Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus viridiceps) 4 August 2015. Rio Cristalino, Mato Grosso, BR
This is an uncommon rather shy bird, but this individual posed long enough for a photo. The diagnostic reddish bill with yellow tip (not all pink as sometimes illustrated) is visible here. This is a male with a green head and black tail. Females have a gray head and white tail spots. Cristalino is near the southern end of its Brazil range. The validity of the Amazon basin race P. p. viridiceps is doubtful. It is still recognized by Clements, but not by IOC, HBW or Howard & Moore). Quetzals differ from other trogons in having long wing and tail coverts which conceal much of the wing and tail. The name "Pavonine" means "peacock-like." Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LX5 | hand-held (no adapter) Reference: Collar, N. & Bonan, A. (2013). Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2013). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/55716 on 9 October 2015). |