QUETZAL 
Deep in the mountain forests of tropical Mexico the quetzal perches motion¬ 
less, except for the gentle swaying of its rounded head. Its upper plumage 
is a bright metallic-green washed with gold; the sunlight, filtering through 
the trees, changes its color here and there to blue. Though this bird is no 
larger than a dove, its tail, hanging almost vertically, is a full three feet 
long. From time to time the quetzal jerks its tail feathers apart, showing 
their rich vermilion and crimson underside. 
Spying a fruit, the quetzal darts through the air to pluck it. Despite 
iis extended tail, its flight through the trees is swift and direct although it 
seldom flies more than a few feet. As it flies, its splendid colors flash in 
the sunlight. 
The tail plumes of this beautiful bird were used by the Aztec emperors 
as insignia of their rank. When caught, the birds were not allowed to be 
killed; their tail feathers were merely extracted. Since the Spanish conquest, 
they have been constantly hunted for their plumes, with the result that they 
are extinct in some regions and are limited in others to the most inaccessible 
heights. Today, however, they are protected by the Mexican government. 
In addition to fruit, the quetzal eats lizards, caterpillars, small crabs, 
insects and land snails. This royal bird frequently clings to a tree like a 
woodpecker; its feet are not well adapted for climbing and not at all for 
walking. Its note is a soft whee-oh , slowly increasing in volume. Some 
authorities say it is loud though not unpleasant, while to others it is dis¬ 
tinctly dissonant. 
The female quetzal lacks the elongated tail feathers of her mate and 
is in general less brilliantly colored. She lays two greenish-blue eggs each 
year. The young are a dull brown color, mingled with some white and 
black. 
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