The word quetzal was originally used for just the resplendent quetzal, the long-tailed quetzal of Guatemala, (more specifically the area of Northern Guatemala known as the Petén) which is the national bird and the name of the currency of Guatemala.
The resplendent quetzal is most notably a sacred symbol in the ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures. The brightly coloured birds are associated with Quetzalcoatl, the snake god, and are considered to be symbols of goodness and light.
quetzal, (genus Pharomachrus), any of five species of colourful birds belonging to the genus Pharomachrus of the trogon family (Trogonidae).
Even today, the currency of Guatemala is called the quetzal. The Resplendent Quetzal is also the national bird of Guatemala, pictured on the country’s flag and coat of arms. It was thought to be the spirit guide of a Maya ruler and hero, Tecún Umán, who fought against the Spanish conquest.
Quetzal defined and explained with descriptions. Quetzal is a Central American bird that is considered by many to be the most beautiful bird in the world.
The Resplendent Quetzal is a bird that belongs to the trogon family. This colorful bird plays a very crucial role in Mesoamerican mythologies, and is the national bird of Guatemala.
The Pavonine Quetzal is native to South America, while the Eared Quetzal is found in Mexico and the southwestern United States. The Quetzal is an immensely colorful bird with metallic plumage and is widely considered to be one of the most strikingly beautiful birds in the world.
Quetzalcoatl was revered as a bringer of civilization, credited with gifting humanity agriculture, mathematics, astronomy, and the arts. In Aztec tradition, he was considered one of the most important deities in the pantheon, associated with the morning star Venus and the wind.