| Join Enchanted Learning Site subscriptions last 12 months. Click here for more information on site membership. As low as $20.00/year (directly by Credit Card) |
||||
| Site members have access to the entire website with print-friendly pages and no ads. | ||||
| More Information on Birds | EnchantedLearning.com Quetzal |
Animal Printouts Label Me! Printouts |
Quetzals are solitary birds that are poor flyers. There are four species of quetzals; they live in South and Central American rainforests, and are in danger of extinction. These brilliantly-colored bird were sacred to the Mayans, and figured prominently in their legends and art. Quetzals do not survive in captivity.
Anatomy: The male quetzal has tail feathers that are up to three feet (1 m) long. The female's tail is much shorter.
Diet: Quetzals eat mostly fruit, but also eat worms, frogs, insects, larvae, and snails.
Predators: Predators of the Quetzals include the kinkajou, the gray squirrel, the Ornate Hawk-eagle and owls.
Reproduction: Quetzals nest in rotting trees. The female lays 1 to 2 light blue eggs. The incubation period is 18 days. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the hatchlings.
Classification: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Aves. Order Trogoniformes, Family Trogonidae, Genus Pharomachrus.
|