ML417731121

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

We arrived at the farm soon after hearing, but not being able to see quetzals further up the road. A male was spotted in the trees shortly after we walked up the hill to the observation spot. Several minutes later, he dropped down to an unobstructed, eye-level, bromeliad-adorned perch across the path from us and proceeded to rest there for more than 10 minutes. He would not fit in my camera frame if he were any closer! An unreal combination of colors, starting with a bright yellow-orange bill, lime-green head and breast with an olive tint at the edges of its punky feathers, a luscious velvet-red front showing a dark-to-light gradient going down, light blue iridescence on the wings, white undertail, and aquamarine shades on its impossibly long, truly resplendent tail swaying in the wind. This did not look like a bird, but more like a plush toy imagined by a child. A truly mythical, legendary creature. Easily one of the top nature experiences in my life.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

Lens

500.0 mm f/5.6

ISO

900

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/125 sec

Dimensions

3737 pixels x 2488 pixels

Original file size

5.61 MB