Resplendent Quetzal
Quetzals are in the trogon family and are birds of the highlands. Their favorite food is avocados, and we saw four quetzals in an avocado tree -- two adult males, one young male, and an adult female. They have thin skin that tears easily, which is a reason they have thick plumage. They nest in tree cavities, and both the male and female raise the young. From going in and out of the cavity, the male's long plumes usually get knocked off, so most male quetzals seen during the summer lack the plumes. The male quetzal has unusually long green feathers covering his wing. You can also see feathers that appear blue around the neck. The color of some of the quetzal's feathers depend upon how the light is hitting them. Costa Rica has created reserves to protect quetzals, but poachers still try to trade in both feathers and live birds.
Resplendent Quetzal
Quetzals are in the trogon family and are birds of the highlands. Their favorite food is avocados, and we saw four quetzals in an avocado tree -- two adult males, one young male, and an adult female. They have thin skin that tears easily, which is a reason they have thick plumage. They nest in tree cavities, and both the male and female raise the young. From going in and out of the cavity, the male's long plumes usually get knocked off, so most male quetzals seen during the summer lack the plumes. The male quetzal has unusually long green feathers covering his wing. You can also see feathers that appear blue around the neck. The color of some of the quetzal's feathers depend upon how the light is hitting them. Costa Rica has created reserves to protect quetzals, but poachers still try to trade in both feathers and live birds.