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Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing quetzals. These iconic birds are well known in their region as some of the most splendidly colored species gracing the forest canopy. These birds come in bright green, iridescent hues with males sporting startling red bellies. There are currently five described species in the quetzal genus. Sometimes a sixth species is considered which is classified in a separate genus. This sixth species is also commonly known as a trogon. All quetzals are trogons as they're all part of the trogon family, but they stand apart by their green, iridescent feathers, long tails, and long wing coverts.

Quetzals live from Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil depending on the species. Their range is not a continuous expanse but rather fractured forests and tree canopies. These birds live in highland habitats, like cloud forests, with high humidity and trees over 150 feet (46m) tall. They live from half a mile (800m) above sea level to two miles (3,200m) up in the mountain tops. The fragmented nature of their habitat, and the lack of study on their populations, could mean these birds are impacted by habitat destruction. Quetzals need rotting trees and tree cavities in which to build their nests; without these places, they face dire consequences. It's possible there are more than five quetzal species, as well. Because their range is made up of pockets of usable habitat, some populations have been separated for many generations. More research could lead to new findings about how exactly these birds should be classified.

Quetzals reach about 15 inches (38cm) in body length on average, but this amount doesn't account for their tails. Male and female quetzals can be told apart because females are not as brilliantly colored and males have longer tails. In the same way a bell bird's beard can be longer than his body, a resplendent quetzal’s tail can more than double his body length - though they don't reach quite as long in other species! These tail feathers are used for display to attract a mate and are molted at the end of the breeding season each year.

Quetzals are believed to form monogamous pairs. Males call to attract females. Here are some quetzal calls. The breeding season lasts from the beginning of the year until mid-year and both parents take part in incubating the eggs and caring for the chicks. Nests are dug out of rotting trees or pre-existing cavities are taken over. The female lays two sky blue eggs on average that hatch about three weeks later. A month after that the babies are able to fly. It's when they're at this age they're the most vulnerable to predation. Predators to quetzals include squirrels, hawks, eagles, toucans, and more. It's unknown how long quetzals live in the wild, but they've reached more than 20 years old in captivity.

Outside of the breeding season, during the other half of the year, quetzals live alone. These birds prefer fruit as their main source of food. They eat berries and drupes and have a specific preference for the laurel family fruits that look like little avocados. This behavior is important because quetzals are seed dispersers. They don't remain at a tree for very long, and when they woof down their meals they swallow the seeds, too. These are later regurgitated away from the original tree at which they were eaten, so the seeds are spread through the quetzal's range! When fruit is less abundant, they'll also eat insects like beetle grubs and caterpillars as well as lizards and frogs.

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