1524, Guatemala Te Mayan ruler, Tecún Umán, was ready to fight. Spanish conquistadors were invading. Tese Europeans had already conquered Mexico. Now they wanted to rule the Mayan people. Umán had no armor to protect him.
On his head, he wore a crown of feathers. Tey came from a beautiful bird called the resplendent quetzal. Umán led the charge into battle. Te
enemy was no match for his furious fighting. Ten he met Pedro de Alvarado. Te conquistador thrust his spear into Umán’s chest, piercing his heart. Umán fell to the ground. Ten a live
quetzal landed on his chest. Te quetzal tried to protect the fallen hero with its green feathers. Tough Umán died, the quetzal continued to guard his body. Te next morning, its chest feathers were stained with blood. Centuries later, Guatemala named Umán
a national hero for his bravery. Te country also named the quetzal its national bird.
A Stunning Bird Te battle 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. Te quetzal’s colorful feathers are
unique. Teir necks, backs, and wings have a metallic green sheen. On their heads, golden-green feathers form a bristly crest. Te males have two long tail feathers that trail behind when they fly. Tey help male birds attract females. Quetzals live throughout Central
America—from southern Mexico to Panama. Tey are mostly found in high cloud forests and on mountain ranges. Tere, it is misty and cool. Te birds lay their eggs in holes in
decaying trees. 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 foods such as snails, small frogs, and fruit. Quetzals oſten seem inactive. But they
are simply cautious birds. Tey look around them for minutes at a time. If 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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