Resplendent Quetzal
Resplendent QuetzalResplendent QuetzalResplendent QuetzalResplendent Quetzal

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Poás Volcano National Park
62 Verified records at Poás Volcano National Park
April 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 →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Poás Volcano National Park, based on 62 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Poás Volcano National Park

Collared Trogon
LC

Collared Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon collaris

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
20–30
Apr
20–30
May
20–30
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
10–20
Sep
20–30
Oct
10–20
Nov
10–20
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 Poás Volcano National Park?

About 18% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Poás Volcano National Park, based on 62 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

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

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