To celebrate this being the last Wild Fact of the week, I thought we would take a nice trip to a tropical location. More specifically we are heading anywhere between southern Mexico and western Panama to observe one of the most beautiful birds on the planet. That’s right, many people consider the vibrant coloured Resplendent Quetzal to be one of more stunning birds out there. That is a pretty impressive designation and I am sure the Quetzal is very proud of this honour. So what do you think? Are they the most breathtaking bird you have ever laid eyes on?

Although these birds are beautiful at any given time, they are most impressive during mating season. In an attempt to impress the ladies, the male Resplendent Quetzal will grow two long tail feathers that can reach a length up to 1 m (3 feet) long. Not only that but both males and females will have their incredibly vibrant shades of blue, red and green splashed all over their body, with the males being just a little bit brighter. There are so many possible jokes that could be made regarding that last sentence but I think it would be best if I kept them to myself.

These colourful birds typically hang out by themselves during the year, with the exception of breeding season in which a male and female will come together for a few months. Unlike other bird species out there, the Resplendent Quetzal is monogamous, which is nice to see since it is always important for the chicks to grow up in a happy home. Speaking of their home, the pair of birds will typically use their incredibly strong beaks to hollow out a nice nest in an old tree or rotting stump. The female will then lay her eggs and each parent will take turns incubating the eggs. It probably looks a little funny when the male is taking his turn since their amazingly long tail feathers are usually hanging out of the nest.

Resplendent Quetzal Fast Fact – The skin of the Resplendent Quetzal is incredibly thin and can rip quite easily. To accommodate for this characteristic the Quetzal has a very thick coat of feathers. Luckily these feathers are strong enough to protect their sensitive skin. So not only do they have a cool helmet-like crest but they apparently have the rest of the body armour as well.

Thanks for reading the last Wild Fact of the week. Enjoy your weekend and I will see you on Monday.