quetzalteueyac

[cristi at ix.netcom.com]

PS: what is the current status re endangeredness etc of the
> quetzal bird, anyway? Are they bred in captivity?)

The quetzal may still be found in what cloudforest remains in that
area.  It stays in the upper levels of the cloudforest, where its green
feathers camoflage it from predators.  Its numbers, however, are
threatened by the ongoing destruction of rainforest (which does not
regenerate).  It is also endangered by people capturing and selling
it.  (In other words, since people are buying it, people are
undoubtedly breeding it--but buying one of these birds would be
indirectly hasten the doom of the species by encouraging
poaching).

Cristi