top: Male Quetzal from afar; middle: nest hole; bottom: female with food near nest hole
Resplendent usually refers to Costa Rica’s icon, the Resplendent Quetzal. It could also refer to the entire country, which lives up to the term that means shining, dazzling and brilliant.
Although often seen in Costa Rica, the Resplendent is Guatemala’s national bird. The name Quetzal derives from the Aztec word “quetzalli” for things that are precious or beautiful. Only Aztec royalty were allowed to wear Quetzal plumes.
Recently, I had the good fortune to host a Naturalist Journey to Costa Rica http://www.naturalistjourneys.com/. There we saw 230 species of birds, along with myriad flora and fauna, ranging from Howler Monkeys to Green Iguanas, Basilisk Lizards, Caimin, White-collared Peccaries and butterflies. We saw Quetzals too – a total of six – in two different locations. It was my first time seeing this magnificent bird. No amount of photos, videos or descriptions can prepare you for the way these birds appear in their native habitat. Seeing a Quetzal is an awe-inspiring experience!
The most ornate members of the Trogon family, Resplendent Quetzals inhabit tropical rainforests and nest in holes they drill in soft, decaying tree snags. Their diet is comprised of 80% wild avocados, with the balance made up with lizards and insects. According to National Geographic, the population of Quetzals is threatened throughout most of its range, except in Costa Rica: “In some areas, most notably Costa Rica’s cloud forests, protected lands preserve habitat for the birds and provide opportunities for ecotourists and eager bird watchers from around the globe.”
Costa Rica’s conservation efforts are indeed impressive:
· 25% of the country, roughly the size of two Vermonts, is protected for its habitat values
· Costa Rica has a national organization that inventories its biota: The National Biodiversity Institute
· Costa Rica ranked first among the Americas in a 2012 Environmental Performance Index
· Costa Rica ranked the greenest country in the world according to the New Economics Foundation
May we all learn from Costa Rica’s example. In the meantime, have a quetzalli day!
