Costa Rica's wetlands, mangroves, and river deltas host a striking mix of long-legged wading birds, with the White Ibis being among the most common — often seen probing mudflats with its curved bill in large, noisy flocks, especially in the Caribbean lowlands and around Tortuguero and Palo Verde National Park. Alongside them, several egret species share the same habitats: the Great Egret, tall and pure white with a yellow bill; the Snowy Egret, smaller with a black bill and bright yellow feet it uses to stir up prey in shallow water; and the Cattle Egret, often found far from water, following livestock to snap up disturbed insects. These birds frequently forage together in mixed flocks at places like Caño Negro, Palo Verde, and the Tempisque River basin, taking advantage of the country's rich wetland ecosystems that flood seasonally and concentrate fish, crustaceans, and amphibians — making Costa Rica one of the best places in Central America to observe both ibises and egrets up close in the wild.
