The nest and eggs of the white-tipped quetzal (Pharomachrus fulgidus) from the sierra nevada de santa marta, Northern Colombia

We provide the first detailed descriptions of the nest cavity and eggs of the White-tailed Quetzal (Pharomachrus fulgidus) from the montane forest of the SW slope of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, northern Colombia. We found two active cavities (both >2.5 m high) in isolated tree snags of non-native Mexican weeping pine (Pinus patula). One cavity contained two unmarked, pale turquoise eggs at the bare base. The nest cavity and eggs of the P. fulgidus resemble those of other high elevation species of quetzals. Breeding occurs in the first half of the Julian calendar during the end of the dry season. Additional information about the breeding biology of this group of birds is warranted.