The Story
This Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps) was photographed at Finca Alejandría, at Kilometer 18 near Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Like other quetzals it has iridescent green plumage, and the male has a gold-bronze head, from which the species takes its name. The female is less brightly colored, with more brown. It lives in moist mid-elevation forests from eastern Panama to northern Bolivia and eats mostly fruit, with occasional insects. It is usually solitary and quiet except in the breeding season, when pairs nest in a cavity in an old tree. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I used a Canon R5 with the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L for this one, at 1/90 sec, f/6.7, ISO 800, −0.5 EV. Finca Alejandría sits at Kilometer 18 on the road from Cali to Buenaventura.
©2023 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps) belongs to the family Trogonidae (Trogons) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2022), with the population trend listed as decreasing. Source: IUCN Red List