Resplendent Quetzal

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Resplendent Quetzal

Revered by pre-Columbian cultures throughout Central America, the resplendent quetzal is accurately acclaimed as the most magnificent bird in the western hemisphere and some even say the most beautiful bird on earth. Worldwide, there are some 40 species and ten are found in Costa Rica, making the quetzal truly one of the country’s greatest natural treasures.

Although the female quetzal is beautiful in its own right, it’s the male that bird watchers worldwide want to catch a glimpse of. The pigeon-sized male is indeed elegant with the intensity and brilliant contrasts of his colors, the luster and sparkle of his plumage, the brilliance of his decoration, and the overall aura of seeming to realize it. The breast is a rich crimson that contrasts perfectly with the glistening, iridescent green of his head, chest, and upperparts. Appearing to use a little feather gel, his head is topped with a tapered crest of ‘mohawk-like’ feathers that extends from his small, yellow beak to his nape. Perhaps it’s his central tail coverts that are most notable, which happen to stretch far beyond his tail (almost 2 ft. in length) and, like two slender green adornments, are a sight to behold when he flies.

Resplendent Quetzals are basically fruit-eaters, but they will vary their diet with insects such as wasps, ants, larvae and are also known to dine on frogs.

When the quetzals are not breeding, they usually live alone, but when breeding, monogamous pairs nest in the holes of trees located in mountain forests or in nearby clearings. Similar to a woodpeckers dwelling; the hole extends straight downwards from the opening at the top and is usually deep enough to hide all of the sitting birds except the ends of the male’s tail. The female will lay two pale blue eggs and both parents take turns at incubating. The incubation period lasts approximately 18 days, during which the male will normally incubate the eggs during the day while the female takes the nightwatch. After the eggs hatch, both parents take care of the young, feeding them mostly lizards, insects, and small frogs. More often than not, the female will neglect and even abandon the young before they’re ready to survive on their own, leaving the majority of the child rearing to the male.

The quetzal’s song is exceedingly worthy of a bird so exquisite as its call is fuller and deeper than those of other trogons. Soft and mellow, the sound is so much separated, but slurred and fused that is truly magnificent.

While it is true the resplendent quetzal nest in the mountains and cloud forests of Costa Rica, after nesting between March and July, they migrate down to lower slopes in search of food. Although endangered, the quetzals are still abundant in the regions of well-preserved mountain forests and so long as such forests are preserved, they are in no danger of becoming extinct. If in fact they are destroyed, Central America will lose its most revered and magnificent bird.

So you’d like to spot a resplendent quetzal. Here’s the best places in Costa Rica-

According to all the books, it use to be Monteverde Cloud forest, but there may be a few better places:

Between San Isidro de El General and San Jose, the Interamerican Highway crosses over the Cerro de la Muerte. This is one of the best areas to spot a quetzal. March, April, and May is nesting season for these birds and the best time to see them.

Mirador de Quetzal- fax- 381-8456.

Savegre Mountain Hotel www.savegre.co.cr 740-1028.

Trogon Lodge www.grupomawamba.com/trogonlodge 293-8181

Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge www.dantica.com 740-1067 located near the town of San Gerardo de Dota.