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fresh-peaches:

(via introspectiv-e)

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e-a-r-t-h:

Resplendent Quetza male perched in Cecropia tree.

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animals-animals-animals:

Resplendent Quetzal (by fveronesi1)

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fat-birds:

Resplendent Quetzal (Male) by PiXeL1616 on Flickr.

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t-i-g-e-r-p-r-i-n-c-e-s-s:

Quetzal 

(via burdr)

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allcreatures:

A Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) at ‘El Nido’ (the nest) aviary park in Mexico City. The park is home to 3,000 birds of 350 different species, including this strikingly coloured species which is on the verge of extinction in the wild. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

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landscapelifescape:

Resplendent Quetzal, Savegre, Costa Rica

Magic Bird by juddpatterson

National Geographic Magazine: Quetzal | Pharomachrus mocinno ›

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9092484661:

Until recently, it was thought that the Resplendent Quetzal could not be bred or held for any long time in captivity, and indeed it was noted for usually killing itself soon after being captured or caged. For this reason it is a traditional symbol of liberty. However, a zoo in Mexico has kept this species since 1992, and in 2004 breeding in captivity was announced. —Wikipedia

I grew up with images of this bird all over my house. I was told it couldn’t be held in captivity because it would die without its freedom. u____u Darn you, Mexico.

Photo by spiderhunters @ Flickr.

I love these birds. They were sacred to the ancient Maya people. Hundreds of their tail features went into creating a single headdress, but it was illegal to kill the birds. Instead, you had to wait until they shed a lone tail feather each year.

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landscapelifescape:

San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica

Male Resplendant Quetzal (by kojo_46)

I love quetzal birds. The ancient Maya considered them sacred. Their tail feathers were used in elaborate headdresses, but it was illegal to kill the bird to harvest the feathers. They shed one tail feather a year, and some headdresses used 100’s.