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| Resplendent Quetzal |
Resplendent Quetzal Interesting Facts with Pictures
There are so many colorful birds that make their nests in dense forests. These birds are very beautiful to look at and their iridescent colors attract us to see them. Today we are going to know about a beautiful bird named Resplendent Quetzal.
There are many symbolic facts associated with Resplendent Quetzal and this bird has great significance in Mesoamerican mythology. Being the national bird of Guatemala, Resplendent Quetzal appears on the flag and coat of arms of Guatemala. Let's know about this bird and start this article,
Where Are Resplendent Quetzal Found
The Resplendent Quetzal is known as the largest bird in the trogon family native to the cloud forests in Central America. Resplendent Quetzal can be seen from southern Mexico to western Panama. There are two subspecies of Resplendent Quetzal in the world namely Pharomachrus mocinno and Pharomachrus mocinno costaricensis.
Resplendent Quetzal birds are an important part of Mesoamerican mythology and it is also the national bird of Guatemala. Resplendent Quetzal bird is found in countries like Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama etc.
Scientific Name Of Resplendent Quetzal
The scientific name of Resplendent Quetzal is Pharomachrus mocinno and the birds are found in mountain forests from southern Mexico to western Panama. Resplendent Quetzals are known to be weak flightless birds and can be found inhabiting vegetated ravines, open areas with scattered trees, and grasslands in Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica.
Habitat Of Resplendent Quetzal
These beautiful birds are found in the mountainous, tropical forests of southern Mexico and Central America. Apart from this, Resplendent Quetzal live in the mountainous forest area. But Resplendent Quetzal is also found in open areas with vegetation, ravines, scattered trees and pastures.
Resplendant Quetzal are solitary birds which means that these birds like to live alone. Resplendent Quetzal gather in large numbers on just one tree while feeding and these birds are found in pairs only during mating season.
How Resplendent Quetzal Look Like
Resplendant Quetzal as the name of this bird suggests are beautiful colored birds with red breasts and they are known for their colorful body. Most of which is green color, but Resplendent Quetzal is green to gold or blue to purple color, iridescent with red color on their breasts.
As light strikes the body of the resplendent quetzal, their feathers can glow in a variety of colors such as cobalt, yellow or ultramarine. Resplendent quetzals have green tail coverts that hide their tails. Male resplendent quetzals have particularly spectacular tails that are longer than their bodies.
Male resplendent quetzals also have a helmet-like crest. The feather-covered beak is yellow in males and black in females. Resplendent quetzals have a strong beak that is short. Resplendent quetzals have olive-grey feet with four toes on each foot. Females are more muted in tone than breeding male resplendent quetzals.
Resplendent quetzals are considered one of the most spectacular birds in the world and male birds have feathers on their backs, heads and necks. Which are iridescent green while the breast is bright red. The beak of the male Resplendent Quetzal is orange in color and has a slight downward curve. While the beak of the female bird is brown in color.
What Do Resplendent Quetzals Eat
Resplendant Quetzals are mostly considered as fruit eating birds. But Resplendent Quetzals also eat insects, wasps, ant larvae, frogs, and lizards in their diet. Resplendent Quetzals mostly eat during the afternoon time. Resplendent Quetzals birds gather in flocks on a tree and eat the fruits.
Resplendant Quetzals are not migratory like other birds and Resplendent Quetzals birds remain calm when it is sunny or windy. Resplendent Quetzals are fond of wild avocado and laurel fruits. Resplendent Quetzals swallow the fruit whole and feed during the afternoon time. Resplendent Quetzals use the method of hovering and stalling to select a fruit. Read- 10 Animals Of The World Are Expert In Changing Color
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Size And Weight Of Resplendent Quetzal
The length of Resplendent Quetzal is about 15 to 16 inches and the length of tail is 24 inches and the weight of Resplendent Quetzal is about 210 grams. The body length of male birds excluding tail feathers is up to 36 cm i.e. 15 inches. Apart from this, the feathers of Resplendent Quetzal appear shining during light such as green, yellow, bright colors are seen.
Male Resplendent Quetzal has extraordinary tail feathers which can be up to 3 feet long and reach the back of the body. Resplendent Quetzal has a crest of golden green feathers on top of its head. Resplendent Quetzal are very beautiful birds which are famous for their colorful feathers and the female birds have much less impact as compared to the male birds. Female birds are dull and have a short tail.
How Resplendent Quetzals Communicate
Resplendent Quetzals are noisy birds. Resplendent Quetzals can be heard calling during cloudy and misty afternoons. Resplendent Quetzals are mostly quiet during sunny or windy times.Resplendent Quetzals have a trebled song. Resplendent Quetzals have six distinct calls that have been recorded.
How Fast Can Resplendent Quetzals Fly
Resplendent Quetzals are weak fliers. Resplendent Quetzals with colorful plumage are mostly sedentary birds found on tree branches.
Resplendent Quetzals Nests
Resplendent Quetzals are monogamous which means that these birds stay with the same partner for life. The breeding season of Resplendent Quetzals is from March to August. Resplendent quetzals breed seasonally from March to April in Mexico, May to June in El Salvador and March to May in Guatemala.
Resplendent quetzals build their nests up to 61 meters above the ground and mostly use nests abandoned by woodpeckers. The female bird lays 2 pale blue eggs in a nest placed in a rotten tree hole and both parents alternate incubation which lasts about 18 days.
The male bird incubates the eggs during the day and the female bird incubates them at night. Both parents care for the young and they are fed fruits, berries, insects, lizards and small frogs. But the female bird often neglects and even abandons the young at the end of the rearing period.
The care of the young is left to the male bird until they are ready to survive on their own. Resplendent Quetzal chicks begin flying after 3 weeks of age and for males, their long beautiful tail feathers take up to 3 years to develop.
How Many Resplendent Quetzals Are There In The World
According to the IUCN Red List, the conservation status of resplendent quetzals is near threatened and the habitats of these birds are being declared as protected areas in many countries as resplendent quetzals are attractive species for bird lovers and eco-tourists.
Also due to habitat loss in cloud forests, hunting for feathers and illegal trade, the population of resplendent quetzals is under threat and their numbers are continuously decreasing which is a matter of concern. Read- Royal Flycatcher | Fun Facts About These Beautiful Birds
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How Long Do Resplendent Quetzals Live
Resplendent quetzals can live up to 10 years and up to 40 years in good care. These bird species cannot survive for a long period due to poaching for feathers by trophy hunters. Resplendent quetzals are a near-threatened species of birds.
Behavior Of Resplendent Quetzal
Resplendant Quetzal are not dangerous birds at all. In fact Resplendent Quetzal are an endangered species and concentrated efforts are needed to preserve them.
Interesting Facts About Resplendent Quetzal
1. How rare is Resplendent Quetzal?
Due to habitat loss in the cloud forests, hunting for the feathers of these birds and illegal trade, the population of Resplendent Quetzal is endangered and their numbers are declining which is a matter of concern.
2. What is the significance of Resplendent Quetzal?
Resplendant Quetzal has great significance in Mesoamerican mythology and being the national bird of Guatemala it appears on the flag and coat of arms of Guatemala.
3. How many resplendent quetzals are left?
Experts estimate that there are about 50,000 resplendent quetzal birds left in the world and the resplendent quetzal is endangered due to deforestation and habitat loss.
4. What is the resplendent quetzal known for?
The resplendent quetzal is an aptly named bird and is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful birds in the world.
5. Can quetzals fly?
Resplendent quetzals are weak fliers and these birds with colorful plumage are mostly sedentary birds found on tree branches.
6. What is the sound of the resplendent quetzal?
Resplendent quetzals are usually quiet during sunny or windy times. The songs of the resplendent quetzal are trilling. The resplendent quetzal has six distinctive calls that are recorded.
7. What is the diet of the resplendent quetzal?
The resplendent quetzal is known to be exclusively fruit eaters and apart from that it also eats insects, wasps, ant larvae, frogs and lizards in its diet.
8. How long do resplendent quetzals live?
Resplendent quetzals can live up to 10 years and up to 40 years in good care.
9. What do resplendent quetzals look like?
Resplendent quetzals as the name of this bird suggests are beautiful colored birds with red breasts and are known for their colorful bodies. Most of which are green but resplendent quetzals are green to gold or blue to purple, iridescent with red on their breasts.
10. How big is a resplendent quetzal?
The length of the resplendent quetzal is about 15 to 16 inches and the length of the tail is 24 inches. The weight of this bird is about 210 grams.