Resplendent Quetzal male in flight, Pharomachrus mocinno costaricensis, Costa Rica, by Konrad Wothe
FEATURED SPECIES
The Resplendent Quetzal
The Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) is one of the most beautiful birds in the world, known for its stunning plumage. Males have intense iridescent green / blue feathers over most of their body with a red breast and long emerald tail. Females have duller colors with hints of gray and bronze and a significantly shorter tail barred with black and white.
The resplendent is endemic to tropical forests in Mexico and Central America. It is an omnivore that primarily eats fruit from laurel trees while occasionally preying on amphibians and reptiles.
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno costaricensis) male in tropical rainforest, Costa Rica, Central America, by Konrad Wothe
The Resplendent Quetzal is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. There are less than 50,000 individuals remaining in the wild, with loss of habitat threatening today’s survivors.
This small elusive trogoniform is the national bird of Guatemala, it is important as a seed disperser, and it is a flagship species that is important to local economies. Saving this beautiful species should be on top of everyone’s conservation list.
The Resplendent Quetzal
Photographs by Konrad Wothe
