Photo: Nicolas Huet / Jean Gabriel Prêtre / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Pavonine Quetzal
Pharomachrus pavoninus
Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus) — Trogons & Quetzals of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus) is a member of the Trogonidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 163 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 pavoninus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 163 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 Pavonine 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 Pavonine Quetzal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus) is a species of bird in the Trogonidae family, part of the order Trogoniformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Amazonia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 163 g, with a wing length of about 17.8 cm and a tail of around 16.1 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 3.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pavonine Quetzal?
The Pavonine Quetzal is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 163 g.
Where does the Pavonine Quetzal live?
The Pavonine Quetzal is found across South America with a range covering SA Amazonia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Pavonine Quetzal belong to?
The Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus) belongs to the Trogonidae family, in the order Trogoniformes.
What does the Pavonine Quetzal eat?
The Pavonine Quetzal is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Pavonine Quetzal migrate?
The Pavonine Quetzal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pavonine 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 Pavonine Quetzal make?
1 real field recording of the Pavonine Quetzal — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pavonine Quetzal's range?
The Pavonine Quetzal has a mapped global range of about 3.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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