Amazonian Black-throated Trogon

Overview

The Amazonian black-throated trogon (Trogon rufus) is a relatively small bird in the family Trogonidae, distinct from several other black-throated trogon species following a taxonomic split in 2022. It is a year-round resident found across mainland South America, excluding Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Identification

• Adult males feature a black forehead and face, a pale blue eye ring, and metallic green-to-blue upperparts, contrasting with a black throat and yellow belly.
• Adult females are predominantly brown with a coppery tinge on the wing coverts, a brown face with a pale blue eye ring, and a yellow belly.
• The species measures 24 to 26 cm in length and weighs between 45 and 60 g, possessing short, bluish-gray legs and feet in adults.
• Males emit a slow, regularly spaced series of 2–6 nasal, over-slurred coo notes, while both sexes produce a short churr call.

Habitat

The species inhabits the understory to mid-story of humid primary and mature secondary forests, generally favouring areas near streams. Its range extends from eastern Venezuela through the Guianas, northern Brazil, and into parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, reaching elevations of up to 1,400 m in Colombia.

Diet

Feeding on both fruit and insects, the Amazonian black-throated trogon captures prey by sallying or hovering from a perch before returning to eat. It occasionally follows army ant swarms to catch disturbed insects and forages alone 89% of the time, though it joins mixed-species flocks approximately 11% of the time.

Did you know?

The species was previously known as the yellow-bellied trogon, a name that caused confusion because it is not the only trogon with a yellow belly, as that description also applies to the Black-headed and Citreoline trogons.