The Legend of the Quetzal

In the beginning, quetzals were all

green. But, then something

happened.

A long time, there was a man. His

name was Tecún Umán.

He was a Mayan warrior.

He was fighting against the Spanish

“conquistadores.”

One day, there was a huge

battle.

Pedro de Alvarado fought against

Tecún Umán.

Pedro struck Tecún Umán in the

chest, and he fell to the ground.

Then, a quetzal flew down and

rested on his chest. Tecún Umán’s

blood stained the quetzal’s chest.

That is why quetzals have a red

chest.