Lauraceae are the predominant canopy trees in the northern mountains, while oaks are dominant in the upper montane forests of the southerly Cordillera de Talamanca.
[4][3] Laurels and oaks are the predominant canopy trees in the lower montane forests, growing up to 40 meters high.
Quercus copeyensis is the most common oak, and other common canopy trees include Mollinedia viridiflora, Trichilia havanensis, Ardisia glandulosomarginata, Chrysochlamys allenii, Billia hippocastanum, Damburneya salicina, Quetzalia occidentalis, Guarea tonduzii, Alchornea latifolia, Meliosma glabrata, Miconia platyphylla, Lozania mutisiana, Ocotea austinii, and Ocotea holdridgeana.
There is a diverse understory of trees, including Rhamnus oreodendron, Drimys granadensis, Miconia schnellii, Zanthoxylum scheryi, and Ilex pallida, and species of Weinmannia, Viburnum, Vaccinium, Styrax, Symplocos, Clusia, Araliaceae, Lauraceae, Melastomataceae, and Myrsinaceae.
The dwarf bamboo Chusquea talamancensis is predominant in the shrub layer, growing densely to 6 meters high.
The tree Comarostaphylis arbutoides grows densely near the upper forest limit (approximately 3,200 meters elevation) on the Pacific slope.
The Talamanca hummingbird (Eugenes spectabilis), glow-throated hummingbird (Selasphorus ardens), volcano hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula), scintillant hummingbird (Selasphorus scintilla), fiery-throated hummingbird (Panterpe insignis), white-bellied mountaingem (Lampornis hemileucus), purple-throated mountaingem (Lampornis calolaemus), white-throated mountaingem (Lampornis castaneoventris), magenta-throated woodstar (Philodice bryantae), coppery-headed emerald (Microchera cupreiceps), white-tailed emerald (Microchera chionura), black-bellied hummingbird (Eupherusa nigriventris), yellow-green brushfinch (Atlapetes luteoviridis), black guan, buff-fronted quail-dove (Zentrygon costaricensis), Chiriqui quail-dove (Zentrygon chiriquensis), black-breasted wood quail (Odontophorus leucolaemus), Costa Rican pygmy owl (Glaucidium costaricanum), bare-shanked screech owl (Megascops clarkii), orange-bellied trogon (Trogon collaris aurantiiventris), prong-billed barbet (Semnornis frantzii), red-fronted parrotlet (Touit costaricensis), sulphur-winged parakeet (Pyrrhura hoffmanni), silvery-fronted tapaculo (Scytalopus argentifrons), streak-breasted treehunter (Thripadectes rufobrunneus), ruddy treerunner, (Margarornis rubiginosus), bare-necked umbrellabird (Cephalopterus glabricollis), black-capped flycatcher (Empidonax atriceps), dark pewee (Contopus lugubris), ochraceous pewee (Contopus ochraceus), golden-bellied flycatcher (Myiodynastes hemichrysus), yellow-winged vireo (Vireo carmioli), silvery-throated jay (Cyanolyca argentigula), ochraceous wren (Troglodytes ochraceus), timberline wren (Thryorchilus browni), black-faced solitaire (Myadestes melanops), black-billed nightingale-thrush (Catharus gracilirostris), sooty thrush (Turdus nigrescens), black-and-yellow silky-flycatcher (Phainoptila melanoxantha), long-tailed silky flycatcher (Ptiliogonys caudatus), golden-browed chlorophonia (Chlorophonia callophrys), sooty-capped bush tanager (Chlorospingus pileatus), sooty-faced finch (Arremon crassirostris), yellow-thighed finch (Pselliophorus tibialis), yellow-green finch (Pselliophorus luteoviridis), large-footed finch (Pezopetes capitalis), golden-bellied flycatcher (Melozone leucotis), volcano junco (Junco vulcani), wrenthrush (Zeledonia coronata), flame-throated warbler (Oreothlypis gutturalis), black-cheeked warbler (Basileuterus melanogenys), collared whitestart (Myioborus torquatus), black-thighed grosbeak (Pheucticus tibialis), blue-and-gold tanager (Bangsia arcaei), spangle-cheeked tanager (Tangara dowii), peg-billed finch (Acanthidops bairdi), slaty flowerpiercer (Diglossa plumbea), and dusky nightjar (Antrostomus saturatus) are endemic or near-endemic to the ecoregion.