Carrol L. Henderson has headed the Nongame Wildlife Program of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for thirty-two years. He is an award-winning wildlife conservationist who has helped bring back eastern bluebirds, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, river otters, and trumpeter swans; an avid wildlife photographer whose images have appeared in the New York Times, Audubon, Birder's World, and Wild Bird; an experienced birding tour leader to Latin America, Kenya, Tanzania, and New Zealand; and the author of many magazine articles and nine books, including Oology and Ralph's Talking Eggs.

• Foreword by Alexander F. Skutch
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
  • Historical Perspective
  • Research
  • Education
  • Preservation
  • Conservation
  • Nature Tourism
  • Geography
  • Biogeography
  • Migratory Birds
  • Endemic Species
  • Endemic Wildlife of the Highlands
  • Endemic Species of the Southern Pacific Lowlands
  • Endemic Species of Cocos Island
  • Major Biological Zones
  • Tropical Dry Forest
  • Southern Pacific Lowlands
  • Central Plateau (Central Valley)
  • Caribbean Lowlands
  • Highlands
  • Coastal Beaches, Islands, and Mangrove Lagoons
  • Wildlife Overview and Species Coverage
• Bird Species Accounts
  • Tinamou Family (Tinamidae)
  • Duck Family (Anatidae)
  • Chachalaca, Guan, and Curassow Family (Cracidae)
  • Booby Family (Sulidae)
  • Pelican Family (Pelecanidae)
  • Cormorant Family (Phalacrocoracidae)
  • Anhinga Family (Anhingidae)
  • Frigatebird Family (Fregatidae)
  • Heron Family (Ardeidae)
  • Ibis and Spoonbill Family (Threskiornithidae)
  • Stork Family (Ciconiidae)
  • American Vulture Family (Cathartidae)
  • Osprey Family (Pandionidae)
  • Accipiter Family (Accipitridae)
  • Falcon Family (Falconidae)
  • Rail Family (Rallidae)
  • Sungrebe Family (Heliornithidae)
  • Sunbittern Family (Eurypygidae)
  • Thick-knee Family (Burhinidae)
  • Plover Family (Charadriidae)
  • Oystercatcher Family (Haematopodidae)
  • Stilt Family (Recurvirostridae)
  • Jacana Family (Jacanidae)
  • Sandpiper Family (Scolopacidae)
  • Gull and Tern Family (Laridae)
  • Dove and Pigeon Family (Columbidae)
  • Parrot Family (Psittacidae)
  • Cuckoo Family (Cuculidae)
  • Owl Family (Strigidae)
  • Nighthawk Family (Caprimulgidae)
  • Potoo Family (Nyctibiidae)
  • Hummingbird Family (Trochilidae)
  • Trogon Family (Trogonidae)
  • Motmot Family (Momotidae)
  • Kingfisher Family (Alcedinidae)
  • Puffbird Family (Bucconidae)
  • Jacamar Family (Galbulidae)
  • Toucan Family (Ramphastidae)
  • Woodpecker Family (Picidae)
  • Spinetail Family (Furnariidae)
  • Woodcreeper Family (Dendrocolaptidae)
  • Antbird Family (Thamnophilidae)
  • Flycatcher Family (Tyrannidae)
  • Tityra and Becard Family (Tityridae)
  • Cotinga Family (Cotingidae)
  • Manakin Family (Pipridae)
  • Vireo Family (Vireonidae)
  • Jay Family (Corvidae)
  • Swallow Family (Hirundinidae)
  • Wren Family (Troglodytidae)
  • Dipper Family (Cinclidae)
  • Thrush and Robin Family (Turdidae)
  • Silky-Flycatcher Family (Ptilogonatidae)
  • Wood-Warbler Family (Parulidae)
  • Bananaquit Family (Coerebidae)
  • Tanager Family (Thraupidae)
  • Seedeater, Finch, and Sparrow Family (Emberizidae)
  • Saltator and Grosbeak Family (Cardinalidae)
  • Blackbird, Oriole, and Grackle Family (Icteridae)
  • Goldfinch, Euphonia, and Chlorophonia Family (Fringillidae)
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Appendix A. Costa Rica Conservation Organizations, Research Stations, Birding Groups, and Bird Information Sources
• Appendix B. Wildlife Tourism Sites and Field Stations Referred to in the Distribution Maps
• Appendix C. Costa Rican Trip Preparation Checklist
• Appendix D. Travel Tips for a Successful Wildlife Viewing Trip in Costa Rica
• Appendix E. Eco-misconceptions about Bird Feeding, Flash Photography, and Sound Recordings
• About the Author
• Index