Costa Rica - Shetzers Photography

Birdwatching of Resplendent Quetzal perched with a grasshopper iBirdwatching photo of Resplendent Quetzal perched on a mossy, lichen covered branch with a grasshopper in its beak. This avian has been honored through the ages. Also referred to as the Guatemalan Quetzal, it is a symbol of that nation and even their currency, the quetzal, bears reverence to this bird.

Sacred as well to the Mayans and Aztecs, priests would use their feathers during religious ceremonies. The highlands of Costa Rica provide splendid birdwatching opportunities such as this to capture wildlife images at their rawest. Image taken during a Costa Rica photo tour.

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Night photography of two Red-eyed tree frogs on red flowerNight photography of red-eyed tree frog pair on red-coned flower. In the cloud forests of Costa Rica, these tree frogs delight in the nighttime hours. An iconic figure, these amphibians are disbursed prominently along the coastal Atlantic lowlands. With their neon-green bodies and red peepers contrasted by the dark forest background, these frogs search for food.

Known in Spanish as Rana Ojos Rojos, or red-eyed frog, these nocturnal carnivores will wait for a meal of insects. Stalking prey concealed by this red flower, they use their long, sticky tongues to get their quarry. This frog picture was captured during a night photography session on our Costa Rica photo tour.

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Red-Eyed Tree Frog in Costa Rica on pink flowerRed-Eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas) holds on to a flower in Costa Rica. The Red-eyed tree frog is also know as a red-eyed leaf frog or gaudy leaf frog.

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Royal Flycatcher with colorful crest closeupHummingbird image of Royal Flycatcher displaying colorful crest. This hummer is perched on a forest branch in the Cordillera de Talamanca region of Costa Rica. She is adorned with a yellow crest, seen here attracting a mate.

Researchers note four species of Royal Flycatchers, this is the Northern species residing throughout central America. Those impressive crowns of this royal avian family are rarely seen making this an exquisite hummingbird image. Sitting prominently, she faces the camera for a beautiful front perspective in this closeup picture. Taken on one of our Costa Rica photography workshops.

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Female Purple-throated mountain-gem hummingbirdA female Purple-throated mountain-gem hummingbird (Lampornis calolaema) rests amongst purple flowers in Costa Rica, Central America.

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Hummingbird perched on Banana FlowerA hummingbird perches and drinks on a banana flower in lush forests of Costa Rica.

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Purple-throated mountain-gem hummingbird of Costa RicaA Purple-throated mountain-gem hummingbird extends it tail to drink the nectar from a flower in Costa Rica.

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Volcano hummingbird in flight with purple flowersBirdwatching with Volcano hummer feeding on purple blossoms. Called Colibris locally, this species is native to the mountains of Costa Rica. From a recent birdwatching trip to the Cordillera de Talamanca province, this image shows a Volcano inflight dining on nectar from this bushel of hanging purple flowers.

This feathered friend is fluttering its wings upwards of 80 beats per second. That expression of energy demands high energy food. The nectar from these flowers would make for diabetes-inducing dinners for most humans with a high concentration of sugar. Not for these avians whose hearts beat around 1,200 times per minute.

Marvelous action shot during a birdwatching excursion from our Costa Rica photo tour.

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White-throated mountaingem perched in Costa RicaCosta Rican bird image of White-throated Mountaingem. A closeup shot of a perched avian on a curvaceous forest leaf. These tiny birds live only in the highlands of western Panama and southern Costa Rica. Seen here in the Cordillera de Talamanca region, this hummingbird makes its home in a relatively small yet vastly complex ecosystem with great biodiversity.

A mountain gem indeed, these birds prefer colder montane forests to feed, nest, and mate. This bird image shows a male of the species noted by his green crown, white throat feathering, and postocular white steam. A brilliant picture of this Costa Rican bird at rest, detailing his subtle iridescent plumage offset by the green foliage of the cloud forest.

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Colorful nature image of Red-eyed tree frog posingHere a red eyed tree frog stages itself on a pink flower in this Costa Rica nature image. The folds of this forest flower hold these vibrantly colored Amazon tree frogs as they wait to ambush a meal. Animal picture snapped near province of Talamanca in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica WaterfallWater pours in an ancient volcanoes caldera in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rican Red Eyed Tree Frog posing in wildlife photography seA red eyed tree frog poses in beautiful Costa Rica for a wildlife photography shoot. As if knowing it is being photographed, this stark closeup frog picture shows the beautiful coloration of this amphibian. See the blues and yellows along its flank, the bright orange hands and feet, and the huge red eyes giving this frog its namesake.

Many researchers believe the red eyes of this tree frog were adaptations to scare off would-be predators. Called Startle Coloration, when this anuran displays its brightly colored features this may shock a predator long enough for this species to escape. Hard to find wildlife photography opportunities like this anywhere else in the world. Image taken near the Cordillera de Talamanca region of Costa Rica, along the Atlantic lowlands.

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Costa Rican ToucanA Costa Rican toucan poses up close and personally displaying all of its vibrant colors.

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Green breasted Mango hummingbirdA female Green-breasted Mango in flight. By photographing the hummingbirds with a slow shutter speed, their fast moving wings are blurred.

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Magnificent hummingbird in Costa RicaCosta Rican bird image of Refulgent hummingbird feeding on nectar. A closeup inflight photo of this brightly shining bird hovering as it begins to feed. These avians are attracted to sweet scented flowers which denotes a high sugar yielding nectar. With over 1,200 heartbeats per minute, they require a high energy diet. The cloud forests of Costa Rica provide this in abundance as the low evaporation rate allows for plentiful foliage. Not to be confused with a rain forest, a cloud forest is a moisture rich biome giving way to enhanced biodiversity. These and other Costa Rican birds are readily pictured on our photography workshops.

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Masked Tree FrogA Masked Tree Frog hangs from a branch in Costa Rica. If you've heard of Grumpy Cat, here is Grumpy Frog.

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Three-toed Sloth in Costa RicaA Three-toed sloth hanging around. This sloth was photographed at a rescue center in Costa Rica.

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White-nosed coati from Costa RicaA white-nosed coati (Nasua narica), also known as coatimundi photographed in the forests of Costa Rica.

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Wildlife photography of Red-eyed tree frog in Costa RicaWildlife photography of a peeking Red eyed tree frog on leaf in Costa Rica. What a spectacular closeup frog picture of this little one! Here its lime green skin are highlighted, allowing it to blend in with its environment. That is when its large red eyes are closed. Tree frogs actually have an extra inner eyelid they use to cover their eyes while also still being able to see. Being approximately 1-3 inches in length gives this frog the ability to hide amongst the vibrant foliage of the cloud forest. Near the Talamanca mountain range of Costa Rica, wildlife photography is at its peak! This diverse biome grants amazing opportunities every moment for unique images and lasting memories.

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Costa Rican bird photo of Magnificent Hummingbird inflight feediMagnificent hummingbird feeding while hovering in this bird photo from Costa Rica. This female of the species is quite magnificent as she hovers serenely sipping the nectar from this forest flower. Referred to by the locals as Colibris, these hummingbirds and others roam in abundance throughout the volcanic region known as the Cordillera de Talamanca. Costa Rica has over 50 different species of hummingbirds, some endemic only to this tropical country. Bird photo taken during a forest foray from a recent photography workshop in Cost Rica.

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Female Green breasted Mango hummingbirdA female Green breasted Mango hummingbird flies next to a red and yellow flower in Costa Rica.

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Green hermit hummingbird in flight with flowerA Green hermit hummingbird (Phaethornis guy) feeds from a local flower in Costa Rica.

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Red-Eyed Tree Frog holds onto colorful flowerA Red-Eyed Tree Frog holds on to a colorful red and yellow flower in Costa Rica.

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Resplendent Quetzal bird image from Costa Rica photo tourConsidered one of the most beautiful avians in the world, this bird image of the Resplendent Quetzal was captured during one of our Costa Rica photo tours. Seen here, El Quetzal's tail feathers are in full view as it sits on a lichen covered forest branch. The Mayans revered this bird as a symbol for light and peace.

The tail feathers were adorned by royalty for the Incans, Mayans, and Aztecs alike. Reaching between 28 inches to 3 feet long and bearing a brilliant iridescent coloring, its no wonder why their plumage was royalty approved. This noble bird image was photographed in the Talamanca mountain region.

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Violet sabrewing hummingbird flying with purple flowersInflight bird picture of Violet Sabrewing hummingbird with purple flowers in background. This action image was taken in Costa Rica. A male of the species, identified by the glimmering deep violet plumage on his head and neck. Notice the feather coloring transition from violet, to green, to blue. Remarkable picture of this hummingbird inflight!

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Wildlife photography of Three toed sloth close up in Costa Rica.Nice closeup wildlife photography of smiling Three-toed Sloth in Costa Rica. Showing off three claws to distinguish it from its two-toed brethren, this sloth does what it does best, hang!

Those claws make for uneasy ground locomotion, so these animals mostly roam in the trees. That is where the beauty of those claws come to work, making hanging out and eating a breeze. Referred to as Brown-throated three-toed sloths by some scientists, these creatures spend most of the life upside down.

They even have a unique cervical structure allowing them 300 degree of neck rotation. Think of them as having the ability to turn their head like an owl. The great biodiversity in the forests of Costa Rica presents amazing opportunities for wildlife photography. Image taken during our photo tours.

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Blue-gray tanager in Costa RicaA Blue-gray tanager perches in the lowlands of Costa Rica.

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Costa Rican bird image of perched Blue-gray TanagerOne of many Costa Rican birds, this Blue-gray Tanager perches on a branch with softened pink flowers in the background. Found in the humid Atlantic lowlands, this bird stands aloft showcasing its light bluish gray plumage. This adult Costa Rican bird image closeup was taken during one of our recent photography workshops.

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Green breasted Mango hummingbird in Costa RicaA female Green breasted Mango hummingbird in Costa Rica hummingbird flares its tail as it is about to drink from a flower in Costa Rica.

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Red-eyed Tree frog in Costa RicaA Red-eyed Tree frog in Costa Rica on a Red flower.

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Violet-crowned woodnymph hummingbird in Costa RicaA Violet-crowned wood-nymph hummingbird in Costa Rica drinks from a local flower in the rain forest.

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Bird image of White-throated mountaingem perched in Costa RicaBeautiful closeup bird image of White-throated mountaingem perched on Costa Rican foliage. See up close the white gorget, or throat patch, and postocular white steam on this gem of a bird. Bird image captured in the cloud forests of the Cordillera de Talamanca region in Costa Rica. Stock Image #20170411-163527

Bird picture of Magnificent hummer in flight with orange flowerA closeup action bird picture of this Magnificent hummer feeding inflight. Magnificent indeed! See the light bluish iridescent feathering on its face. The straight beak allows this avian to dine easily on these cloud forest flowers. Bird image taken on our Costa Rica photo tour.

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Birdwatching photography of Royal flycatcher with crestBirdwatching in Costa Rica of Royal Flycatcher with yellow crest. Stationed on a viny branch, this female Northern Royal Flycatcher gazes in to the tropical forest. The crest helps to determine the gender of these avians. Females have a yellow fan-shaped crest, and males have a red colored crest. This is also where the term "royal" comes into play. The colorful crests of these hummingbirds, seen on birdwatching excursions, is what makes them royal. Using them for courtship rituals, preening, and shows of power for territory and food, the crest is normally resting flatly upon their heads.

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Blue Jeans Frog on mossA Blue-jeans Frog or Strawberry Poison-dart Frog posed on a mossy log in Costa Rica.

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