Resplendent quetzal female

Description:

While in the area of San Gerardo de Dota we monitored for several days the whereabouts of a couple of quetzals which were nesting in a dead tree. This nesting spot has been followed for years and the quetzals in this area are strongly protected and efforts are being made for their repopulation of the area. After long hours of patiently waiting we were regaled by a close spotting of the female which left the nest and posed in a branch for a few minutes before leaving in search for food. As you will see when I add pictures of the male the females pattern is different as she is missing the long green tail typical of the male. The pattern of her tail feathers is more similar to that of other trogons, with white and black stripes. Also at a difference from the male her chest is green below the chin and gray by the underparts. Her crest is also less pronounced. In the last pic you can see her coming out from the nest. When she is in you cannot see her but the male you can see if he is in the nest because his long tail sticks out. They never let the nest alone to prevent predators from attacking their eggs/chicks so they make turns to incubate and search for food. Because this years dry season was too dry (apparently by influences in the Costa Rican weather of El Niño) the aguacatillos did not bear much fruit which forced the female to search for alternative sources of food that including small chicks of other birds species (see very last pic). They told us that this was very interesting behavior which was suspected but for which there is little documentation.

Habitat:

Forested highlands where aguacatillo trees can be found.