Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps) [XC844920]
by Juan Freile from Paz de las Aves, Pichincha, Ecuador (song)
Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps) [XC829186]
by Paul Driver from Nanegalito (near Tandayapa), Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador (alarm call)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus), and the two may be conspecific. White-tipped Quetzal (Pharomachrus fulgidus) possibly belongs to the same superspecies. Birds from north-eastern Colombia currently placed in nominate subspecies, but sometimes included in hargitti. The population of western Ecuador described as subspecies heliactin, but apparently inseparable from nominate.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
auriceps (Gould, 1842) - Eastern Panama (Cerro Pirre), and Andes from Colombia south to eastern Peru and northern Bolivia.