Reflections of the Natural World

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ABOUT THIS SPECIES

RESPLENDENT QUETZAL – (Species Account Blog #100)

TAXONOMIC TREE:  

• ORDER: Trogoniformes,
• FAMILY: Trogonidae, Trogons
• BINOMIAL NAME: Pharomachrus mocinno

Across time and cultures, the Resplendent Quetzal has been heralded for its great beauty. With an iridescent green sheen and uppertail covert feathers longer than its entire body, the bird has attracted much attention from pre-Columbian peoples, ornithologists, collectors, market hunters, and birders. (from Birds of the World)

SIMILAR SPECIES

The bushy crest (due to elongated feathers of the crown and nape) of both sexes of the Resplendent Quetzal and the extremely long tail coverts of the male make the species unique in its family. No other quetzal species overlaps with the Resplendent Quetzal in its range.

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION

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PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES

In Costa Rica we observed 3 Resplendent Quetzals in 2 different locations. The first two were on purpose and after a very long, uphill walk in the Copay hills. The second sighting was a very fortuitous encounter while eating lunch at the Alma de Arbol Restaurant.

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PHOTO GALLERY

**Some of these Photo Gallery images (all taken by me) have been taken in other nearby countries.

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RECENT BLOG POSTS

View the five most recent Birds & Birding in Costa Rica series blog posts below.

• A Streak-headed Woodcreeper Feeds its Offspring Near the Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica
• PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
• SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
• HOFFMANN’S WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
• BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding