Name that Flag, #3: And the Answer Is...

Central Intelligence Agency

And the answer to yesterday's flag quiz is...

Country: Guatemala
Bird: resplendent quetzal

Guatemala's coat of arms occupies the center strip of the flag and features the country's national bird, the resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno). It perches on a scroll bearing the date of Central America's independence from Spain, September 15th, 1821.

A member of the trogon family, the resplendent quetzal lives in cloud forests in Central America. If birds could hold beauty pageants, this species would be in the running for first place: Males sport brilliant plumage in shades of iridescent or golden green that changes to bluish in some lights, with scarlet breasts and streamer-like tails. Mayans and Aztecs revered the bird as sacred, and priests and royalty donned its feathers in ceremonies.

To read more about Guatemala's bird life, check out Michele Wilson's recent blog post.