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Resplendent Quetzal
Field guide
bird · CR

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Add photoLog sighting
Overview

The green-and-scarlet emblem of the cloud forest, tail streaming behind.

The Aztecs and the Maya prized its feathers above gold, and it still gives Guatemala both its national bird and the name of its currency. The green is not pigment but structure, microscopic layers in the feather splitting light, which is why a bird that looked emerald on one branch turns deep blue-violet on the next. The male grows two uppertail coverts that trail well past half a metre, streaming behind him in flight and curling out of the nest hole while he sits. He is easy to walk past. Quetzals perch still and upright for long stretches, facing away, and the green back against wet leaves is close to perfect camouflage; most people find their first one because a guide heard the call, a soft rising and falling whistle, long before anyone saw the bird. Look for movement at the fruiting wild avocados in the first two hours of light.

Behaviour

Breeds in old woodpecker holes and rotten trunks; both parents incubate, the male's streamers curling out of the cavity like ribbon. Altitudinal migrant following fruit.

Diet

Wild avocados swallowed whole and the stone coughed back up, a dispersal deal the laurel forest depends on; insects, small frogs and lizards feed the chicks.

Photography

600mm or more, from cover, and let the bird come to the tree rather than walking it down. Overcast cloud-forest light suits the plumage better than sun, which blows out the scarlet breast.

Ethics

Never play recordings during nesting season.

Where you'll find them

Generalised encounter areas, not exact locations. Each shape is a grid cell coloured by how likely the species is there.

  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 3552 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 539 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 636 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 831 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 459 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 387 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 159 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 128 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 122 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 19 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 38 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 226 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 3381 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 513 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 580 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 863 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 508 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 244 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 90 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 142 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 87 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 89 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 35 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 86 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 144 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 1597 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 293 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 298 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 411 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 229 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 88 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 42 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 18 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 29 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 32 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 29 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 44 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 84 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 462 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 88 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 68 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 66 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 60 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 78 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 18 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 30 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 24 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 133 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 33 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 24 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 35 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 29 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 123 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 26 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 33 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 23 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 114 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 16 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 25 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 43 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 21 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 108 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 35 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 31 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 90 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 27 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · high confidence · 88 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 22 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 33 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 57 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 12 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 48 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 40 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 18 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 28 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 17 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 24 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 20 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 16 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 17 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 17 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 15 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 15 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Rare
  • Costa Rica
    25 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
    Rare
Sensitive species. Exact locations are withheld and coordinates are generalised to protect populations.
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