Ornithology

The resplendent quetzal has a transcendent status in the ornithological community because it is thought to be one of the most beautiful birds in the world, and the most beautiful of the Americas. The plumage of the resplendent quetzal is noted for its coloration, and ornithologists have made strides generally in the understanding of the relationship of coloration and saturation to a variety of variables including sexual selection, nutrition, assertiveness, and other aspects of behavioral ecology. The quetzal has a variety of interactions with other neo-tropical birds including toucans and toucanets, the Montezuma oropéndola, and the various macaws and parrots. For the first time there has actually been success in breeding quetzals.