Biology of the Replendent Quetzal

The Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) lives in Central America, in the countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.

There is another quetzal species, the Eared Quetzal (Euptilotis neoxenus), living in Mexico and the USA. This website concentrates on the Resplendent Quetzal only.

The quetzal is famous for its green elongated upper tail covers, which can be as long as 60 cm. The bird itself is about 35 cm (as big as a pigeon). Its wings are also green, the breast is red, the back blue.

The quetzal lives in dense forests, feeds on fruits growing there.