Neotropical Bird-Eating Snake

Description:

This snake appeared to be around 5 feet long and easily climbed up and down tree trunks. It had a tapered tail, slender build, black eyes, and its head was rectangular and at most 4cm wide. Scale pattern seemed irregular, with color variation between individual scales, and scales were smooth. It was first spotted a few meters from the sandy beach, then it slithered up and down a few logs and finally climbed into a tree (the last two photos).

Habitat:

The photos were taken in a partially shaded area in close proximity to both the ocean, a small stream, and the rainforest of the Corcovado National Park.

Notes:

A local who was with us at the time said he wasn't sure of the species but that it might be a rat snake. It is probably from the family Colubridae. The third photo is the best view of the head. EDIT: It turns out this snake is a bird eater - makes sense with all the tree-climbing action! I found another link with some more photos showing the huge variety in this species as well as color changes within individuals. Common names for this species include Neotropical Bird-Eating Snake, Dos Cocorite, and Puffing Snake.