The Mayans and Aztecs demanded rare tribute from their subject peoples. The feathers of quetzals were prized more than gold. The five species of quetzals are specialized trogons, found from Mexico south to Bolivia and Brazil. The three species that are part of the collection at the DWA are: Golden-headed quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps), Crested quetzal* (Pharomachrus antisianus) and the Resplendent quetzal* (Pharomachrus mocinno). All are green and red, but only the Resplendent quetzal,* of Mexico and Central America, bears the prized long plumes.
*the Crested and Resplendent species are located in our off-premise Avian Breeding Center
