The Quetzal bird symbol
It’s a bird that very few have been privileged to admire in all its splendor.
The quetzal (Pharamachrus mocinno), striking plumage of birds, is formed by long tail feathers iridescent green and blue, with a length of up to 1 meter in the male. For the Aztecs and the Maya symbol of light and life.
The long tail feathers were used in headdresses of the Mayan royalty. It is said that in 1525, when the conquerors under the command of Don Pedro de Alvarado attacked the town of Xela-hu (now Quetzaltenango). The descendants of Mayan warriors were massacred and left quetzals flying of forests, and open its wings were posed on cadàveres, where they remained overnight.
Upon arriving the morning, up the flight stained with the blood of fallen warriors. The legend says that since then, quetzals have chest red.
The quetzal is in danger of extinction by desctrucciòn their Habitat and the tràfic illegal. The Biotope of Quetzal is the place for preservation, this is near the road leading to Cobán, in Alta Verapaz.
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Comments (3)
[...] bookmarks tagged quetzal The Quetzal bird symbol saved by 4 others xSJPx bookmarked on 09/09/08 | [...]
Beautiful birds. Hope there is a way to conserv her.
gptl:
There is already a protection for non-hunting and marketing, hopefully not become extinct.
Thank you very much