White-faced Capuchin Monkeys: The distinctive ruff of white fur surrounding the Capuchin's face stares out at us from the tree, its large eyes alert. The monkeys move quickly from branch to branch and jump from tree to tree, sometimes hanging from their tails. They make soft and loud sounds like the yips of a small dog, grunts, clicking chatter, and loud screams when they fight with one another. One Capuchin watches us carefully while others around it feed. If we seem to be coming too close, it gives a signal and they all move on.

Agouti: The Agouti is a rodent, related to the guinea pig, and its fur is reddish-orange and brown. About the size of a large house cat, the Agouti feeds on fruits, nuts, fungi, flowers, leaves, and insects it finds on the forest floor.

Resplendent Quetzal: We are lucky to see and photograph the astonishing Quetzal, which is endangered because of the loss of its habitat. The tufted green crown, shimmering green feathers, bright red breast, and sweeping, long green tail feathers make the male Quetzal a star of the Cloud Forest. While still beautiful, the female is a quieter green with a bit of red on her lower breast.

Emerald Toucanet: This bird uses its wide, long, yellow-topped beak to feed on fruit. The Emerald Toucanet has a blue throat, bright green breast, and red tail.

Blue-crowned Motmot: We see the Motmot's red eye, surrounded by black feathers. The bird's head is bright blue, its breast is red-orange, and body is a vivid lime-green. The Blue-crowned Motmot's eight-inch long green tail feathers end in a separated, flat puff of blue and black feathers. It lives in holes in the side of hills or cliffs.

Orange-bellied Trogon: We hear the trilling call of the Orange-bellied Trogon, and spot it sitting high in a tree. It is green with a bright orange belly and a band of white across its throat.

Black-breasted Wood Quail: We hear the loud call of this endangered quail. As we approach it gets louder, high and low notes from several birds calling in a raucous "song" that can't be ignored. We search with the aid of bird experts Debra DeRosier and Victorino Molina, but the Black-breasted Wood Quail remain hidden in the forest.

Chiriqui Quail: Seven of these dark brown-black quail dart across the trail in front of us.

Gray-Breasted Wood-Wren: About four inches long, the Wood-Wren is brown with a light gray breast and black and white markings on its head. Its song is clear and sweet, and we spot it sitting on a branch and flying between trees.

Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush: A lovely song announces this bird's presence. Black, with a grayish-white breast and orange beak, the Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush seems to be moving into higher elevation habitat.

Common Bush-Tanager: This bird is brownish-yellow with a yellow and white breast and a black-topped head.

Green Violet-ear: A bright green hummingbird, the Green Violet-ear has a slash of purple leading out from its eye.

Collared Redstart: About five inches long, this black bird has a red-topped yellow head, a stripe of black around its throat, and a yellow breast.

Green-crowned Brilliant: Gary sees and photographs the female, which is green with a blue tail.

Brown Jay: This large, drab, brown and white bird was first found in Monteverde in the 1960s. Some people consider them a rapidly increasing invader to the Cloud Forest habitat.

Malacite Butterfly: With open wings, the Malacite shows an intricate pattern of green and brown. When it rests on a plant with wings folded, it looks just like a leaf.

Blue Morpho Butterfly: The bright neon blue wings of the Blue Morpho are edged with black, and seven small white "eyes" look at you from each wing. When closed, the wings are brown, but the eye spots still show.

Juno Butterfly: We see an orange and dark-brownish-black Juno fly by us. When its wings are closed it looks like a dead leaf.