TRULY RESPLENDENT QUETZAL
Is this the most beautiful bird in the world? It's the quetzal and it's certainly exotic and. . . so tropical. Every year, thousands of people who travel Costa Rica make it a point to visit Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in search of this resplendent creature. Along the way, they run into some of its relatives because there are 894 different species of Costa Rica birds. Add five more to the list, all found in 2009! Seems like even birds enjoy Costa Rica vacations.
    The name comes from an Aztec word referring to its precious and beautiful tail feathers which can reach 3 feet (one meter) in length. This magnificent bird has contributed to an increase in Costa Rica tourism for there are many folks who travel Costa Rica solely to look for this favorite of photographers. It prefers damp mountain and cloud forests and is commonly seen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Poas (Volcano) National Park, Braulio Carrillo National Park, and Chirripo National Park, several of which are considered among
Costa Rica's Seven Wonders, click.
You'll usually see them high in the canopy but if you happen to take a Costa Rica vacation during mating season (theirs), you might be treated to very impressive courting displays with the male spiraling high above the treetops only to plunge into the canopy with its magnificent tail feathers trailing.
Return from Resplendent Quetzal to Costa Rica Animals here Return to Costa Rica Vacations homepage here
New! Costa Rica Vacations SiteSearch!Looking for something in particular on this site? Want to know more about things to do on your Costa Rica vacation? Or find ALL the pages about attractions to take in when you travel Costa Rica? Just enter your word or phrase in our new SiteSearch box and we'll help you find it. Custom Search
|
