Birds · Trogoniformes · Trogonidae

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The quetzal, also known as the resplendent quetzal, quetzal, Mesoamerican quetzal or Central American quetzal, is a small bird found in southern Mexico and Central America that lives in tropical forests, particularly montane cloud forest. They belong to the trogon family (Trogonidae) and have two recognised subspecies, P. m. mocinno and P. m. costaricensis. The quetzal is mainly omnivorous; its diet consists primarily of fruit from plants of the family Lauraceae, but it also feeds occasionally on insects, lizards, frogs and snails. It developed during the geological period known as the Cenozoic, specifically during the Eocene, which ran from roughly 56 to 34 million years ago.

Weight

180 g – 210 g

Size

36 cm – 1.1 m

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

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Fun facts

reproducciónIn the breeding season males grow tail streamers that can exceed a metre in length, held sacred by several ancient Mesoamerican cultures.
The Aztecs and Maya held its feathers to be more valuable than gold, and killing a quetzal was punishable by death: the birds were caught alive, their tail feathers pulled out and then released.
It is the national bird of Guatemala, appears on the country's flag and coat of arms, and the national currency is named after it.
Its nest always has two entrances, and the male incubates with his tail folded over his back and the very long feathers sticking out of the hole, waving outside the trunk.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Montane cloud forests of Mesoamerica, between 1,200 and 3,000 metres of altitude
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 18 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 2 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharomachrus_mocinno