Great Blue Heron vs Resplendent Quetzal
Ardea herodias compared with Pharomachrus mocinno
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Blue Heron | Resplendent Quetzal |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardea herodias | Pharomachrus mocinno |
| Order | Pelecaniformes | Trogoniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae | Trogonidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 117.0 cm (46.1 in) | 36.0 cm (14.2 in) |
| Wingspan | 183.0 cm (72.0 in) | 50.0 cm (19.7 in) |
| Weight | 2400.0 g (84.66 oz) | 210.0 g (7.41 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily fish, also frogs, snakes, small mammals, insects, and other birds. Hunts by standing motionless … | Primarily wild avocados and other laurel family fruits, supplemented with insects, lizards, and frogs. A … |
| Clutch Size | 2-7 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Great Blue Heron
Wetlands of all types including marshes, swamps, riverbanks, lake edges, and coastal shores. Also hunts in fields and meadows.
Resplendent Quetzal
Montane cloud forests at elevations between 1,200 and 3,000 meters. Requires old-growth forest with dead trees for nesting cavities.
Song & Call Comparison
Great Blue Heron
Deep, harsh, croaking 'frahnk-frahnk' call in flight. Also gives low guttural grunts at the nest. Alarmed birds give repeated croaks. Mostly silent for such a large wader.
Resplendent Quetzal
Melodious, repetitive cooing: a series of 'kowee-kowee-kowee' or 'woh-woh-woh-woh' phrases. Male sings from high exposed perches in cloud forest canopy. Evocative highland call.
Geographic Range & Migration
Great Blue Heron
North and Central America from Alaska and southern Canada to the Caribbean and Galapagos Islands.
Resplendent Quetzal
Southern Mexico through Central America to western Panama. Resident in mountain cloud forests.
Conservation Status
Great Blue Heron
Resplendent Quetzal
How to Tell Them Apart
Great Blue Heron
Blue-grey body with a white head bearing a broad black stripe extending to a long black plume. Rufous-brown thighs. In flight, the neck is folded into an S-shape.
Long, dagger-like yellowish bill
Resplendent Quetzal
Males have iridescent emerald-green upperparts, a crimson-red breast, and extraordinarily long green tail coverts streaming up to 65 cm beyond the tail. Females are duller with grey breasts.
Short, broad, bright yellow bill partially hidden by green feathers
About These Birds
Great Blue Heron
The great blue heron is the largest heron in North America, standing up to 1.4 meters tall. These patient hunters can stand motionless for extended periods before striking at prey with remarkable speed. They nest in large colonies called heronries, often returning to the same site year after year.
Resplendent Quetzal
The resplendent quetzal was considered divine by the Maya and Aztec civilizations, associated with the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Its iridescent green plumage and long tail streamers make it one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Guatemala's currency is named after this bird.