These brilliantly-colored bird were sacred to the Mayans, and figured prominently in their legends and art. Quetzals do not survive in captivity. The female's tail is much shorter. Quetzals eat mostly fruit, but also eat worms, frogs, insects, larvae, and snails. Predators of the Quetzals include the kinkajou, the gray squirrel, the Ornate Hawk-eagle and owls.
Quetzals nest in rotting trees.
The female lays 1 to 2 light blue eggs. The incubation period is 18 days.