Cuban Trogon

Overview

The Cuban trogon, or tocororo, is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae that is endemic to Cuba. It serves as the national bird of the country and is assessed as being of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Measures 23 to 28 cm in length and weighs between 47 and 75 g.
• Plumage matches the colors of the Cuban flag, featuring a dark metallic blue crown, metallic green back, white throat and breast, and a red belly.
• Possesses a reddish pink bill with a dark culmen and reddish eyes.
• Song is a pleasant, repeated 'toco-toco-tocoro-tocoro' call, accompanied by rapid staccato notes.

Habitat

The species inhabits primary and secondary forests, shrublands, and smaller woodlands near watercourses, favoring humid, shady areas at all elevations but being most common at higher ones. The nominate subspecies is found throughout the main island of Cuba and on several large cays off the Camagüey Province shore, while the second subspecies is restricted to Isla de la Juventud.

Diet

The Cuban trogon forages at the middle level of the forest, taking food by sallying from a perch or hovering at foliage and fruit. Its diet consists mostly of insects, fruit, and buds, but it also feeds small lizards to its young.

Did you know?

The local name 'tocororo' is derived directly from the bird's onomatopoeic call, which sounds like 'toco-toco-tocoro-tocoro'.