General

Elegant Trogon: Iridescent green upperparts and breast. Red undertail and belly, separated from green breast by white band, long iridescent copper green square tail tipped in black. Often seen perching upright. Female has brown head and upperparts, pale brown-white lower breast, white patch behind eye, white bar across brown upper breast. Juvenile similar to female but paler.

Range and Habitat

Elegant Trogon: Most adaptable, living in a wide variety of habitats ranging from tropical lowland forested floodplains, high elevation riparian woodlands, arid 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.

Breeding and Nesting

Elegant Trogon: Three to four white eggs are laid in a nest made of hay, straw, moss, wool, and feathers, in natural tree or abandoned woodpecker cavities 12 to 40 feet above the ground. Incubated by both sexes for about 23 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Elegant Trogon: Feeds on insects, berries, and fruits, which it often gathers by hovering.

Vocalization

Elegant Trogon: Emits a rolled chattering or steady gruff frog-like sound or a series of hoarse, throaty, downslurred "k row hr" repeated several times.

Similar Species

Elegant Trogon: Eared Quetzal is larger, has dark bill, and lack white breast band.