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Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Near Threatened · IUCN Red List

NTNear ThreatenedFruitForestCavity nestMedium · 202 g
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), photo 1
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC0
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), photo 2
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC0
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), photo 3
Photo: Ariannis Pitti · CC BY 4.0
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), photo 4
Photo: Anthony Batista · CC BY 4.0
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), photo 5
Photo: D.Hatcher · Public domain
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), photo 6
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Stavenn assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY 2.5
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), photo 7
Photo: ryanacandee · CC BY 2.0
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), photo 8
Photo: James M. Maley · CC BY 4.0
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), photo 9
Photo: James M. Maley · CC BY 4.0
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), photo 10
Photo: gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K · CC BY 2.0

ID tip

The resplendent quetzal is the largest trogon. It is 36 to 40 cm (14–16 in) long; in the nominate subspecies, the tail streamers measure between 31 cm (12 in) and 100.5 cm (39.6 in), with the median being 75 cm (30 in) for males. The nominate subspecies weighs about 210 g (7.4 oz), while the subspecies costaricensis is slightly smaller than the nominate race, with shorter wings and bills. The tail plumes are shorter and narrower, measuring between 32 cm (13 in) and 86 cm (34 in), with the median being 63 cm (25 in).

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Resplendent Quetzal

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 9 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is March, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Resplendent Quetzal

Regular range

The map shades 7 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Costa Rica Panama Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua El Salvador

About the Resplendent Quetzal

The resplendent quetzal is a small bird found in Central America and southern Mexico that lives in tropical forests, particularly montane cloud forests. They are part of the family Trogonidae and have two recognized subspecies, P. m. mocinno and P. m. costaricensis. Like other quetzals, the resplendent is mostly omnivorous; its diet mainly consists of fruits of plants in the laurel family, Lauraceae, but it occasionally also preys on insects, lizards, frogs and snails.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps) Golden-headed QuetzalPharomachrus auricepsThe golden-headed quetzal weighs between 154-182g. Crested Quetzal (Pharomachrus antisianus) Crested QuetzalPharomachrus antisianusAdult birds are 33–34 cm (13–13+1⁄2 in) long. White-tipped Quetzal (Pharomachrus fulgidus) White-tipped QuetzalPharomachrus fulgidusVoice: Hilty and colleagues (1986) describe the voice as a loud kirra, or kirra, kip, and when excited kier, kip-kip-kip-a.

Side by side: Golden-headed Quetzal vs Resplendent Quetzal · Crested Quetzal vs Resplendent Quetzal · Resplendent Quetzal vs White-tipped Quetzal

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