BIRD OF THE WEEK — RESPLENDENT QUETZAL — PLANET EARTH BIRD WORLD group

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BIRD OF THE WEEK

RESPLENDENT QUETZAL

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 the Golden-headed Quetzal and Haiti’s national bird, the Hispaniolan Trogon.

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