The glorious quetzal

A photographic encounter with an elusive bird of the cloud forests of Costa Rica, the resplendent quetzal.

 

A male quetzal. Depending on the sunlight, the bird can sparkle in a variety of colours and shades.

The quetzal is a solitary bird except during the mating season. The female (left) is not as striking as the male.

A female quetzal.

A male quetzal checking out a man-made nest.

Montezuma oropendula.

Clay-coloured thrush, the national bird of Costa Rica.

Yellow-throated toucan.

King vulture.

Keel-billed toucan.

Green honeycreeper.

The verdant landscape of the Talamanca Nature Reserve.

John Anthony.

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Resplendent quetzal (male).