Resplendent Quetzal
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Giles_Laurent" title="User:Giles Laurent">Giles Laurent</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
NameResplendent Quetzal
Common NameResplendent Quetzal
Scientific NamePharomachrus mocinno
FamilyTrogonidae
Wingspan (cm)33
Length (cm)38
Weight (g)195
Plumage DetailsMales exhibit brilliant iridescent green plumage on the head, back, and wings, with a vibrant crimson breast and belly. The undertail coverts are white, and they possess a distinctive bristly crest and extremely long, flowing green upper tail coverts (streamers) that can extend up to 60 cm beyond the tail. Females are duller, lacking the long streamers and having a greyish-brown head and breast.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a soft, low, mournful 'whee-o whee-o' or 'kyow kyow' call, often repeated. They also produce a chattering alarm call when disturbed.
Primary Dietfrugivore
Primary Habitatscloud forest, montane forest, humid evergreen forest
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeFound in the cloud forests of southern Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and western Panama.
Identifying Featuresiridescent green plumage, crimson breast, long flowing tail streamers (males), bristly crest (males), yellow bill (males), white undertail coverts
Description
The Resplendent Quetzal is a strikingly beautiful bird, renowned for its iridescent green plumage and crimson breast. Males possess exceptionally long, flowing tail streamers, making them one of the most visually spectacular birds of the Neotropics. They are typically found perching quietly in the mid-story of cloud forests.
