Costa Rica is home to 16 of the world's approximately 330 species of parrots. Parrots are predominantly green with brightly-colored markings. They are known to be smart birds and can imitate the human voice. The red-lored parrot travels Costa Rica in large groups but mates monogamously for life. Two species of macaws live in Costa Rica, the scarlet macaw (bright rainbow colors) and the Buffon's macaw (slightly smaller and green). Macaws are the largest of the parrots, they are very loud and they nest in softwood trees. Macaws eat mainly nuts and seeds. There are more of them living in captivity than in the wild but they can still be spotted in Costa Rica.
The motmot lives not in a nest but a hole in the ground. They have sickle bills, feathers of striking colors and are said to be easier to find than the elusive yet brightly colored Costa Rican favorite, the quetzal. A distinguishing feature of the motmot is its tail feathers which looked like they have been stripped away, partially leaving a small clump of feathers at the very end. Motmots can be found in the southwest coastal plains, highland zones and the Guanacaste region which is very dry.
The white-throated magpie jay is found in Nicoya and Guanacaste regions. The magpie jays boast a combination of white and blue feathers with a crest of darker feathers which curl forward. They are bold and noisy birds and often beg for food from tourists. Magpie jays often travel in flocks which can be easily spotted.
Tourists make a point of watching for the brightly colored quetzal. The quetzal belongs to the trogon family and is one of 10 species found in Costa Rica. It flaunts a variety of colors, generally two at a time. The quetzal is a relatively small bird (comparable to a pigeon) which eats insects, small frogs and lizards. The male quetzal is known for its punkish hairstyle and bright colors. The quetzals can be spotted in the highland parts of Costa Rica in the cloud forests.
