Dressed in stunning glittering emerald-green plumage with a deep-red breast, the Resplendent Quetzal is known for its extraordinary beauty and is considered a sacred symbol in the Mayan culture as well as for the Aztecs.

The Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) inhabits the montane cloud forest from southern Mexico to western Panama, where it is one of the most sought-after sights by birders.

The species belongs to the Trogonidae family, the members of which are distinguished by their colorful feathers and their unique characteristic of pecking on softwood or rotted trees to create holes for nests.

As for its diet, this omnivorous bird feeds on just about anything, including fruits, berries, insects, lizards, frogs, and any other small animals that it can catch. However, according to the American Bird Conservancy, its food of choice is the tiny wild avocado, which it swallows whole, spitting out the seed when it has eaten all the flesh.

Considered among the most beautiful birds in the world, the female is covered in brilliant blue, green, and red coloring; however, the breeding males, which are more vibrant, seem almost impossibly striking.

In addition to their fluffy green crest, as the mating season rolls out, they grow tail feathers that can extend up to 3 feet long, according to National Geographic.

This means that when taking their turn to incubate the 2–3 eggs laid inside tree trunks, the males tend to fold their feathers over their backs to stay out of sight. Even so, sometimes their feathers are so long that they seem to stick out.