resplendent quetzals create their nests over 200 feet up in the air and court in the air with specific calls. six specific vocal calls have been recorded: the two-note whistle, gee-gee, wahc-ah-wahc, wec-wec, coouee whistle, uwac, chatter, and buzzing. the first call is related to male territorial behavior, while the coouee whistle is identified as a mating call. resplendent quetzals usually live alone when not breeding. they are monogamous territorial breeders, with the territory size being measured in guatemala as . they are also seasonal breeders, with the breeding season being march to april in mexico, may to june in el salvador and march to may in guatemala. when breeding, females lay two pale blue eggs in a nest placed in a hole which they carve in a rotten tree. resplendent quetzals tend to lay two clutches per year and are known to have a high rate of nest failure, around 70 percent. a tree in the required stage of decomposition is susceptible to weather damage, and the availability of suitable trees may limit the resplendent quetzal population.