Resplendent Quetzal

The Resplendent Quetzal is one of the most spectacular birds in the Americas, its plumage shimmering with iridescent emerald and golden-green tones across the head, back, and wings, set off by a rich crimson-red breast and belly in the male. A tuft of bristly feathers gives the head a soft, crested look, and the short, stout bill is yellowish in males and darker in females.

The male's most extraordinary feature is his pair of elongated upper tail covert plumes, which trail far beyond the actual tail in a graceful, streaming train that can add well over half a meter to his overall length, a spectacle most dramatic in flight as the streamers ripple and curl in the air. Long revered by Mesoamerican cultures, including the Maya and Aztec, and today the national bird and namesake of Guatemala's currency, the quetzal remains a powerful symbol of the region's cloud forests.

Key field marks

• Iridescent emerald-green plumage over the head, back, and wings
• Crimson-red breast and belly (male); female duller with a grayer breast
• Male's greatly elongated upper tail covert streamers, often exceeding the body length
• Yellowish bill in males, darker in females

Similar species

• Golden-headed Quetzal lacks the male's extremely long tail streamers of the Resplendent Quetzal and shows a more golden, less crested-looking head.
• No other bird within the Resplendent Quetzal's cloud forest range combines its iridescent green plumage with such dramatically elongated tail streamers.

Habitat

Inhabits humid montane cloud forest, generally at elevations between roughly 1,200 and 3,000 meters, favoring areas with abundant wild avocado (Lauraceae) trees.

Range

Found from southern Mexico (Chiapas) through Central America to western Panama, with the largest strongholds in the highlands of Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Migration

Some populations undertake elevational migration, moving to lower elevations outside the breeding season in search of fruiting trees, particularly wild avocados.

Behavior

Often sits quietly and inconspicuously for long periods despite its brilliant plumage; males perform display flights showing off their long tail streamers during the breeding season.

Voice

A soft, low, mournful "keow" or "kyow" call, along with more complex whistled song phrases during the breeding season.

Feeding

Feeds mainly on fruit, especially wild avocados swallowed whole and later regurgitated, supplemented with insects, small frogs, and lizards, particularly when feeding chicks.

Nesting

Nests in a cavity excavated or found in a decaying tree trunk; both parents share incubation, with the male's long tail streamers often folded awkwardly outside the cavity entrance while he incubates.