A bird you don't see every day

[Mike-PDX]

I just spent two weeks in Costa Rica. Saw lots of amazing new - to me - birds and other critters. This bird is a Resplendent Quetzal. We first spotted it's nest in this tree. The male bird was home at the time. All you can see of it is it's long tail feathers flapping around in the breeze. The book says they can be up to 30" long - I believe it!

Quetzal-1 by Mike-PDX, on Flickr

Then the female showed up and the male got his chance to stretch his wings. Here he is leaving the nest:

Quetzal-2 by Mike-PDX, on Flickr

He hopped around a nearby tree, always showing us his backside.

Quetzal-3 by Mike-PDX, on Flickr

At last, he hopped to a branch that gave me a relatively clear shot!

Quetzal-4 by Mike-PDX, on Flickr

All I can say is that the colors are fairly accurate. I didn't enhance them at all. What an experience! This bird is very elusive, and many birders go to Costa Rica without ever seeing one. I felt very lucky.

 

[Christine]

Oh he is beautiful!!!

 

[JaniceL]

Nobody does birds like Costa Rica. Awesome.

 

[fiznatty]

Mike, good stuff. I was down there all of February leading a couple of tours, including two to Savegre (which is where I assume you photographed this guy?). During the first tour the male and female were in the area but hadn't settle in yet, but by the time I returned later in the month, they were occupying the nest.

I'll try to share some of my Costa Rica images here when I have time.

Max

 

[Mike-PDX]

Thanks everyone for the comments. I felt very lucky to get a decent shot of this guy. The other Quetzal sightings we had were very distant and fleeting, and were not at all photo-worthy.

Max, you were right on with the location. We stayed at the Savegre Lodge in San Gerardo de Dota. This particular nest was a short walk from the lodge right next to a fish hatchery on the Rio Savegre.