Quetzal Quetzal Quetzals () are strikingly colored birds in the trogon family. They are found in forests, especially in humid highlands, with the five species from the genus "Pharomachrus" being exclusively Neotropical, while a single species, the eared quetzal, "Euptilotis neoxenus", is found in Mexico and very locally in the southernmost United States. Quetzals are fairly large (all over 32 cm or 13 inches long), slightly bigger than other trogon species. The quetzal is the country bird of Guatemala. Quetzals have iridescent green or golden-green wing coverts, back, chest and head, with a red belly. They are strongly sexually dimorphic, and
Resplendent quetzal and landed on Tecún Umán, dipping its chest in the warrior prince's blood. It is there that the bird acquired its distinctive red chest feathers. It is debatable whether these events happened, but the Maya fought fiercely for their land and freedom during the conquest. One Mayan legend claims that the quetzal used to sing beautifully before the Spanish conquest, but has been silent ever since; it will sing once again only when the land is truly free. Resplendent quetzal The resplendent quetzal () ("Pharomachrus mocinno") is a bird in the trogon family. It is found from Chiapas, Mexico to