Ecuadorian Trogon

Overview

The Ecuadorian trogon is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae, found in Ecuador and Peru. It was previously considered a subspecies of the black-tailed trogon before genetic studies confirmed its status as a distinct species.

Identification

• Males feature a black face and throat with a red ring around the eye, while the crown, nape, and upperparts are iridescent green.
• A white band separates the green upper breast from the deep red lower breast, belly, and vent, with a tail that is green above and slaty gray below.
• Females resemble males but replace the green parts with shades of gray.
• The bird is 30.5 to 32 cm long, with males weighing 96 g and females 100 g.
• Its song is described as a slow, short series of cow notes that builds in strength, such as cuh-cuh-cuh-cuh-cow-cow-ców-ców-ców, while both sexes produce a rapid churring call of crra crra crra crra.

Habitat

This species inhabits the edges and interior of humid evergreen and semideciduous forests. Its range extends from Esmeraldas in northern Ecuador south to Lambayeque Province in Peru, at elevations ranging from sea level to 2,000 m in Ecuador and 400 to 1,250 m in Peru.

Diet

The specific diet of the Ecuadorian trogon has not been studied, but it is assumed to sally from a perch to pluck fruit or arthropods from vegetation, similar to other trogons.

Did you know?

The only described nests of this species are cavities excavated in active arboreal termitaria. Both sexes participate in incubating a clutch of three eggs.