Bird feathers used in Aztec and Maya headdresses

I think it’s safe to say that the Aztecs and Mayans used feathers from pretty much every bird in their diverse environments. They made spectacular adornments with these feathers, including feathered warriors’ costumes, back devices, fans, banners, and mosaic shields. They embellished textiles (especially cloaks and decorative hangings) with spun feathers. And yes, they made magnificent headdresses and other headgear from feathers.
So what about those headdresses? These spectacular adornments were meant to shimmer and flow, and the tail feathers of the male resplendent quetzal achieved this effect perfectly. We have an actual example of this: the famous “Moctezuma’s headdress” in Vienna, Austria [follow link below]. The most obvious feature of this splendid object is its flowing mass of green quetzal feathers: there were originally about 500 of them. These feathers radiate out from a complex framework that sat on or above the wearer’s head (although probably not Motecuhzoma’s).

Pic 1: A selection of feather headdresses given in tribute annually to the Mexica state, from the Codex Mendoza

This answer could go on and on! Still, it is worth noting that these creative people made many types of headgear using an impressive variety of feathers, artistically choosing them for their color, size, and texture.

Pic 3: Feathers were a key part of the tribute paid by the province of Soconusco. Over 2,400 bundles of assorted feathers were part of the tribute, along with 160 full bird skins and 800 bundles of quetzal tail feathers. Codex Mendoza fol 47r (detail)