The Resplendent Quetzal is the most colorful and exciting member of the family Trogonidae. It is found from southern Mexico throughout Central America. It's nearly two foot long central tail feathers adorned the royal mantel of the Aztec Emperors and was so prized that only the Emperor was allowed to wear them. Anyone else caught capturing or killing one without permission was put to death. Quetzals as other Trogons, nest in tree hollows in the tropical moist forests at the higher elevations above 500 meters. The Resplendent Quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala and Costa Rica and is portrayed on the currency of both countries. Due to it's delicate nature, it has never been kept successfully more than a couple years in aviculture and never bred in captivity. Courtesy of Emerald Forest Bird Gardens.

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