We’ve been very lucky to see an amazing variety of animals in the wild so far on our Journey. High on our wish list was seeing a resplendent quetzal. As the name indicates this is one of the most spectacular birds in the world. The quetzal’s tail feathers (which only the males grow) were worn in the headresses of the Mayan and Aztec Kings. The quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala and is featured on all of the country’s paper money which happens to be called (you guessed it) the quetzal. Sadly, this bird lives only in the ever-diminishing cloud forests of Central America and is no longer readily sighted as their habitat dwindles–not to mention pressure from hunters who seek the valuable feathers.
The other day we stayed at the Chelemhá Cloud Forest Lodge. Way up in the mountains of the Alta Verapaz region of Guatemala, the lodge is in the privately-run Chelemhá Cloud Forest Reserve where the quetzals still have a (tiny) happy home. We headed out on an early morning hike and after a two hour climb we were shown a hole in a dead tree stump that was home to a nesting pair of quetzals. After just a few minutes this gorgeous male popped out of the hole and alighted on a nearby branch where he graciously posed for us.
Without further ado, the truly resplendent quetzal…
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Great shot! It is perfect.
Wow!! really wonderful.
What an incredible photo of this beautiful bird. You were lucky to see one.
In Costa Rica some years ago I met some birdwatchers from England who were on a birdwatching trip. We saw a Quetzal clinging onto the trunk of a tree, so everyone was happy.
I remember them saying that Quetzals had not been seen in Guatemala for a long time and that that was sad because they were the national bird (and even the name of the currency, as you say) – so to hear now that you have seen on in Guatemala has made me feel very cheerful.
David Bennett recently posted..Ai Weiwei’s Zodiac- From Summer Palace To Somerset House
While rare, they do exist. The problem is the ever diminishing size of the cloud forest where they live, but they are still there.
What a brilliant shot. Well done for getting it. I can never take good pictures of birds as the don’t sit there long enough.
Natalie recently posted..What Do The Turks Think Of British People
Oh wow, she’s beautiful! Those colours are sensational
Andrea recently posted..Dreamtime at Machu Picchu
Thanks…but it’s a he not a she. Only the males grow the tail.
Cool looking bird!
Cute! I was looking for this bird when we were in Mayan ruin Copan in Honduras (close to the border to Guatemala), but they don’t exist there anymore.
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Yeah, we were just at Copan a few days ago, no quetzals there. Not sure they ever existed there as they live in the cloud forests above 5,000 feet.
I’ve always wanted to see one! I always thought their tails were longer though. Thanks for sharing!
Nicole recently posted..Lunar eclipse
The tails do vary in length, and this guys is far from the longest we saw…he just posed the best.
Wow – nice picture. I’ve been to Guatemala a dozen times and have never seen one. All I’ve got are stories of walking around and looking for them.
Good job!
Jason
Jason recently posted..Bolivias Stone Tree- Sandblasting As An Art Form
Stay at Ranch de Quetzal just outside the Biotope de Quetzal in Alta Verapaz. nearly guaranteed seeing them from March-June.
That’s awesome that you got to see it! And even bigger kudos for capturing a snapshot.
I was lucky enough to see one in Costa Rica a few years ago, but certainly not that close…
Anita recently posted..Climbing Mount Baker & Why I Love Mountaineering
Great capture!
I’ve been trying to capture one of these buggers for about 7 years… great great capture. Stumble liked!
Brendan van Son recently posted..Zip-lining on Ometepe Island
This quetzal looks like one proud bird –
)
Great photo!
Wow, that is great and awesome bird! I love the color of it’s wings. Great shot, I appreciate it because you shot it very well.