Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno costaricensis)

28 January 2009, Savegre Mountain Hotel, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica It is pronounced "ket-saal." This cooperative male kept returning to the same fruiting tree, but it was a challenge to get the entire bird in the frame. This iconic species is much sought after. The male has extraordinarily long uppertail coverts which hang well beyond the tail. In display, the males raise their tails rhythmically and the four streamers bounce up and down. Elongated saw-toothed wing-coverts extending over the sides of the breast can be seen here. Also the bizarre bushy crest of the male extends forward to the base of the bill. These large cavity-nesting trogons are endemic to Middle America from Southern Mexico to Western Panama were they prefer damp mountain forests. Two subspecies are recognized. This is the southern race, P. m. costaricensis characterized by slightly smaller size and shorter, narrower uppertail covert plumes compared to the more northerly nominate race. This species has declined in many areas due to deforestation and poaching for plumes and the pet trade. It is considered "near threatened" by CITES. Savegre is home to the Quetzal Education Research Center of Southern Nazarene University. http://www.snu.edu/qerc Panasonic DMC-LZ5 / Nikon FieldScope 3 / 30X WA hand-held (no adapter)