Pavonine Quetzal Pharomachrus pavoninus Scientific name definitions

The Pavonine Quetzal is a stunning trogon of the Amazon Basin.  It is found in terra firme forest at low elevation in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil and is replaced by other similar species of quetzal further west in the Andes.  Metallic green overall with a red belly, the Pavonine Quetzal can be visually separated from other similar species by its reddish bill.  Males are green-headed with black undertails, while females have grayish heads with a gray breast band and white barring on the outer tail feathers.  This species has a call that consists of a long, mournful whistle followed by a shorter whistle; additionally, a series of deep, short whistles is sometimes given.

33–34 cm; 158 g. Male has bill  with variable amount of orange-red, usually at least around base, yellow towards tip (tip sometimes darker); golden-green head, metallic emerald-green upperparts  and upper breast  , red lower breast to undertail-coverts  ; elongate wing-coverts  and uppertail-coverts, latter reaching tip of tail; undertail black. Very similar to P. auriceps, but averages slightly smaller, differs in bill colour, and head less golden, with feathers of head and throat shorter. Female  duller than male, bill blackish with variable amount of red, usually at least around base, often much more; breast  brownish, undertail with outer 3 feathers notched and barred greyish-white on outer webs and tips; differs from female P. auriceps in bill colour, tone of head and breast, and undertail pattern.

Middle storey, canopy and sometimes edge of well-drained tall humid lowland terra firme forest  , and poorly drained transition forest, to 700 m.

Virtually no information; recorded taking fruits  . Sometimes joins mixed-species flocks.

Song apparently a sequence of 5 melodious notes, “ew ewwo-ewwo-ewwo-ewwo”; call a loud descending whistle followed by emphatic note, “heeeeeear, chok!”.

In Amazonas, in Feb, apparent nest in hole 9 m up in snag in forest. In area of R Sucusari, Loreto (NE Peru), full-grown chick seen in nest, mid-Jul; nest was hole c. 5 m up trunk of dead tree.