Overview
Elegant Trogon: Iridescent green upperparts and breast. Red undertail and belly, separated from green breast by a white band, long iridescent copper green, square tail tipped in black. White undertail with black streaks. Often seen perching upright. Slow undulating flight, can be rapid when needed.
Range and Habitat
Elegant Trogon: Most adaptable, living in a wide variety of habitats ranging from tropical lowland forested floodplains, high elevation riparian woodlands, aird scrublands, woodlands, and temperate upland coniferous forests. Permanent resident in Mexico, also found in Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and the lower Rio Grande of south Texas.
Topo Map:
Perching-like Body
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"wehrr, rr, rr, rr, rr, rr", "kwerr, rrrerrr", "k row hr"
Interesting Facts
The Greek "trogon" means gnawer and describes the Elegant Trongon’s hefty, serrated bill.
Like owls, they can see in low light and turn their heads through nearly 360 degrees.
A nesting pair cannot excavate their own nest hole and often re-use nests from previous years, most of which were initially made by woodpeckers. The male initially chooses a hole about 25 feet above the ground, but the female appears to make the final nest site decision.
Bird Term Glossary
Author
Jane Wright
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