THE MAJESTIC FLIGHT OF THE QUETZAL IS PHOTOGRAPHED
The quetzal is recognized as one of the most beautiful birds in Mexico and Central America. It holds significant historical and cultural value, as it was closely associated with Kukulkan in ancient times.
The Mayans called it Q’uk’umatz, “The feathered serpent.” Along with this phrase, they shared these images of a quetzal in flight, captured from the perfect angle, on the Corozal border of Chiapas, creating a unique image that quickly went viral on social media.
Majestic quetzal captured in mesmerizing flight: an endangered symbol of beauty
No, it wasn’t a Dementor, it was a beautiful Quetzal flying through the skies.
On April 12, a unique shape reminiscent of a Harry Potter Dementor appeared : a quetzal’s majestic flight, captured by a user in a community in Frontera Corozal, Chiapas. This photograph quickly circulated on social media, highlighting the importance of this bird, which is in danger of extinction.
Given the angle of the photograph and the distance, some pointed to the possibility of Harry Potter magic seeping into real life, while others speculated it was a sign that the bird was wandering soullessly in search of memories. It’s worth mentioning that in March, one of these birds was relocated from Mexico City, near the Cuahutémoc borough, to its new habitat at the Miguel Álvarez del Toro Zoo.
Quetzal, the most beautiful bird, surprises in the skies
This monogamous bird inhabits tropical and subtropical forests, feeding on avocados, insects, mollusks, lizards, and frogs, among other creatures. Its natural predators include the emerald toucan, squirrels, and other nocturnal mammals, as well as owls, hawks, and eagles, but primarily humans, who capture it for the pet trade, unaware that it does not survive in captivity.
Despite this, several individuals have been rescued from captivity to be reintroduced into the wild. The beauty of this bird lies in its round, dark eyes that give it a serene air, a budding crest that crowns its head and ends in a small, bright yellow beak, and above all, the spectacular, resplendent, and colorful plumage of the male, with iridescent shades of red on the belly, orange, yellow, blue, and emerald green on the rest of the body, and in the spectacular four-feathered tail that measures up to one meter in length, revealing sexual dimorphism.
The female displays more muted green and gray colors, lacking long tail feathers. Although this beautiful bird’s flight is breathtaking, cloud forests, the quetzal’s range, are increasingly shrinking, posing a threat to its population.
The beautiful flight of a quetzal
Quetzals were one of the most venerated species in Mesoamerican communities. They are currently in danger of extinction; however, several specimens can still be seen. According to Mauricio Ruíz Velasco of the UNAM Institute of Philological Research, the Mexica associated the bird with the deity Quetzalcoatl, while in Mayan culture, its counterpart was Kukulkan.
The deity was linked to the sun and the sky, also associated with freedom. The latter, unable to live in captivity, as it goes hungry until it dies, explains why quetzals in captivity are at greater risk and how they form a unique flight in the sky amidst the fog.
