QUETZAL
ENDANGERED MAMMALS
Quetzal : Information
Description
Quetzals are classified as mammals. They have colorful feathers. They have green tails, white breasts, and redheads. During mating season, a male quetzal could grow their tail up to three meters long. Like regular birds, quetzals chirp to communicate with each other. Quetzals have unusually colorful feathers.
Adaptation
To blend in to the forest, quetzals have green tails. When danger is near, the quetzals fly away from the origin of the danger. During mating season, male quetzals puff up to make the females attracted to them. Quetzals have powerful wings. They swoop down from above when hunting a small rodent. To escape from being eaten by gray squirrels and owls, quetzals live in tall trees high above the ground. The quetzals are adapting by eating fruits, such as the aguacatillo, that are grown on trees, so they would not have to fly to the bottom of the forest to be in danger by its predators.
Critical Information
We can help save quetzals by reducing, reusing, and recycling. By doing this, we are not wasting trees. By not wasting trees, we are helping to save the quetzals' habitat.
Food Chain
Quetzals are omnivores and are also predators. They like to eat small frogs, lizards, insects, and fruit. Their favorite fruit is said to be a miniture avocado called an aguacatillo. They swallow the aguacatillo whole and spits out the seeds later.
Habitat
Quetzals are located in Central America and is the national symbol of Guatemala. The climate in which they live in is tropical. Quetzals make nests in rotted trees roughly about thirty feet off the ground. Sometimes, they use the holes in the trees created by a woodpecker. Quetzals live in tropical rainforests.
Predators
Humans are the quetzals main predator, both indirectly and directly. Directly, the quetzals were hunted for its beautiful feathers and for trade. Indirectly because we are destroying the quetzals' habitat in the rainforest. Humans are destroying the rainforests for natural resources, such as trees for paper.
Bibliography for information
1. ""El Quetzal" Mayan & A Aztec Legends." "El Quetzal" Mayan & A Aztec Legends. Web. 28 May 2012. http://stayreality.com/birdingquetzal3.htm.
2. "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle a Every Little BitA Counts." A Passion for Flowers.
3."Quetzal." Fun Facts about the Quetzal. Web. 28 May 2012. http://www.thejunglestore.com/Quetzals.
4."Quetzal." National Geographic. Web. 28 May 2012. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/quetzal/>.
5."Quetzal."Quetzal. Web. 30 May 2012. http://beauty-animal.blogspot.com/2011/11/quetzal.html.
6. Photo, Chris Jimenez nature." ResplendentQuetzal (Female) Eating Aguacatillo." Flickr. Yahoo!, 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 May 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixel1616/6349882800/.
Bibliography for pictures
1. Admin. "Avocado Trees." Tips for Pruning Avocado Trees. Oct-Nov. 2011. Web. 28. May 2012 <http:// gardening ygoy.com/ 2011/10/18/tips-for-pruning-avocado-trees/>.
2. "George Bush Celebrity." Online Chinese Astrology. Astrology Enterprises LLC,2007-2012. Web. 28 May 2012. http://www.onlinechineseastrology.com/celebrity/George-Bush.aspx
3. Wilson, Eric. "Wildlife-Art-Gallery 2." Wildlife art gallery 2. Web. 28 may 2012 <http:'' www.ericwilsonwildlifeart.com/Wildlife-Art-Gallery-2.html>.