How to find a
Across time and cultures, the Resplendent Quetzal has been heralded for its great beauty. In the Aztec mythology, there was Quetzalcoatl, "The Feathered Serpent". The Aztec word, quetzalli, was used for this bird's tail feathers, and also meant "precious", or "beautiful". With an iridescent green sheen and uppertail covert feathers longer than its entire body, the bird attracted much attention from pre-Columbian peoples, ornithologists, collectors, market hunters, and birders. Ancient Aztec and Maya Indians believed that the robin-size Quetzal protected them in battle; it was their Holy Bird. The nobility of these indigenous groups used the bird's long streamer-like feathers for headdresses and cloaks. Chroniclers report that they did not kill the birds for the feathers, instead they caught them alive, had the plumes removed, and then returned them to the wild to grow new ones.
The adult male's head, neck, and chest are iridescent or golden green; the green may appear bluish in darker light. The lower breast, belly, and undertail coverts are bright red. The greater wing coverts are elongated with black at the ends, and the greater secondary and primary wing coverts and the six middle rectrices are black. The three outer rectrices are white with black shafts and black or gray bases. The thigh feathers are black, with lower ones showing some green. The feathers on the head form a crest, from the forecrown to the rear of the head. The uppertail coverts, also green, are greatly elongated beyond the tail. The coverts cross above the end of the tail.
The appearance of the female is duller and less dramatic. The crown, head, back, scapulars, wing coverts, rump, and uppertail coverts are iridescent, golden green. The crest feathers are less developed than the male. The uppertail coverts of the female do not extend beyond the tip of the tail. Belly and sides mostly gray; undertail coverts red. The tail is black with the three outer rectrices on both sides barred in white and black. The primaries are edged with buff. The throat is gray-brown. The thighs are black with the gloss of green as in the male. The immature male is somewhat brighter and its bare parts appear the color of the adult male. The immature female is bronzer to dull green than the adult female, and its bill is more yellowish. The rectrices of the immature male and female are more pointed than the adult female.
The Resplendent Quetzal is found in southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, northern Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and western Panama. The Quetzal ranges from 1,000-3,300 meters in elevation. Its nonbreeding habitats are believed to be lower and more diverse. The phenology and distribution of the Lauraceae (wild avocado family) appear to determine the timing and direction of the seasonal, altitudinal movements of the Quetzal. The Resplendent Quetzal prefers montane evergreen forest (cloud forest). It is believed the Quetzals preferred cloud forests in which the trees are 30-45 m tall. Places the Quetzal has been seen in Costa Rica are Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Volcan Poas National Park, Braulio Carrillo National Park, and Chirripo National Park.
The song of the Resplendent Quetzal is a series of deep, smooth, slurred notes in simple patterns: keow kowee keow k'loo keow k'loo keeloo... often strikingly melodious. While walking, it may be missed if you are not quite. Take your time while walking, if you hear a small sound or notice a movement, check it out. Even if it is not a bird, it could be another small interesting animal.
The best time to see the Quetzal is in the dry season, which lasts from December to April. In addition, Quetzals are most likely to be seen in the early hours of the morning. But if you are lucky and have patience, you can find them at any time of day or the year.
There are many paid guides that will help you find a Quetzal. There are single day or multiday tours of bird watching throughout Costa Rica. Most of the tour guides have been bird watching for 10-30 years. There is no need to worry about language barrier because many guides know multiple languages.
The guides know how to identify many different birds by their song. They will take the tour in one direction, even if you do not see the bird; they know it is there. Also, they know where to find different birds at different time of the seasons. They also have excellent birding equipment, including spotting scopes, so you can hopefully witness the Quetzal up close and personal. Going with a guide will not only increase the odds of finding a Quetzal, it will immerse in the culture because they may show you around local spots.
This data represents the various species of birds and at what elevation they live within the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Central Highlands Region of Costa Rica. It is a cloud forest, not a rain forest, due to its elevation of 4,724 ft (1,440 m) above sea level.
