Nesting male Quetzal
| Title | Info |
|---|---|
| Common name | Quetzal,Resplendent |
| Scientific name | Pharomachrus mocinno |
| Taxonomic group | Trogonidae |
| Source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Selection and adaptations | Selection; Coloration |
| Coloration | Attracting mates |
| Selection | Sexual selection |
| Behavior | Nesting |
| Organisms | Animals |
| Animals | Birds |
| Conservation | Endangered species |
| Location | Monteverde,Puntarenas,Costa Rica,North America |
Male quetzal about to leave nest tree, Monteverde, Costa Rica. This species nests only in snags (dead trees), and this male is about to leave its nest. Quetzals are altitudinal migrants, moving from one elevation to another among various forest types at specific times of the year. They nest in cloud forest, a high-elevation type of rainforest, as in this image. Although the bright colors and long tail of the male are difficult to see in this image, both are sexually selected characters. The long tail, the end of which is poking out behind his head, figures prominently in mating display flights to attract females. This species is listed under Appendix I of The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which means that it is considered too endangered to allow it to be traded internationally.
