Wildlife photography field guides

Where to go, when to be there, and the gear that works — one guide per species, each backed by the verified track records of the guides who actually deliver the shot.

11 species

Black Hawk-Eagle
Spizaetus tyrannus
Caribbean lowlands · Year-round
How to photograph it →When to see it →
Black-crested Coquette
Lophornis helenae
Caribbean foothills · Year-round
How to photograph it →When to see it →
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
Bat Islands · Guanacaste · May–Nov
How to photograph it →When to see it →
Capuchin Monkey
Cebus imitator
Guanacaste · Santa Rosa · Year-round
How to photograph it →When to see it →
Crowned Treefrog
Anotheca spinosa
Caribbean foothills · May–Nov
How to photograph it →When to see it →
Eyelash Viper
Bothriechis schlegelii
Sarapiquí · Caribbean lowlands · Apr–Oct
How to photograph it →When to see it →
King Vulture
Sarcoramphus papa
Boca Tapada · Maquenque · Year-round
How to photograph it →When to see it →
Resplendent Quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno
San Gerardo de Dota · Talamanca · Jan–Jun
How to photograph it →When to see it →
Scarlet Macaw
Ara macao
Carara · Osa Peninsula · Year-round · Dec–Apr prime
How to photograph it →When to see it →
Three-Wattled Bellbird
Procnias tricarunculatus
Monteverde · Mar–Jun
How to photograph it →When to see it →
Volcano Hummingbird
Selasphorus flammula
Talamanca highlands · Year-round
How to photograph it →When to see it →