The resplendent quetzal lives in the cloud forests of Central America — misty mountain forests where trees are draped in moss and the air is cool and damp. Guatemala has some of the best cloud forest habitat left for quetzals, particularly in the Sierra de las Minas reserve and around the town of Cobán.
During mating season, the male quetzal grows two extra-long tail feathers that stream behind him like glittering green ribbons when he flies. The Maya considered the quetzal sacred and used its feathers in ceremonial headdresses. Only certain specially selected people were allowed to wear them, and the bird was never killed to get its feathers — it was carefully caught, the feathers were removed, and the bird was released.
Quetzals eat wild avocados whole, then spit out the large seed later, helping the avocado tree to spread to new places. This makes the quetzal an important part of the forest, because without it, fewer avocado trees would grow. This kind of relationship — where an animal helps a plant survive — is called seed dispersal.
Quetzals are quite shy birds, and they nest in holes in dead trees. The male and female take turns sitting on the eggs. Because the male's tail is so long, it sticks out of the hole while he sits inside — which must look very funny from outside the nest.