The Quetzal is a magnificent representation of both natural beauty and cultural heritage.
One of the most beautiful native birds of Mexico and Central America is the quetzal. It has profound historical and cultural importance beyond its beauty since it was closely linked to the old deity Kukulkan.
Q’uk’umatz, or “the feathered serpent,” was the Mayan name for this revered bird. In addition to this moniker, they left behind images of the quetzal in flight, such as the ones recently taken from the ideal vantage point along the Chiapas border with Corozal. These stunning photos captured the attention of people all over the world and swiftly went viral on social media.
An Enchanted Flight: Dementor or Quetzal?
Above a village in Frontera Corozal, Chiapas, on April 12th, a remarkable silhouette emerged in the sky. It was the captivating flight of a quetzal, captured at the perfect moment by a local witness, but it initially seemed like a Dementor from the Harry Potter books. The picture quickly gained popularity, bringing attention to the predicament of this threatened species.
Many viewers amusingly thought that a little wizardry was seeping into the actual world because of the odd lighting and viewpoint. Some even conjectured that the bird was a ghostly entity that was cruising around looking for memories. A month prior, a quetzal had been moved from the Cuauhtémoc district of Mexico City to its new residence at the Miguel Álvarez del Toro Zoo.
The Living Jewel of Nature: The Quetzal
Living in tropical and subtropical woodlands, this monogamous bird consumes frogs, mollusks, insects, lizards, and aguacatillos. But there are many predators that it must contend with, including eagles, hawks, owls, squirrels, and emerald toucanets. Unaware that quetzals cannot thrive in captivity, humans continue to pose the biggest threat to it by capturing them for the pet trade. In a cage, they will cease eating and eventually die.
Some quetzals have fortunately been successfully released into the wild after being saved from captivity. The bird’s little yellow beak, gentle crest on top of its head, and serene, dark eyes are its main features. With their iridescent plumage that shimmers in shades of orange, yellow, blue, and emerald green elsewhere and has vivid reds on the belly, males are particularly impressive. The species’ sexual dimorphism is characterized by its long, flowing tail feathers, which can reach a length of one meter.
Females do not have the ostentatious tail feathers and have more muted green and gray colors. Although seeing a quetzal in flight is an experience that will never be forgotten, the declining cloud forests that it depends on are becoming a greater threat to its survival.
A Respected Aspect of the Heavens
Ancient Mesoamerican societies held the quetzal in high regard as a sacred bird. Some individuals are still seen in the wild today, despite being endangered. Mauricio Ruíz Velasco of UNAM’s Institute of Philological Research claims that the Mayans associated the quetzal with Kukulkán, while the Mexicas associated it with the god Quetzalcóatl.
As befitted, these gods represented freedom, the sun, and the sky. Since the quetzal cannot endure incarceration, it actually represents this freedom. Quetzals’ spiritual significance is emphasized by their inability to survive in captivity, which also heightens the impact of the sight of them flying through mist-covered woodlands.
