TRULY RESPLENDENT QUETZAL

Is this the most beautiful bird in the world?

It's the quetzal, 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.

Actually, there are five different species of this creature, all neotropical and, except for the resplendent Quezal, not considered threatened.

Along the way, searchers often run into some of its relatives because there are 899 different species of birds that have been seen in the country.

To put that number into perspective, it's nearly equal to the total bird species seen in the continental U.S., though Costa Rica is only the size of West Virginia.

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, besides being commonly seen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, is sometimes observed at Poas (Volcano) National Park and Chirripo National Park, both of which, like Monteverde, are considered among Costa Rica's Seven Wonders, click.

You'll also see them in Costa Rica's newest park, Los Quetzales, a 12,000 acre preserve, much of it high up in a cloud forest.

The nearest community of any size is San Isidro which sits in a lovely tropical valley. The park, on the other hand, is high in the mountains and can be very chilly so be sure to bring your jacket.

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.

Listen for this bird's deep and melodious calls that may echo far through the forest.

Courtesy of National Geographic click to hear Quetzal call.

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