In Costa Rica, resplendent quetzals inhabit high-altitude cloud forests throughout the country, most notably in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Los Quetzales National Park, and the Talamanca Mountains. These birds are commonly sighted in areas such as San Gerardo de Dota and the Savegre Valley, typically residing at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 metres. The subspecies present in this region is Pharomachrus mocinno costaricensis, which is distinct from the Mexican subspecies, Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno, in several physical and genetic ways. Generally, the Costa Rican quetzal is slightly smaller and lighter than the Mexican variety, possessing shorter wings and a smaller bill. The most noticeable difference is found in the male's long tail plumes, which are significantly shorter and narrower in the Costa Rican birds compared to those in Mexico and Guatemala.