Crested quetzal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crested quetzal |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pharomachrus
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| Species: |
antisianus
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| Synonyms | |
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Trogon antisianus D'Orbigny |
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The crested quetzal (Pharomachrus antisianus) is a beautiful bird found in South America. It belongs to the Trogonidae family. You can find these colorful birds in countries like Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. They love living in moist mountain forests, which are their natural habitat.
About Its Name
Birds and other animals get scientific names to help people around the world know exactly which creature they are talking about. A French scientist named Alcide d'Orbigny first described the crested quetzal in 1837. He gave it the name Trogon antisianus.
The word Antis comes from a Latin version of the Andes mountains. This name connects to an Incan word, anti, which means copper. The crested quetzal is a close relative of the famous resplendent quetzal.
The word "quetzal" was first used for only the resplendent quetzal. Now, it describes all five species in the Pharomachrus genus. It also includes birds in the Euptilotis genus.
What It Looks Like
Adult crested quetzals are about 33 to 34 centimeters (13 to 13.5 inches) long. The male birds have shiny metallic green feathers on their heads and upper bodies. Their chest and belly are bright red.
What makes the male crested quetzal special is its short crest of feathers on its head. No other quetzal has this crest. Its short beak is orange. The feathers under its tail are white. Female crested quetzals look a bit different. They have brown heads and upper chests, and they do not have a crest.
Where It Lives and Its Home
The crested quetzal lives along the Andes mountains. You can find them from Bolivia all the way through Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia to Venezuela. They prefer forests that are untouched or have grown back well.
These birds live at high altitudes, usually from 1,200 to 3,000 meters (about 3,900 to 9,800 feet) above sea level. The good news is that the crested quetzal is not considered endangered. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists it as "least concern." This is because it lives in a very large area, and its population seems to be stable.
What It Eats
The crested quetzal mainly eats fruit. This type of diet is called frugivorous. When adult quetzals are raising their young, they also look for more nutritious food. They catch insects and small animals. One interesting meal they have been seen eating is a type of glassfrog called Hyalinobatrachium pallidum.
