The male feeds and tends to the bird which attempts to fly first, and the second is usually ignored until it too flies from the nest. Soon after, the birds can fly with confidence and they leave the nest permanently. The young birds, however, continue to spend time with their parents. The juvenile quetzals do not develop their vibrant colors for some time and male quetzals do not fully develop their plumes for three years. The call is described as soft, deep, full and very powerful, with closely slurred notes.
Females have weaker and more subdued tones.
The quetzal has many different calls according to the situation it is encountering. Calling during mating season is of a whining or complaining nature, and both birds call nasally when they are going to replace each other at the nest. Quetzals are most vocal during calm cloudy dawns, and misty afternoons. On bright days they call very little, and during very windy days they hardly make any sounds. During its territorial call the quetzal melodiously whistles two hollow high-pitched notes, one ascending steeply and the other descending.