Eared Quetzal

The Eared Quetzal, also known as the Eared Trogon, is a near passerine bird belonging to the family Trogonidae. It is distinguished by its iridescent green back and dark blue central tail feathers, with outer tail feathers that are predominantly white with a black base. The male boasts a blackish head, iridescent green breast, and a striking geranium red belly and undertail coverts, while the female has a more subdued gray head, breast, and upper belly with less extensive red on the lower belly. Both sexes have the characteristic wispy hair-like auricular plumes that give the species its name.

Identification Tips

When observing the Eared Quetzal, look for the small and narrow head and bill, which are less robust than those of typical trogons. The male's iridescent plumage and red belly are quite distinctive, while the female's gray and red coloration is more subtle. The white terminal band on the tail feathers is a key feature for identification.

Habitat

This species is found in the middle to upper levels of pine-oak woodlands and oak-conifer forests, often near streams.

Distribution

The Eared Quetzal is native to the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico, extending south to western Michoacán, and reaches into southeasternmost Arizona and New Mexico in the United States. Its range includes the Madrean Sky Islands region.

Behaviour

The Eared Quetzal is known for its aversion to large areas of conspicuous color, displaying negative chromotropic responses. This behavior suggests that the species-confidence hypothesis, which posits that birds are attracted to colors found within their own species, may not apply to this species.

Song & Calls

The male's song is a series of whistled notes that increase in volume, known as a tremolo call. Various calls include low-intensity squeals that rise in pitch, a loud squeal ending with a sharp "chuck," and a strident cackle mostly given in flight.

Breeding

Eared Quetzals nest 5–9 meters high in shallow tree cavities, often old woodpecker holes, in trees such as pine, fir, maple, and aspen. They may perform limited excavation of the cavity using their bills. The incubation and nestling periods are notably long for the species.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists of insects, small vertebrates, and fruit, including the warty red fruits of madrone trees. They feed their young a variety of prey such as caterpillars, moths, katydids, cicadas, and small lizards. Eared Quetzals often capture prey and fruit while hovering.

Conservation status

The Eared Quetzal is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but is considered Vulnerable by NatureServe. Conservation efforts are important to ensure the stability of its populations.