Resplendent Quetzal  Pharomachrus mocinno Feníx del Bosque = forest pheonix The quetzal is one of the most sought-after birds for any birdwatcher and is easily one of the most beautiful birds in the rainforest. The main food of the quetzal is the aguacatillo, or wild avocado. Its tail feathers can reach 60 cm. Both the Mayas and the Aztecs had a god named QuetzalCoatl, who wore a headress of quetzal feathers. In their society, only priests could wear the feathers. The quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, but because of habitat destruction it is now more prevalent in Costa Rica than in Guatemala. The quetzal became a symbol of freedom to the native cultures when they were conquered by the Spaniards. It was believed that it could not survive in captivity. Below is a photo I took of a quetzal nest.
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