My photograph of a red-eyed tree frog in Costa Rica was published in The Guardian’s “News Photos of the Day,” on June 30, 2026. The image was photographed during a wildlife photography workshop in the San Carlos canton of Alajuela province, Costa Rica.
Red-Eyed Tree Frog Costa Rica: The Image
The red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) is one of the most recognizable amphibians in the world. It is nocturnal, spending the day motionless on the underside of leaves with its red eyes closed, legs tucked in, and bright blue flanks hidden. At night it becomes active, hunting insects through the rainforest canopy.
The Guardian’s caption describes the behavior captured in the image clearly. The red-eyed tree frog is not venomous. It relies instead on a defense strategy called startle coloration. When disturbed by a predator, the frog opens its vivid red eyes suddenly. The flash of unexpected color startles the predator long enough for the frog to escape. The bulging red eyes, bright orange feet, and blue and yellow flanks all serve this purpose.
The image was photographed in the San Carlos canton of Alajuela province. San Carlos is part of Costa Rica’s northern lowlands, a region of extensive rainforest, wetlands, and rivers that supports exceptional wildlife diversity. It is home to Arenal Volcano and borders Nicaragua to the north. The area is one of the most productive locations in Costa Rica for nocturnal wildlife photography.
The Red-Eyed Tree Frog: Natural History
The red-eyed tree frog is native to forests of Central America and northwestern South America, ranging from Mexico through Central America to Colombia. Its scientific name, Agalychnis callidryas, comes from the Greek words kalos, meaning “beautiful,” and dryas, meaning “tree nymph.”
Despite its vivid coloration, the red-eyed tree frog is not poisonous. Its bright colors likely provide camouflage against surrounding jungle greenery and may provoke a startle reflex in predators, allowing the frog time to escape.
When disturbed, red-eyed tree frogs flash their bulging red eyes and reveal their huge webbed orange feet and bright blue-and-yellow flanks. This technique, called startle coloration, may give a bird or snake pause, offering a precious instant for the frog to spring to safety.
The species is nocturnal. Red-eyed tree frogs sleep on the underside of leaves during the day and are active at night. They are carnivores, feeding primarily on crickets, moths, grasshoppers, flies, and other insects.
The San Carlos Canton: A Premier Destination for Wildlife Photography in Costa Rica
San Carlos is a canton in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica. The canton encompasses a major portion of the San Carlos Plain on the Caribbean side of the Cordillera Central and is noted as the home of Arenal Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The canton is known for its extensive plains, high levels of rainfall, and fertile soils.
The northern lowland rainforests of San Carlos are among the most biodiverse habitats in Costa Rica. The region’s combination of tropical wet forest, wetlands, rivers, and agricultural buffer zones creates ideal conditions for a wide range of species. Red-eyed tree frogs are common throughout the area, particularly near ponds and slow-moving water where they breed.
For wildlife photographers, San Carlos offers year-round access to nocturnal species that are difficult or impossible to find elsewhere. Red-eyed tree frogs, eyelash vipers, keel-billed toucans, scarlet macaws, and king vultures are all present in the region.
Tips for Photographing Red-Eyed Tree Frogs in Costa Rica
Go out at night. Red-eyed tree frogs are strictly nocturnal. They are inactive and well camouflaged during the day. Plan night walks starting around 8pm, when temperatures drop slightly and frog activity increases.
Look near water. Red-eyed tree frogs breed in ponds and slow-moving streams. Vegetation overhanging water is particularly productive. The frogs often descend to low vegetation near ponds during the breeding season.
Use a headlamp with a red light setting. A red light is less disruptive to nocturnal animals than white light. It preserves your night vision and reduces the chance of startling subjects before you can photograph them.
Shoot with a dedicated macro lens. Red-eyed tree frogs are small, and the detail in the eyes, skin texture, and toe pads is extraordinary at close range. A 90mm or 100mm macro lens gives you the working distance to compose carefully without disturbing the frog.
Use flash with a diffuser. Natural light is not available at night. A diffused off-camera flash or a ring flash with a diffuser produces even, soft light that renders the frog’s colors accurately without harsh shadows.
Move slowly and minimise noise. These frogs are alert and will retreat if approached quickly. Slow, deliberate movement and quiet footsteps allow you to get within working distance of a stationary subject.
Red-Eyed Tree Frog Costa Rica: Part of a Wildlife Photography Workshop
This image was photographed during a wildlife photography workshop I led in the San Carlos canton of Costa Rica in late June 2026. The workshop took participants into the rainforest at night to photograph nocturnal species including red-eyed tree frogs, eyelash vipers, and other reptiles and amphibians.
I lead small-group and private wildlife photography workshops in Costa Rica and across Florida. For workshop dates and availability, visit the workshops page or get in touch directly.
View upcoming wildlife photography workshops.
See More of My Published Work
This Guardian feature joins published work in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, National Geographic, BBC, TIME, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and many others.
Ronen Tivony is a wildlife photojournalist, Florida Master Naturalist, and photography workshop leader based in Florida. His images have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, CNN, National Geographic, BBC, TIME, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post, among others.
To book a workshop or inquire about private photography instruction, contact Ronen here or call/text 786-540-9194.