Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Crested Quetzal
Pharomachrus antisianus
Crested Quetzal (Pharomachrus antisianus) — Trogons & Quetzals of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Crested Quetzal (Pharomachrus antisianus) is a member of the Trogonidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 152 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Trogoniformes
- Family Trogonidae Trogons
- Genus Pharomachrus
- Species antisianus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 152 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Trogonidae
- Order
- Trogoniformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Crested Quetzal is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Crested Quetzal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Crested Quetzal (Pharomachrus antisianus) is a species of bird in the Trogonidae family, part of the order Trogoniformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Venezuela to n Bolivia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 152 g, with a wing length of about 18.9 cm and a tail of around 16.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 427,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Crested Quetzal?
The Crested Quetzal is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 152 g.
Where does the Crested Quetzal live?
The Crested Quetzal is found across South America with a range covering SA Venezuela to n Bolivia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Crested Quetzal belong to?
The Crested Quetzal (Pharomachrus antisianus) belongs to the Trogonidae family, in the order Trogoniformes.
What does the Crested Quetzal eat?
The Crested Quetzal is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Crested Quetzal migrate?
The Crested Quetzal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Crested Quetzal endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Crested Quetzal make?
1 real field recording of the Crested Quetzal — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Crested Quetzal's range?
The Crested Quetzal has a mapped global range of about 427,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Trogonidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Near Threatened
More in Trogons & Quetzals
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Not Evaluated