My version of Tropical Birds

So what I mean by this is that it is not an "official" bird designation -- its just that I need a group for this post and it made sense to me. These lovely birds are basically found in the tropics and have interesting plumage!

Motmots - Love these birds! How can you not love a bird with such a cool tail!

Lesson's Motmot - the first Motmot of the trip at the Hotel Garden. This used to be called a Blue-browed Motmot -- no clue why they changed it.

Broad-billed Motmot - We save several of this perched and flying around La Selva. Beautiful and graceful!

Turquoise-browed Motmot - This species was all along the road to the Cerro Lodge

Crakes ++ - No Crakes to be found, but we did see a few of the birds on this page - only photos of one.

Northern Jacana - The cousins of a familiar South African bird - lovely if a bit odd-looking! Even saw some Juveniles...

Toucans - a pretty Iconic bird!

Yellow-throated Toucan - Saw them all over the country, this species used to be called a Chestnut-billed Toucan -- both names are accurate -- you pick! It is even bright and beautiful in the rain.

Keel-billed Toucan - a bit smaller than its cousin, but no less spectacular.

Collared Aracari - my first look was at Cope's -- I love the "toothed" bill -- the better to rip fruit with!

Fiery-billed Aracari - Showed up on my first afternoon in Costa Rica.

Manakins

Long-tailed Manakin - we had a little family of them (note the red feet) at my first hotel.

Trogons

Resplendent Quetzal - did the portrait after I returned -- I did not need to paint this bird to recognize it.

Oooooh that tail!

Wild Avocado -- their favorite snack! They feed their young insects even though they do not eat them - extra protein for growing birds.

It's in the third tree from the break

Other Trogons

Slaty-tailed Trogon - a female in the woods on the Road next to Carara National Park.

Black-headed Trogon - too close to get the whole bird in a photo!

Graceful Black-throated Trogon - again the name -- Graceful, well perhaps, but did not see it fly. I love the tail on this one -- it is almost like it is woven. Also notice that when photographed from the back and you can still see both eyes! From my last morning at La Quinta (not the motel chain) de Sarapiqui!

Note that you can see both of its eyes from the back and the tail feathers actually look woven!

Gartered Violaceous Trogon - Again don't know where the Violaceous (which means Violet?) term came from. It doesn't look violet to me.

Such a privilege to see even a few of these gorgeous creatures!