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The Quetzal belongs to the genus of trogons, of which we were able to photograph yet another species, the mountain trogon, in Panama. The birds are very colorful and the Quetzal has two other features that make it appear exceptional. Firstly, it has very long tail feathers. These made him a popular hunting object of the pre-Columbian cultures, the priests of which decorated their headdresses with their magnificent feathers. However, the Quetzal was worshiped by the Atztecs as the deity Quetzalcoatl, so that the birds could be caught and robbed of their tail feathers - but their killing was punishable by death. The angelic singing of the Quetzal is extraordinary, which is particularly seductive during the mating season. It can be heard at sunrise, so we left our tea plantation in the dark to arrive at the suspected places in the jungle in good time.
The Quetzal is still and illegally hunted today. It is in danger of extinction. He cannot survive in captivity and dies after a short time.
