The quetzal, also known as the bird of the gods, is certainly one of the most beautiful birds in Costa Rica. Its tail feathers are up to 30 inches long and the shimmering green-red plumage is simply an eye-catcher. Thousands of years ago the Aztecs and the Maya worshiped this unique bird and believed it had favorable properties. Those who caught and killed a quetzal were punished with death. Today, numerous people are looking for the bird of the gods and if you want to find him you have to go as far as Central America’s cloud forests in the highlands.
In Costa Rica you have a good chance to spot this beautiful bird between January and July. Only in the dense green cloud forests of Costa Rica can the Quetzal survive because in the humid air dead tree trunks become rotten faster so the Quetzal can easily set up its breeding cave. In addition, its main food grows here, a small avocado about the size of a gooseberry which it devours whole. Unfortunately, the cloud forest continues to dwindle due to deforestation and the expansion of agricultural land, so that the quetzal has hardly any untouched areas left. In addition, it is still illegally hunted by poachers because of its beautiful tail feathers. Since the year 2000 it has been on the red list of the IUCN. If you want to observe a bird of the gods in Costa Rica you will want to bring along some luck and be at the side of a trained guide who knows where to find the dazzling birds.
Quetzals can grow up to 15 inches long and if you include the tail feathers of the males, up to 40 inches. The birds weigh about ½ pound, live exclusively in the cloud forests of Central America and belong to the Trogon family. For nest building in a cave, they move to higher mountainous regions. During breeding, the pair takes turns raising the usually two young birds. Afterwards they move again to the lower regions of the cloud forests. Since the quetzal usually does not survive in captivity it is considered a symbol of freedom.
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