Resplendent quetzal

The Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno De la Llave, 1832) is a bird with truly splendid (emerald green and red) plumage and a marked sexual dimorphism whereby the males external tail feathers can reach a length of 105 centimetres. It’s only to be found in the tropical rainforests of Central America (between 1,000 and 3,000 metres above sea level) in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

The Resplendent quetzal plays an important role in the religious lives of native populations in Mexico and Central America (including among the Aztecs and Maya) where it has long been considered sacred and gave rise to the myth of the god Quetzalcóatl (“The winged serpent” in the ancient Nahuatl language). Its long tailfeathers were used to make elaborate headdresses and crowns of feathers to be worn by important dignitaries and high priests. This bird was also chosen as an emblem of the struggle to protect the rights of indigenous populations and in present-day Guatemala the local currency is still named the ‘quetzal’. 

Extensive deforestation in Central America has resulted in loss of habitat and the bird is listed as Near Threatened. The species, which has a high value for ecotourism, is protected in all of the countries where it originates.