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I examined the patch dynamics of understory birds and fruiting plants in treefall gaps and intact forest sites to determine the importance of gaps in structuring a Costa Rican tropical wet forest community. Understory birds and fruiting plants were censused monthly for 12 mo in 13 gaps and 13 intact forest sites. Of species with adequate sample sizes, 40% of bird species (17 of 42) and 30% of fruiting plant species (10 of 33) were found significantly more often in gaps than in intact forest. In contrast, only 5% of the bird species (2 of 42) and no plant species were found significantly more often in intact forest sites. Frugivorous and nectarivorous bird species were especially common in gaps. Birds of second—growth and forest edge were proportionately more abundant in gaps than were birds of forest interior. Canopy birds were not prevalent in gaps. Plants in gaps tended to produce more fruit over a longer period of time …