Crested quetzal

The crested quetzal is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae native to South America, where it is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Distribution

Region

Andes Mountains

Typical Environment

Occurs in humid montane and cloud forests from Venezuela and Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. It favors mature, moss-laden forests with abundant epiphytes and fruiting laurel trees, as well as forest edges and ravines. Typically keeps to the mid- to upper canopy and along forested streams. It may use secondary growth when fruiting trees are present and makes short movements to track fruit availability.

Altitude Range

1200–3200 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size33–36 cm

Wing Span45–50 cm

Male Weight0.18 kg

Female Weight0.16 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

A canopy-dwelling quetzal of Andean cloud forests, the crested quetzal plays a key role in seed dispersal, especially for laurel family trees. Males show a small forward-swept crest and shimmering greens with a rich red belly, while females are duller and more cryptic. Pairs excavate nests in rotten trunks or stumps and share incubation and chick-rearing. Its soft, mournful whistles often reveal its presence before it is seen.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and secretive

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Usually encountered singly or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Pairs excavate a nesting cavity in a rotten trunk or stump and share incubation and feeding duties. Territorial around nest sites but otherwise relatively unobtrusive in the canopy.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Gives soft, mournful whistles in spaced sequences, often descending in pitch. Calls carry through the forest canopy and are more often heard at dawn and dusk than midday.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Crested serpent eagle

The crested serpent eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across tropical Asia. Within its widespread range across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia, there are considerable variations and some authorities prefer to treat several of its subspecies as completely separate species. In the past, several species including the Philippine serpent eagle, Andaman serpent eagle and South Nicobar serpent eagle were treated as subspecies of the Crested serpent eagle. All members within the species complex have a large looking head with long feathers on the back of the head giving them a maned and crested appearance. The face is bare and yellow joining up with the ceres while the powerful feet are unfeathered and heavily scaled. They fly over the forest canopy on broad wings and tail have wide white and black bars. They call often with a loud, piercing and familiar three or two-note call. They often feed on snakes, giving them their name and are placed along with the Circaetus snake-eagles in the subfamily Circaetinae.

Crested shelduck

The crested shelduck or Korean crested shelduck is a species of bird in the family Anatidae. It is critically endangered. The male crested shelduck has a greenish-black crown, breast, primaries, and tail, while the rest of its face, chin, and throat are brownish black. The male's belly, undertail coverts, and flanks are a dark grey with black striations. The upper wing coverts are white, while its speculum is an iridescent green. The female has a white eye ring, black crest, white face, chin, throat, neck, and uppers wing coverts and a dark brown body with white striations. Additionally, both sexes have a distinctive green tuft of feathers protruding from the head.

Crested tit

The crested tit or European crested tit is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder in coniferous forests throughout central and northern Europe and in deciduous woodland in France and the Iberian Peninsula. In Great Britain, it is mainly restricted to the ancient pinewoods of Inverness and Strathspey in Scotland, and rarely strays far from its haunts. A few vagrant crested tits have been seen in England. It is resident, and most individuals do not migrate.