Q 01/05

Resplendent quetzals long died soon after capture because their bodies took up too much of which mineral?

A) Copper

B) Calcium

C) Iron

D) Zinc

Answer · why

C) Iron

Iron was the hidden killer: once keepers cut it from the diet and added tannic acid, a few zoos could finally keep the bird alive.

Q 02/05

A resplendent quetzal's plumage looks shimmering green, but which colour is it really, thanks to melanin?

A) Brown

B) Grey

C) White

D) Yellow

Answer · why

A) Brown

Brown is the true pigment colour; the green is iridescence, which is why the same feather can flash gold or violet as the light shifts.

Q 03/05

Resplendent quetzals swallow the wild relatives of which supermarket fruit whole, later coughing up the large pit?

A) Mango

B) Cherry

C) Olive

D) Avocado

Answer · why

D) Avocado

Avocado relatives in the laurel family make up over half the fruit these birds eat, and the dropped pits plant new trees across the forest.

Q 04/05

Which country's flag shows its national bird, a resplendent quetzal, perched above crossed rifles and swords?

A) Honduras

B) Guatemala

C) El Salvador

D) Belize

Answer · why

B) Guatemala

Guatemala has flown the quetzal on its flag since 1871, and the crossed rifles make it one of just four UN member flags to show a firearm.

Q 05/05

The tail plumes of the quetzal were so valuable to the ancient Maya that they were used as what?

A) Medicine

B) Fishing lures

C) Money

D) Writing quills

Answer · why

C) Money

Money in feather form is the reason a modern Central American currency is still called the quetzal.