Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Perhaps the most spectacular bird in the Americas, the male Resplendent Quetzal sports shimmering emerald-green plumage and tail streamers that can exceed two feet in length. Found in cloud forests from southern Mexico to Panama, it was sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations. Despite its brilliance, it can be surprisingly difficult to spot among sun-dappled tropical foliage.