Resplendent Quetzal Facts: Habitat, Diet and Range

The resplendent quetzal is one of the most beautiful birds in the world, with iridescent emerald plumage, a crimson belly and, in males, extraordinarily long tail streamers. It lives in the cloud forests of Central America.

Interesting facts

Only males have the long, shimmering green tail streamers.
It is the national bird of Guatemala.
Quetzals swallow small wild avocados whole and regurgitate the pits, helping forests regenerate.
When a male sits in the nest hole, his tail often sticks out of the entrance.
Its feathers were worn by Maya and Aztec rulers.
Its green colour comes from the structure of its feathers, not from pigment.

Behaviour

Quetzals are often seen perching quietly in the forest canopy. They catch fruit on the wing, hovering briefly to pluck it, and move seasonally up and down the mountains following fruiting trees.

Breeding and young

Pairs dig or enlarge nest holes in rotting trees. The female lays one or two eggs, and both parents incubate them for about 18 days. Chicks fledge after about three weeks.