SCIENTIFIC NAME:Pharomachrus mocinno POPULATION: Approximately 50,000 individuals. IUCN STATUS: Near Threatened TREND: Decreasing HABITAT: Montane cloud forest.
The Resplendent Quetzal is an unforgettable sight, with shimmering plumage of metallic blues, greens, and reds. Males also have a crest of bristly golden-green feathers and during breeding season, grow elongated uppertail feathers that form a long, flowing train.
This spectacular species belongs to the trogon family, a group of colorful, fruit-eating birds found in the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Other family members include theGolden-headed Quetzaland Haiti’s national bird, theHispaniolan Trogon.