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RESPLENDENT QUETZAL Pharomachrus mocinno 36–39cm + male plumes.
Spectacular and distinctive large trogon of mossy cloud forest and humid
highland oak forest, adjacent clearings with fruiting trees. Mainly at mid–upper
levels, where easily overlooked unless vocal. Note broad but slightly tapered tail,
small head, lack of white breast band, gray bill of female. Long plumes of male
blow in breeze and blend well with hanging mosses, ferns; plumes molted in
summer–fall. Imm. male resembles imm. female (bill dark), but with mostly
white underside to tail. SOUNDS: Song (spring–summer) an unhurried series of
(usually 6–15) plaintive, hollow nasal whistles, about 1/sec in subtly paired
cadence, k’yiow k-yowh, k’yiow k-yowh.…In courtship, male gives series of intensifying and fading,
2–3-syllable nasal barks, k-weh k-weh K’Wéh-ka K’WÉH-ka..., including in display flight over and through
canopy; female has a wailing moan, waówhh, 1–1.5 secs. STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon on both
slopes, above 1200m in Northern Mts., above 1500m in Central and Talamanca Mts. Moves locally to
lower elevations in fall, rarely to 500m. (Mexico to w. Panama.)
JACAMARS (GALBULIDAE; 2 SPECIES) Neotropical family of forest and forest
edge birds. Ages similar, sexes differ slightly in Costa Rica; attain adult appearance in 1st year.
Nest in burrows in banks.
RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR Galbula ruficauda 22–23.5cm. Distinctive,
slender, long-billed bird of humid forest and edge, adjacent clearings and
openings, especially with looping vines. Found as singles or pairs, typically
perched at mid-levels on vines or slender branches, bill raised above horizontal.
Sallies for flying insects and often returns to the same perch, where makes about-
face leaps to switch the angle of its prey-seeking vigils. Male has white throat,
female buff. SOUNDS: Loud, shrieking whistled calls often draw attention. High,
shrieking, sharply overslurred wheéuk, often repeated steadily; may suggest
Northern Royal Flycatcher. Faster, ringing series of whistles can end with a
quick chortling trill, whee-whee-whee.…Song (?) a slightly rising then falling series of drawn-out whistles
that accelerate into a short trill. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, to 1200m. (Mexico to S America.)
GREAT JACAMAR Jacamerops aureus 29–32cm. Large robust jacamar of
humid lowland forest, adjacent taller second growth. Mainly at mid–upper
levels, especially in subcanopy; often at light gaps or other semi-open areas
within forest, but overlooked easily unless vocal. Singles or pairs perch quietly
for long periods then sally for prey. Note long stout bill, dark underside to tail;
male has white throat band. SOUNDS: Song a high, descending, whistled
scream, siiieeeeer, 2–4 secs, at times with inflection near start, siii’eeeeeeer.
Plaintive wailing quality can suggest a hawk; cf. scream of Great Black Hawk.
STATUS: Rare and local on Caribbean slope, to 500m. (Honduras to S America.)
