Narina Trogon

Overview

The Narina trogon, Apaloderma narina, is a medium-sized bird in the family Trogonidae native to the forests and woodlands of the Afrotropics. It is the most widespread and diverse in habitat choice among the three Apaloderma species, though its numbers are locally depleted due to deforestation.

Identification

• Medium-sized bird measuring 32–34 cm in length.
• Vivid gingery green upperparts with a metallic blue-green gloss on the tail, featuring white tips on the outer rectrices that create a distinct white appearance on the undertail when perched.
• Males display bright red underparts and bare green gape and eye flanges, while females have brown faces and chests with blue skin around the eyes and duller red underparts.
• Wings are grizzled grey, and immature birds resemble females but possess distinct white tips to the tertials.

Habitat

This species inhabits a wide range of environments, including lowland to highland, valley, and riparian forests across tropical to temperate regions. Its distribution extends from Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, and from East Africa to eastern and southern South Africa, with highland populations dispersing seasonally to lower levels.

Diet

The diet consists mainly of insects and small invertebrates, supplemented by rodents and small reptiles.

Did you know?

The species name is derived from the Khoi word for flower, noted by François Levaillant, who also used the name Narina for his Gonaqua mistress.