The Quetzal: The Sacred Bird of Mesoamerica (and also a Symbol of Freedom)
The quetzal is a bird native to southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. One particular subspecies of quetzal is known as the resplendent quetzal (Pharomacrus mocinno). It is larger than other subspecies of quetzals and is only found in the highly-elevated rainforests of Central America, known as cloud forests or montane rainforests. Moss covers the trunks of many of the trees in the cloud forests. There are many fruit-bearing trees that produce wild avocados, a staple of the quetzal’s diet.
Quetzals have iridescent bluish-green feathers on most of their body and red breast feathers. The shiny, green feathers help quetzals blend in with the leaves of trees in the rainforest. The species exhibits a striking example of sexual dimorphism, which is a difference between the appearance of males and females in a species. Female quetzals have grey breast feathers and short tail feathers. Their colours are less vibrant. They also do not have a crest, or a crown of feathers, on their heads like males do. Finally, male quetzals have bright, yellow beaks while females have black ones. Quetzals are most famous for the long, streamer-like tail feathers of the male quetzals. These can grow to be a metre long, more than twice the length of the bird’s body.
These beautiful tail feathers have long captured the artistic imagination of the cultures of Mesoamerica, who collected them to make headdresses for their rulers. Quetzals were revered as sacred. They appeared in the art and mythology of the Mayans and Aztecs. They became an important cultural symbol for all the people of Mesoamerica, both past and present.
To Mesoamerican cultures, the quetzal is associated with gods and rulers. Its feathers are valued more than gold. But the most important thing the quetzal represents is freedom and the continuity of Mesoamerican cultures. The bird dies in captivity. The Mayans and Aztecs knew this and never attempted to domesticate the bird, believing that it would rather attempt to kill itself than live confined. Modern zoologists have attempted to keep quetzals in captivity to breed them. Though it may be able to survive for a while and even reproduce, the quetzal shows poor mental and physical health in captivity. They are a shell of what they once were when they are confined. To the K’iche’ Maya of Guatemala, the quetzal is a symbol of their identity and their struggles to be free from their Spanish colonial oppressors. One of the most famous historical figures of the K’iche’ was Tecun Uman, their last ruler. He died in battle against the Spaniards in 1524. His spirit guide was a quetzal. The story of Tecun Uman firmly establishes the quetzal as a beloved cultural symbol for the K’iche’ and a symbol of freedom.
Tecun Uman fought bravely against the Spaniards, who were led by the conquistador Pedro de Alvarado. The town where the battle took place is now known as Quetzaltenango in Guatemala. Pedro de Alvarado was aided by Hernan Cortes, the conquistador who defeated the Aztec empire. It is difficult for historians to separate the legendary and historical elements of this story. Though Tecun Uman and the conquistadors were real people, the lore surrounding Tecun Uman’s quetzal seems more legendary. The faithful quetzal is said to have accompanied Tecun Uman in battle and flown alongside him when he charged against the Spaniards. Pedro de Alvarado killed Tecun Uman with a spear through his chest. When the K’iche’ ruler lay dying, the quetzal was so filled with grief that it landed on Tecun Uman’s chest, staining its feathers red with blood. This Mayan story is also used to explain how the quetzal got its red breast feathers. The quetzal was a spirit guide, so its life force was connected to Tecun Uman and died shortly after he died. Tecun Uman is now considered Guatemala’s national hero. He is honoured every year on February 20th. In the town of Quetzaltenango, there is a statue of Tecun Uman. He is also featured on stamps, coins and bank notes.
The Maya people in Central America today still consider the quetzal to be one of their most important symbols. The unit of currency in Guatemala is called a quetzal, alluding to how quetzal feathers were traded as currency by the Aztecs and ancient Mayans. The flag of Guatemala has a quetzal on it. Though the Aztec empire was doomed when Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1519, the Maya were more difficult to conquer. One Maya kingdom, Itza, and its capital city of Nojpetén, did not fall until 1697. Even under Spanish rule, the various Maya peoples of the region fought to preserve their culture and traditions. Just like the quetzal, they could not be subjugated for long and they had to be free. The quetzal is not just a beautiful bird to them, it’s a symbol of their freedom.
