Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🐦 Quetzals and Bellbirds in the CloudsMonteverde Cloud Forest Reserve protects 10,500 hectares of pristine cloud forest along the Continental Divide in Costa Rica's Tilarán mountain range — one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. The reserve shelters over 400 bird species including the iconic Resplendent Quetzal, the endangered Three-wattled Bellbird, and 14 species of hummingbirds that visit feeders at the entrance.
10.304° N 84.800° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Resplendent Quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno
★ 
Three-wattled Bellbird
Procnias tricarunculatus
★ 
Northern Emerald-Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus prasinus
★ 
White-nosed Coati
Nasua narica
📊 Most Spotted
Side-striped palm pit viper
Bothriechis lateralis
Brown Jay
Psilorhinus morio
Lesser Violetear
Colibri cyanotus
Central American Agouti
Dasyprocta punctata
Lesson's Motmot
Momotus lessonii
Southern House Wren
Troglodytes musculus
Slate-throated Redstart
Myioborus miniatus
Purple-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis calolaemus
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Stripe-tailed Hummingbird
Eupherusa eximia
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Central American White-faced Capuchin
Cebus imitator
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Central American Agouti
Dasyprocta punctata
Central American White-faced Capuchin
Cebus imitator
Variegated Squirrel
Sciurus variegatoides
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
Choloepus hoffmanni
Mantled Howler Monkey
Alouatta palliata
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine
Sphiggurus mexicanus
Collared Peccary
Pecari tajacu
Kinkajou
Potos flavus
Red-tailed Squirrel
Sciurus granatensis
Central American Spider Monkey
Ateles geoffroyi
Central American Dwarf Squirrel
Microsciurus alfari
Chiriqui Olingo
Bassaricyon gabbii
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Resplendent Quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno
★ Three-wattled Bellbird
Procnias tricarunculatus
★ Northern Emerald-Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus prasinus
📊 Most Spotted
Brown Jay
Psilorhinus morio
Lesser Violetear
Colibri cyanotus
Lesson's Motmot
Momotus lessonii
Southern House Wren
Troglodytes musculus
Slate-throated Redstart
Myioborus miniatus
Purple-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis calolaemus
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Stripe-tailed Hummingbird
Eupherusa eximia
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Keel-billed Toucan
Ramphastos sulfuratus
Common Chlorospingus
Chlorospingus flavopectus
Violet Sabrewing
Campylopterus hemileucurus
📊 Most Spotted
Side-striped palm pit viper
Bothriechis lateralis
Emerald Swift
Sceloporus malachiticus
Humble Anole
Anolis humilis
Central American Boa
Boa imperator
Decorated Anole
Anolis insignis
Chicken Snake
Spilotes pullatus
Border Anole
Anolis limifrons
Green Rat Snake
Senticolis triaspis
Puffing Snake
Phrynonax poecilonotus
Common House Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
Ctenosaura similis
Stream Anole
Anolis oxylophus
📊 Most Spotted
Warszewitsch's Frog
Lithobates warszewitschii
Pygmy Rain Frog
Pristimantis ridens
Giant Marine Toad
Rhinella horribilis
Rufous-eyed brook frog
Duellmanohyla rufioculis
Golden-groined Robber Frog
Pristimantis cruentus
Forrer's Grass Frog
Lithobates forreri
Emerald Glass Frog
Espadarana prosoblepon
Meadow Tree Frog
Isthmohyla pseudopuma
Masked Tree Frog
Smilisca phaeota
Drab Tree Frog
Smilisca sordida
Fitzinger's Robber Frog
Craugastor fitzingeri
Red-eyed Treefrog
Agalychnis callidryas
Recent sightings in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Resplendent Quetzal Breeding Season
The male Resplendent Quetzal grows tail streamers up to a meter long and blazes emerald and crimson as pairs excavate nest holes in decaying trees and court along the cloud forest ridges. Watch for them near fruiting wild avocado trees, a favorite food that draws them into the open.
2Three-wattled Bellbird Season
Male Three-wattled Bellbirds gather on high canopy perches to deliver an ear-splitting metallic 'bonk', the three fleshy wattles dangling from the bill quivering with each call. Their booming voices carry across the ridges, making them far easier to hear than to spot.
3Neotropical Migrant Bird Season
Waves of northern songbirds pour into the cloud forest to escape winter, brightening the understory with Wilson's Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers creeping along trunks, and rich-red Summer Tanagers. Mixed feeding flocks make this one of the liveliest times for birders.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Resplendent Quetzal Breeding Season
- 2Three-wattled Bellbird Season
- 3Neotropical Migrant Bird Season
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
I spotted a Central American Agouti at the Coati Treehouse, and while in the reserve we got a fleeting glimpse of a Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey in the treetops, a White-Nosed Coati just off the side of the trail, and most notably a lone Collared Peccary in a secluded section of the reserve.
We saw several animals including kinkajou (also known as a honey bear, a small rainforest-dwelling mammal), porcupine, and armadillo; some sleeping birds; a green viper; and several impressive bugs.
We saw venomous snakes, a colourful toucan, multiple birds (many of whom looked like headless puff balls as they were sleeping), and even a sleeping howler monkey with her baby.
One evening we took a night walk in the rain forest where our guide disclosed hidden creatures we never would have observed such as tarantulas, scorpions, kinkajous, palm pit vipers above our heads, opossums, sleeping Mot Mots, sloths, walking sticks, leaf cutter ants and numerous frogs.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?
The most likely sightings are White-nosed Coati (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Side-striped palm pit viper (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Brown Jay (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Lesser Violetear (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), Central American Agouti (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers) — among 1205 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve for wildlife?
February has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Resplendent Quetzal in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?
Yes — about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Resplendent Quetzal sighting in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, based on 3,715 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Three-wattled Bellbird in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?
Yes — about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Three-wattled Bellbird sighting in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, based on 2,217 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Northern Emerald-Toucanet in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Emerald-Toucanet sighting in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, based on 8,031 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see White-nosed Coati in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a White-nosed Coati sighting in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, based on 949 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
ExcellentHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
Very goodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
