Resplendent Quetzal
Resplendent QuetzalResplendent QuetzalResplendent QuetzalResplendent Quetzal

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Braulio Carrillo National Park
90 Verified records at Braulio Carrillo National Park
March Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) is a small bird found in Central America and southern Mexico that lives in tropical forests, particularly montane cloud forests. They are part of the family Trogonidae and have two recognized subspecies, P. m. mocinno and P. m. costaricensis. Like other quetzals, the resplendent is mostly omnivorous; its diet mainly consists of fruits of plants in the laurel family, Lauraceae, but it occasionally also preys on insects, lizards, frogs and snails. The species is well known for its colorful and complex plumage that differs substantially between sexes. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Braulio Carrillo National Park, based on 90 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Braulio Carrillo National Park

Gartered Trogon

Gartered Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon caligatus

10–20% · With luck
Slaty-tailed Trogon
LC

Slaty-tailed Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon massena

10–20% · With luck
Black-throated Trogon
LC

Black-throated Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon rufus

10–20% · With luck
Lattice-tailed Trogon
LC

Lattice-tailed Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon clathratus

<5% · Rare
Black-headed Trogon
LC

Black-headed Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon melanocephalus

Insufficient data
Collared Trogon
LC

Collared Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon collaris

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
50–60%
2 Irazú Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
40–50%
3 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
40–50%
4 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
30–40%
5 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
6 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
20–30%
7 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
20–30%
8 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
9 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
10 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
11 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
12 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
5–10%
13 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
14 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
15 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
16 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
17 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
18 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
19 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Resplendent Quetzal in Braulio Carrillo National Park?

About 2% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Braulio Carrillo National Park, based on 90 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Resplendent Quetzal in Braulio Carrillo National Park?

March has the highest sighting rate for Resplendent Quetzal in Braulio Carrillo National Park in our monthly data.

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