Black-throated Trogon
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| Trogon rufus Gmelin, 1788 |
The Black-throated Trogon, Trogon rufus, is a near passerine bird in the trogon family, Trogonidae. It breeds in lowlands from Honduras south to western Ecuador and northern Argentina.
It is a resident of the lower levels of damp tropical forests, and prefers the deep shade of the understory. It nests 1-6 m high in an unlined shallow cavity, with a typical clutch of two white eggs.
Trogons have distinctive male and female plumages, with soft, often colourful, feathers. This relatively small species is 23-24 cm long and weighs 54-57 g, with a white undertail with black barring, a yellow bill and wing coverts which are vermiculated with black and white, but appear grey at any distance.
The male Black-throated Trogon has a green head, upper breast and back, black face and throat, and golden yellow belly. The female has a brown head, upper breast and back, rufous upper tail and yellow belly. Immatures resemble the adults but are duller, and young males have a brown throat, breast and wing coverts.
The call is a churring krrrrrr, and the song is a typical trogon series of a few clear whistles, cuh cuh cuh cuh.
Black-throated Trogons feed on insects and fruit, often taken in flight. Their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. They typically perch upright and motionless.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Trogon rufus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 06 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Hilty, Birds of Venezuela, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
- Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
