The Resplendent Quetzal is a very important part of meso-american culture. Quetzal feathers made up the headdress of Moctezuma, emperor of the Aztecs. Quetzalcoatal was an important god. The Maya revered the quetzal as well, but its name in Mayan is Kukul. One of their important gods was Kukulcan.
   The quetzal can still be found in parts of central America today, including southeast parts of Mexico, Guatemala, where it is the national bird, and Costa Rica. In June of 2001 the enameled relief sculpture of a quetzal was dedicated and given to the QERC, the Quetzal Education Research Center in the cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica. It was placed in the new research facility months after the facility was dedicated and attended by the President of Costa Rica.