Can a bird's feathers be more precious than gold? To the ancient Maya Indians, the answer was yes.
The quetzal lives in the high mountainous regions of Mexico and Central America. Its three-foot-long shiny green tail feathers were priceless. Only kings could use them for their headdresses.
Many Maya believed the quetzal held magical powers. One legend tells about Maya soldiers fighting for freedom. Above the battlefield, hundreds of quetzals flew down quickly and guarded the wounded soldiers until sunrise.
When the battle ended, the birds flew away一their chests became red forever.
The Maya considered the quetzal sacred and showed great respect to it. Over 2,000 years, it inspired many forms of art as well as a feathered snake god called Kukulcan. The ancient cultures painted the image of this half-bird half-snake on stone columns, monuments and temples throughout their lands. Today it has become the national bird of Guatemala, a country in Central America, as well as a symbol of freedom. It can also be found on its national fag, stamps and many other things. And the currency of Guatemala is" Quetzal".
However, the quetzal's home is getting smaller because people cut down the trees in highland forests and take away land for farming. Besides, some people catch or even kill quetzals for their tail feathers. Therefore, the quetzal is now in danger. To save it, countries are taking steps. For example, in Costa Rica, the government has set up wildlife reserves and passed strict laws to protect this jewel bird.
