Pharomachrus pavoninus
The Pavonine Quetzal (*Pharomachrus pavoninus*) is a stunningly iridescent bird, one of the five 'true quetzals' belonging to the family Trogonidae. Adults typically measure about 33 cm (13 inches) in length and weigh between 100-150 grams. Males are renowned for their brilliant emerald to golden-green plumage, which shimmers with iridescent hues, sharply contrasting with a vibrant crimson belly. While lacking the extraordinarily long tail streamers of its famous cousin, the Resplendent Quetz...
Found in humid lowland and foothill evergreen forests, often favoring forest edges and clearings, typically from sea level up to 1,500 meters elevation.
Primarily frugivorous, with a strong preference for fruits from the laurel family (Lauraceae); supplements its diet with insects, spiders, and occasionally small amphibians or reptiles. Forages by sallying from perches.
This diurnal bird is often surprisingly inconspicuous despite its vibrant plumage, frequently perching motionless in the mid-canopy. It primarily forages by sallying from a perch, snatching fruits, insects, or small vertebrates in a swift, agile flight. Males engage in rhythmic, hooting vocalizat...
The Pavonine Quetzal is a resident species widely distributed across the Amazon Basin and the adjacent eastern slopes of the Andes in South America. Its breeding range encompasses eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, and eastern Ecuador. This species is predomina...
Least Concern
- The Pavonine Quetzal's name 'pavoninus' is derived from Latin, referring to its peacock-like, iridescent plumage. - Unlike its more famous cousin, the Resplendent Quetzal, the male Pavonine Quetzal has shorter, though still elegant, upper tail coverts. - Its diet of large, oil-rich fruits, espe...