceae, and Tabebuia sp., Bignoniaceae). Another was at Chomes, Puntarenas (10°02'N, 84°54'W; 5 m) on 22 November 2006. The lastwas a single atLa Angostura de Perez Zeledon, San Jose (09°17'N, 83°4rW; 750 m), on 29 March 2007, perched briefly in the top of a 10-m Tabebuia rosea tree between a recently harvested sugarcane field and a shade-coffee plantation. LINCOLN'S SPARROW Melospiza lincolnii A very rare migrant (Stiles & Skutch 1989, Garrigues & Dean 2007) for which three recent observations are available, all of singles: in a garden with isolated trees and bushes in Manzanillo, Limon (09°37'N, 82°39'W; 5 m), on 15 October 2005 (EB); near La Virgen del Socorro,Heredia (10°16'N, 84°10'W; 750 m), on 21 February 2006 (CS), foraging in a pasture next to secondary forest with tour Yellow-faced Grassquits Tiari< oliraccus; and at Moravia de Chirripo, Turrialba (09°49'N, 83°26'W; 1,120 m), on 29 March 2008 (LS, GF). LuisSandovaletal. 243 Bull. B.O.C. 2010 130(4) SHINY COWBIRD Mololhrus bonariensis Firstobserved inCosta Rica at Hone Creek, Talamanca, Limon, on26 April 2004 (Martinez & Carman 2004). We report several observations from the Caribbean slope, and also presentevidenceofbreeding. On5October2005,DMobserved threeimmaturemales (with contrastingrufous-brownflightfeathers)nearHoneCreek. On 16June2007, twomalesand two females were at Tuba Creek, Talamanca (DM). On 21 January 2007, also in Talamanca, DM sawsixmalesforagingwithBronzedCowbirdsM. aeneusinpastureatCarbonI,Limon (09°40'N,82°49'W). DuringMarchandMay2008severalwerepresentintheTurrialbaarea. On9March, EC observed atleastsix attheCentroAgronomicoTropical de Investigaciony Ensenanza (09°53'N,83°39'W; 600m), and on29Marchand27April, LS,EB &GFobserved several males and females foragingwith Bronzed Cowbirds atMoravia de Chirripo, which at 1,130 mis thehighestelevationinCosta Rica to date. InMay2009, EB and the staffofLa Selva Biological Station (Sarapiqui, Heredia, 10°25'N, 84°00'W; 35 m) observed a fledgling being fed by a pair of Band-backed Wrens Campylorhynchus zonatus, the first breeding record for the country. CRESTED OROPENDOLA Psarocolius decumanus The first observation in Costa Rica was in 1999, when it was found in the upper Coto Brus Valley (Garrigues & Dean 2007). Since then the species has apparently spread. In 2000, the firstcolonywas found atSan Bosco de Sabalito, Puntarenas (08°53'N, 82°55'W; 950 m), and later that year ten more colonies were found in the Coto Brus Valley, at Ciudad Neily and CotoColorado(JZ).Subsequently,colonieshavebecomecommonerinSabalito,Puntarenas. A colonywith three nests was found in February 2006, between Rio Claro and Palmar Sur, Puntarenas (08°43'N, 83°09'W; 80m), inanisolated treenexttothePan-AmericanHighway (LS). Further, several individualshavebeenobserved awayfromthe Coto BrusValley. The highest record is on Cerro Pitier, La Amistad International Park (09°01,N, 83°02'W; 1,300 m), on 18 March 2006 (LS). The westernmost record is at Bajo Coto, Puntarenas (08°57'N, 83°04'W; 313 m), where a male was seen in a small Erythrina (Papilionaceae) tree, on 17 March 2006 (LS). On 15 February 2007, LS saw one flying over the rio Tigre on the Osa Peninsula (08°31'N, 83°24'W; 130 m). The establishment of new colonies and sightings of singles or small groups further west signal ongoing range expansion. TRICOLOURED MUNIA Lonchura malacca The first observation was at La Guinea, Guanacaste, in May 1999, where a population becameestablished (Garrigues & Dean2007). Significantrangeexpansionhas followed. On 16-23 February 2005, LS observed a group of c.500 adults and young in Pitaya, Miramar, Puntarenas (10°00'N, 84°48'W; 5 m). At the same location, on 15 January and 16 February 2006,LSobservedagroup ofc.50,bothadults andyoung, feedinginaricefield surrounded bysugarcaneplantations. On21 September2006,atChomes,Puntarenas,LS&EBobserved two adults at the edge ofmangrove. On 2 September 2008,JZ saw two adults in a rice field nearPalmarSur,Puntarenas(08°56'N,83°27'W; 15m),c.250kmfromLaGuinea.Thespecies is associatedwithrice fields inCosta Rica, asitis elsewhere (Funes & Herrera 2005). Riceis grown extensively on the Pacific coast, presumably explaining the species' expansion. Discussion The species reported here can be subdivided into five groups according to geography and / orhabitat: (1) coastal and pelagic species (one), (2) species thathave expanded north from Panama (11), (3) North American vagrants (nine), (4) rediscovered species in the country (two), and (5) miscellaneous (four). LuisSandovaletal. 244 Bull. B.O.C. 2010 130(4) — Coastal and pelagic species. Ornithological observations in oceanic waters of Costa Rica are infrequent, making new records, such as that presented here, to be expected. Interestingly, two new species reported in Costa Rica, Greater Shearwater (see above) and Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea (Solano-Ugalde & Herrera 2005), are from the Caribbean coast, which coastline is much shorter than the Pacific. The high diversity of seabirdsintheeasternPacific (Ballanceetal. 2006) could stillproducenewrecordsforCosta Rica. There has been a recent increase in efforts to search for pelagic species in this region, which has produced new records for Costa Rica such as Black-vented Shearwater Puffinus opisthomelas (B. Sullivan pers. comm.), Christmas Shearwater P. nativitatis (Brinkley 2008) and Manx Shearwater P. puffinus (Garrigues & Dean 2007). — Species from Panama. Several recent additions to the Costa Rican avifauna are of species presumably spreading north from Panama, especially those that inhabit open or semi-open habitats, e.g. Brown-throated Parakeet, Rusty-margined Flycatcher and Crested Oropendola. Openhabitatshaveincreased inCostaRica during the last50 years, including on the southern Pacific slope near the Panama border (Barrantes & Lobo 2005, Joyce 2006). — North American vagrants. Most observations of North American vagrants involve single individuals, which have presumably overshot their normal winter range, or reflect deteriorating conditions inwintering habitats further north. — Rediscovered species. Both species are nocturnal and could have been overlooked previously. Northern Potoo is probably uncommon in dry forest and adjoining mangrove. Previous Costa Rican records ofOcellated Poorwill are from poorly surveyed areas (along the central border with Nicaragua), where more field work is needed. — Miscellaneous. The three species (Phaetusa simplex, Crotophaga major and Patagioenas leucocephala) concerned were all seen on the Caribbean slope. These accidental records may all represent vagrants. Tricoloured Munia was introduced as a pet in Costa Rica (LS pers. obs.), and apparently somewere released or escaped around Filadelffa, Guanacaste, where the first observation was made, although it has since increased its range along the Pacific coast. 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