The Quetzal - Sacred Bird of The Aztecs

A golden headed quetzal.

       The quetzal of Guatemala has a most interesting history. The Maya Indians sang of its beauty, and because the quetzal was the emblem of their ''god of the air'' its fame has been preserved in legend. Today the bird is loved and honored as the national emblem of Guatemala.  That country has even issued postage stamps bearing the picture of its famous inhabitant. In spite of its long history, few persons beside the natives of the highlands of Guatemala had seen a live quetzal until recently.

       When the Spaniards invaded Mexico in the sixteenth century, they were amazed at the civilized customs and spacious cities which they found there. One of the most beautiful spots in the country was the royal garden of the king, Montezuma. There were strange trees with fragrant blossoms, and flying about among the branches were many bright-colored birds. Here were kept the quetzals that had been captured alive by Indians from the far southern corners of Montezuma's realm. The tail pendants were removed, and then the birds were released in the king's garden, while the feathers were used to make robes and cloaks for the king.

       One of the prominent Aztec heroes was Quetzalcoatl. According to the legends, he taught arts and crafts, government, and religion to the Indians. He adopted quetzal plumes for his magnificent crowns, and pictures represent him as wearing a curious head-dress from which stream the long, green tail pendants of the quetzal. Later Quetzalcoatl became a "god" and the golden-green quetzal became his sacred bird. Quetzal plumes were adopted as the emblem for all rulers, whether gods, kings, or high priests. Hence, among the Mexicans quetzal feathers became more valuable than gold.

       With the coming of the Spaniards the Aztec priests and rulers were killed and the temples which had been erected to the old gods, such as Quetzalcoatl, were destroyed. The Spaniards wanted only gold, so the hunters no longer searched for the quetzal and the lovely gardens of Montezuma were abandoned. Only the ancient songs and legends, remembered by the older Indians, remained to tell the story of the hero Quetzalcoatl and his sacred bird.

       This sacred bird of the Aztecs is not much larger than a pigeon. Its coloring is brilliant. The upper feathers are iridescent green, sometimes changing to blue. The head feathers are elongated to form a crest, the flight feathers in the wings are long and glossy black, while the higher wing feathers (coverts) are golden green. The tail coverts are green; sometimes the middle pair are over one yard in length. The under parts of the bird are vermilion. The female does not have the long tail feathers. Although less resplendent than her mate, she, too, is beautiful because of her green, brown, and vermilion coloring.

       The quetzal is found only in the cloud forests of Middle America, from southern Mexico to northern Panama. These forests cover the mountains on the Pacific side of Guatemala. Sunlight seldom penetrates the leaves above the forest floor, and misty clouds drifting up the mountain side keep everything in perpetual dampness. Tree ferns, air plants, dwarf palms, and orchids grow in abundance, while huge vines and aerial roots overhang the trails. Few naturalists have visited the region and comparatively few museums exhibit mounted specimens of the quetzal.

       Quetzals nest from June to October in a hollow tree about forty feet above ground. Very little is known about their nesting habits, but it is believed that they lay two greenish-blue eggs which are probably incubated by both parents. It becomes quite cool in the mountains at night and since the young are hatched without feathers, the mother bird continues to enter the nest as long as the young need to be kept warm. At the age of six weeks, the fledglings leave the nest.

       Quetzals belong in the trogon group of tropical birds. Before the ice age trogons lived as far north as France. With the coming of the glaciers over the northern hemisphere, these birds moved south in search of food and a warmer climate. Trogons have never resumed their former range in the temperate regions, although the great ice sheet has retreated to the arctic zone. Pabst

 Laurent Michaud captured

the quetzel in video!