Resplendent Quetzal
Resplendent QuetzalResplendent QuetzalResplendent QuetzalResplendent Quetzal

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
40–50% · Likely
overall probability at Irazú Volcano National Park
265 Verified records at Irazú Volcano National Park
October 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 →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Irazú Volcano National Park, based on 265 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Irazú Volcano National Park

Collared Trogon
LC

Collared Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon collaris

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

50–60
Jan
50–60
Feb
40–50
Mar
40–50
Apr
30–40
May
30–40
Jun
30–40
Jul
10–20
Aug
20–30
Sep
60–70
Oct
30–40
Nov
50–60
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 Irazú Volcano National Park?

About 45% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Irazú Volcano National Park, based on 265 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Resplendent Quetzal in Irazú Volcano National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Resplendent Quetzal in Irazú Volcano National Park in our monthly data.

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