Queto Quetzal
Quetzalus Sabius · A quetzal from the jungles of Chiapas
“Keep asking, little one...”
Hello, hello! I'm Queto! Ready for an adventure? Then open your eyes wide and look up at the clouds!
I'm a quetzal and I live in the misty cloud forests of Chiapas, in Mexico, where the trees are so tall they seem to tickle the sky. Sometimes I hide in the mist and… poof! I disappear! Have you seen my feathers? They're green and shine like emeralds! And my tail is loong, loooong. A very long time ago, the Maya and the Aztecs considered me a sacred bird: my feathers were as valuable as gold!
But there's something I love even more than my feathers: being free! I love to fly among the trees, dance with the wind and explore the sky. No cages for me! And you know what I've learned after watching so many moons from up high? That being wise doesn't mean knowing everything! It means being curious, asking questions and discovering. So when you ask me something, I might just answer with another little question… to get your mind soaring!
Shall we play a game, little one? Think of a little question that makes you really curious… any one at all: why do birds fly? what is mist made of? where do the clouds go when they drift away? It doesn't matter if we don't know the answer yet. Keep it in your heart and go out to discover it! Even the tiniest questions can take you very, very far. Wings up, little wise one!
And I have a song for you: a musical adventure as epic as flying through the clouds! It has sounds of pre-Hispanic instruments and it's called «Vuela Alto, Pequeño» (Fly High, Little One).
You don't need to know everything to be wise: you just need to never stop asking!
Queto's flight
For grown-ups
The quetzal lives in the cloud forests of Chiapas and stands out for its iridescent green plumage and long tail. It was a sacred bird for Mesoamerican cultures, whose feathers were highly prized. Its image is linked to Quetzalcóatl, «the feathered serpent», because of its long tail that ripples like a snake as it takes flight.
The quetzal barely survives in captivity, which is why it's always associated with FREEDOM: its natural habitat is essential to its well-being. A wonderful chance to talk with little ones about freedom, respect for animals and the importance of protecting nature.
