A female quetzal consuming a freshly picked fruit from the tree nearby. In the early morning it does this trip to-and-fro several times until satisfied, and then perhaps return in the evening or next morning.
The resplendent quetzal is blending in so well with its environment that it can be in a tree right in front of you and you will still miss it, and this capture is just one example as it was perched deep inside the canopy of an almost free standing tree. When perched it will sit still and only slowly move its head around to assess its surroundings, and its gorgeous long tail feathers will sway with the wind, as if part of a branch.
This is a portrait of the immensely beautiful male – even when not seeing the incredibly long tail feathers it is magnificent.
It sounds like this:
Elevation: 2526 meters
Last updated on 12 May 2021
