For other uses, see Quetzal (disambiguation).

For the best-known species in this group, see Resplendent Quetzal.

Quetzal
Resplendent Quetzal
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Trogoniformes
Family:	Trogonidae
Genera
Pharomachrus Euptilotis

Quetzals ( /kɛtsˈɑːl/ or  /ˈkɛtsəl/) are strikingly colored birds in the trogon family. They are found in forests and woodlands, especially in humid highlands, with the five species from the genus Pharomachrus being exclusively Neotropical, while the single Euptilotis species is almost entirely restricted to western Mexico. They are fairly large (all over 32 cm or 13 inches long), slightly bigger than other trogon species. Quetzals have iridescent green or golden-green wing coverts, back, chest and head, with a red belly. They are strongly sexually dimorphic, and parts of the females' plumage are brown or grey. These largely solitary birds feed on fruits, berries, insects and small vertebrates (such as frogs). Despite their bright plumage, they can be surprisingly difficult to see in their wooded habitats.

Conservation status[link]

None of the quetzal species are under immediate threat in the wild, although the Resplendent Quetzal is at Near Threatened status.^[1]

Etymology[link]

The name "quetzal" is from Nahuatl quetzalli, "large brilliant tail feather" (American Heritage Dictionary) or "tail coverts of the quetzal" (Merriam–Webster's Collegiate Dictionary), from the Nahuatl root quetz = "stand up" used to refer to an upstanding plume of feathers.

The word "quetzal" was originally used for just the Resplendent Quetzal, the famous long-tailed quetzal of Central America, which is the national bird and the name of the currency of Guatemala. It still often refers to that bird specifically but now also names all the species of the genera Pharomachrus and Euptilotis.

Pharomachrus is from Ancient Greek pharos, "mantle", and makros, "long", referring to the wing and tail coverts of the Resplendent Quetzal (the second h is unexplained).

Species[link]

• Genus Pharomachrus:
  • Crested Quetzal, Pharomachrus antisianus.
  • Golden-headed Quetzal, Pharomachrus auriceps.
  • White-tipped Quetzal, Pharomachrus fulgidus.
  • Resplendent Quetzal, Pharomachrus mocinno.
  • Pavonine Quetzal, Pharomachrus pavoninus.
• Genus Euptilotis:
  • Eared Quetzal, Euptilotis neoxenus.

Euptilotis neoxenus is related to Pharomachrus and is called the Eared Quetzal by some authorities, such as the American Ornithologists' Union, but the Eared Trogon by others.

See also[link]

• Quetzalcoatl
• List of English words of Nahuatl origin
• List of Spanish words of Nahuatl origin

References[link]

• Restall, R. L., C. Rodner, & M. Lentino (2006). Birds of Northern South America. Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-7243-9 (vol. 1). ISBN 0-7136-7242-0 (vol. 2).
• Ridgely, R. S., & J. A. Gwynne, Jr. (1989). A Guide to the Birds of Panama with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. 2nd edition. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-08529-3

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Category:Pharomachrus

• "Pharomachrus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=553589. 
• Mangoverde.com For images of four quetzal species, select "Trogons".
• Trogon videos, including quetzals, on the Internet Bird Collection
• A study about Quetzal, The Quetzal Description and Habitat

Hear and Now is a 2007 documentary film by Irene Taylor Brodsky, winning awards in 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival and the Heartland Film Festival; and garnering a Peabody Award in 2008.^[1]

Synopsis[link]

The filmmaker's parents were both born deaf; and the couple raised children who were not deaf. Paul Taylor and his wife Sally Taylor were in their 60s when they both decided to have cochlear implant surgery, which could permit them to hear for the first time.^[2] The documentary follows what turns out to be a complicated journey from the comfortable world of silence to a profoundly challenging world of sounds and language.^[3]

The documentary introduces the couple's personal histories – childhood years learning to communicate in a special school, experiencing the stigma surrounding deafness in mainstream high schools, and having meaningful careers in the Deaf community at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Paul was a pioneer in development of TTD (telecommunications device for the deaf) which is also known as TTY.^[2]

The couple's filmmaker daughter chronicled these surgeries and the aftermath. The film show some of the short-term consequences, including both expected and unexpected adjustments each would need to make. These two deaf people investigate the sounds and meaning of sounds; but learning what not to hear becomes an equally significant challenge. The camera records quite different reactions as the couple struggles to adjust after living deaf for a lifetime.^[2] The effects of the surgeries are not entirely positive.^[4]

The film establishes cochlear implant surgery in an intimate family setting rather than the larger context of the Deaf community.^[5]

Production[link]

This documentary was co-produced by Vermillion Films and HBO Documentary Films, which reduced the financial risks inherent in the project; and the film was distributed by HBO.^[1]

Film festivals[link]

In 2007, Hear and Now won the prize for the Best Documentary at the Heartland Film Festival.^[6] At the Sundance Film Festival, the documentary won the Audience Award;^[7] and it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.

Select list of festival entries[link]

• Heartland Film Festival, Best Documentary, Audience Award, 2007.^[8]
• Sundance Film Festival, Audience Award, 2007.^[7]
• Middle East International Film Festival^[1]
• Biogra Film Festival, Special Jury "Best Life" Award.^[9]
• EIDF Film Festival, Audience Award.^[9]
• American Film Festival in Moscow.^[9]

See also[link]

• List of Peabody Award winners (2000-2009)

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Courier, David. Hear and Now, Deconstructing Sundance. 2007.
• Deburg, Peter. "Sundance 2007: Hear and Now (Documentary)," Variety. January 20, 2007.
• Lowe, Justin. "Bottom Line: Lacks meaningful context about cochlear implants," Hollywood Reporter. February 5, 2007.
• Halbfinger, David M. "Coming to Sundance: New Crop of Engaged Indie Films," New York Times. November 30, 2006.
• "Hear and Now Released on DVD." NTID News (National Technical Institute for the Deaf). October 21, 2009.

External links[link]

• Hear and Now, Official website
• HBO documentary films, Hear and Now
• Hear and Now at the Internet Movie Database
• Director Irene Taylor Brodsky, podcast interview