Spotted Wood Quail
San Gerardo de Dota
The male spotted wood quail is the same size as the female, but he's more of a chestnut red than a drab brown. Getting the chance to see and photograph these birds up close was well worth the drive up winding mountain roads to San Gerardo de Dota, where the village is practically cut into the side of the Talamanca Range. It's a bit of a slog from the Central Valley, and going down the steep one-lane road to get to the different bird spots can and will burn up your brakes, but the amount and variety of bird life to be discovered there make it a must-visit any time I come through.