1524, Guatemala Tere was a great battle in the highlands. Spanish conquistadors were invading. Tese Europeans had already conquered Mexico. Now they wanted to rule the Mayan people. But the Mayan ruler, Tecún Umán, was ready to fight. Umán had no armor to protect him. He


wore his royal clothing. On his head was a crown of feathers. Tey came from a beautiful bird called the resplendent quetzal. Umán led the charge into battle, fighting


fiercely. At first, the Spaniards were no match for his furious fighting. Ten he met conquistador Pedro de Alvarado. Atop a horse and armed with a spear,


Alvarado chased aſter Umán. He thrust his spear into Umán’s chest, piercing his heart. Umán fell to the ground. Ten a live quetzal


landed on his chest, trying to protect the fallen hero with its brilliant green feathers. Umán's wound was fatal, though. He died.


Yet the quetzal guarded his body during the rest of the battle and throughout the night. It spread its wings across the warrior's chest. In the morning, the bird’s chest feathers were stained with blood. Centuries later, Guatemala named Tecún


Umán a national hero for his bravery. Te country also named the resplendent quetzal as its national bird.


A Stunning Bird Te battle in the highlands is a part of history. But the quetzal’s role is legend. Te Mayan story explains how the bird came to have red feathers on its chest. To some, the quetzal’s colorful feathers defy


explanation. Teir necks, backs, and wings reflect a metallic green sheen. On their heads, golden-green feathers form a bristly crest. Te males have two long tail feathers that trail behind them when they fly. Te feathers can grow to be a meter long. Tey help the birds attract mates. Quetzals live throughout Central America—


from southern Mexico to Panama. Tey are mostly found in high cloud forests and on mountain ranges. Tere, the climate is misty and cool. Te birds make their homes inside decaying


trees. Oſten they use holes already created by woodpeckers. Tey lay their eggs there, and both parents take turns keeping them warm. When the eggs hatch, the parents feed their


chicks a steady diet of insects. As the chicks grow, they eat other things, such as snails, small frogs, and fruit. Teir favorite food as adults is wild avocado, which they pluck from trees. Quetzals oſten seem inactive. Tey perch


motionless on branches for long periods. But they are simply cautious birds, looking around them in each direction for minutes at a time. If they suspect a predator is nearby, they will turn their bodies to hide their red chests.


This quetzal rests on a mossy branch.


4 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


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