Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pharomachrus ("mantle") mocinno (for naturalist Dr José Mariano Mociño)

Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Pharomachrus mocinno costaricensis
Weight: 180-210g  /  Length: 36-40cm + 31-100cm tail in males /  Wingspan: 62cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

I feel there are few who would argue that the Resplendent Quetzal is one of the most beautiful bird species on earth, with the males having long flowing irridescent tails that give them a mythic quality. Indeed, they were associated with the feathered serpent deity Quetzalcoatl of Mesoamerican myth and their plumes, taken from live birds which were then released due to laws preventing their killing, were used by rulers and nobility of certain Mezoamerican cultures as a symbol of wealth and power as part of elaborate headdresses and clothes. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Trogoniformes
Family: Trogonidae
Genus: Pharomachrus
SUBSPECIES: P. m. mocinno, P. m. costaricensis
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Quetzal
A scarce cloud forest specialist
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Gartered Violaceous Trogon (Trogon caligatus)

OTHER NAMES: Gartered Trogon, Northen Violaceous Trogon
Latin Etymology: Trogon ("fruit eating") caligatus ("booted")

Gartered Violaceous Trogon (Trogon caligatus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Trogon caligatus sallaei
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 23cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A striking species of trogon  with a vivid cadmium yellow chest, they are sexually dimorphic with the female being otherwise sooty grey with white barring, while the male has rich blue and turquoise tones on head and back, plus a yellow eye ring absent in females. They are more frugivorous than most trogons but still consume invertibrates as part of their diet.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Trogoniformes
Family: Trogonidae
Genus: Trogon
SUBSPECIES: T. c. sallaei, T. c. concinnus, T. c caligatus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish -  Trogón Enligado
A widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and Alajuela

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Trogon ("fruit eating") melanocephalus ("black headed")

 

Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 74-95g  /  Length: 27-28cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the more subdued in colour of the Trogons, but even here with a vivid yellow breast, Black-headed Trogons are at the Southern limit of their range just South of where I saw them in Tarcoles, with the main concentration of it being in the Yucutan and Coastal Areas of Honduras and Nicaragua. They are fairly adaptable as trogons go, prefering forest edges but are not overly fussy about the type of forest ranging from tropical rainforests to dry.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Trogoniformes
Family: Trogonidae
Genus: Trogon
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA  - Spanish - Coa Cabeza Negra
Found in North West Costa Rica
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Several seen around Tarcoles
 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Slaty-Tailed Trogon (Trogon massena)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Trogon ("fruit eating") massena (for individual named Massena)

Adult male Slaty-Tailed Trogon (Trogon massena) at Carara National Park, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Trogon massena hoffmanii
Weight: 140-155g  /  Length: 30-35cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A large species of trogon of Central America, their habitat is the midstory of mature forests of the lowlands. They eat primarily fruit and insects, and have been recorded following groups of capuchin monkeys to catch insects displaced by them. While the male has chest and upperparts in a rich bottle green, in the female this is a steely grey instead.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Trogoniformes
Family: Trogonidae
Genus: Trogon
SUBSPECIES: T. m. hoffmanni, T. m. massena, T. m . australis
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Surucuá Grande Azul ("Great Blue Trogon")
A widespread but uncommon resident of mature forest
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Carara National Park 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.