Resplendent Quetzal: Mexico's sacred bird. Learn about these birds and the problems they’re facing on today’s BirdNote Daily: birdnote.org/listen/shows/resplendent-quetzal-mexicos-sacred-bird Photo © ryanacandee | BirdNote

Clapping at the base of the El Castillo pyramid (Temple of Kukulcán) in Chichén Itzá, Mexico, produces a unique, high-pitched echo that sounds like the chirping of a Quetzal, a sacred Maya bird. This acoustic phenomenon is caused by the 91 steps on each side acting as sound diffusers, reflecting the sound waves to produce a chirp. Here’s my attempt at demonstrating the famous hand-clapping, bird-chirp echo at Chichen Itza. #méxico #foryou 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽 | Cathy Maguire

The acoustic effect called "the Quetzal tail" comes from emitting an impulsive sound—short length but loud sound, an explosion, an applause or playing a percussion instrument—in front of the pyramid’s staircase. If we slap about 40 meters away on the perpendicular of the escalinata we hear a sharp sound, a strange squeak, a sound similar to the singing of the quetzal, the sacred bird of the Mayas. . . #Kukulkán #ChichenItzá Video Credit: @anilbrancaleoni | Jain 108 Academy