Resplendent Quetzal vs Turquoise-fronted Amazon
Pharomachrus mocinno compared with Amazona aestiva
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Resplendent Quetzal | Turquoise-fronted Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pharomachrus mocinno | Amazona aestiva |
| Order | Trogoniformes | Psittaciformes |
| Family | Trogonidae | Psittacidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Near Threatened |
| Length | 36.0 cm (14.2 in) | 36.0 cm (14.2 in) |
| Wingspan | 50.0 cm (19.7 in) | 55.0 cm (21.7 in) |
| Weight | 210.0 g (7.41 oz) | 400.0 g (14.11 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily wild avocados and other laurel family fruits, supplemented with insects, lizards, and frogs. A … | Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and flowers. Feeds in tree canopy in noisy flocks. Occasionally raids … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Resplendent Quetzal
Montane cloud forests at elevations between 1,200 and 3,000 meters. Requires old-growth forest with dead trees for nesting cavities.
Turquoise-fronted Amazon
Tropical and subtropical forests, woodland, savanna, and palm groves in South America.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Turquoise-fronted Amazon
Loud, raucous squawking and screaming calls. Capable of impressive vocal mimicry including human speech. Contact call is a rolling 'arr-arr'. Highly vocal in social groups.
Geographic Range & Migration
Resplendent Quetzal
Southern Mexico through Central America to western Panama. Resident in mountain cloud forests.
Turquoise-fronted Amazon
Interior of South America including Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.
Conservation Status
Resplendent Quetzal
Turquoise-fronted Amazon
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Turquoise-fronted Amazon
Green body with a turquoise-blue forehead, yellow face, and red and blue wing patches. Red at the bend of the wing visible in flight.
Strong, hooked, dark grey upper mandible with a paler lower mandible
About These Birds
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.
Turquoise-fronted Amazon
The turquoise-fronted amazon is one of the most popular pet parrots in the world, prized for its ability to mimic human speech and its engaging personality. In the wild, these sociable parrots roost communally in large flocks and fly in pairs to feeding sites at dawn. Habitat loss and trapping for the pet trade threaten wild populations.