Two days ago while hiking around in the Huachuca Mountains, I decided to take a break in the shade of some Arizona Maples trees near a small spring. The elevation was around 6000 feet or so. I was just sitting there on my pack, sipping water and enjoying my solitude, when I noticed a movement in my peripheral vision to the left.
I turned my head slightly to the left, and saw for the first time a beautiful Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans).
I have been hiking around the Huachucas for about 20 years and have never seen one before. It sure is a pretty bird.
Here is a little 411 for you.
Tomahawk - Scouts Out!
The Elegant Trogon, Trogon elegans (formerly the "Coppery-tailed" Trogon), is a near passerine bird in the trogon family. It breeds from southeasternmost Arizona in the United States to northwestern Costa Rica. It occasionally is found as a vagrant in southeasternmost and western Texas.
It is a resident of the lower levels of semi-arid open woodlands and forests. It nests 2–6 metres (7–20 ft) high in an unlined shallow cavity, usually selecting an old woodpecker hole, with a typical clutch of 2–3 eggs.
Trogons have distinctive male and female plumages, with soft, often colourful, feathers. This species is 28–30 centimetres (11–12 in) long and weighs 65–67 grams (2.3–2.4 oz). Both sexes have a white undertail with fine horizontal black barring. The undertail also has large white tips spaced evenly ending in a black terminal band. Both have a yellow bill, orange-red undertail coverts and lower belly, and a white horizontal breast stripe.
The male Elegant Trogon has a metallic deep green head, upper breast and back, black face and throat, and red-orange lower breast and belly. He shows grey upperwing coverts. The female has a metallic bronze head, upper breast, back, upper tail and upperwing coverts. She shows a dull white upper belly, and a small white vertical stripe behind the eye.
The usual call is a croaking "co-ah co-ah co-ah". The trogon will also include some chattering notes.
Elegant 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.
I turned my head slightly to the left, and saw for the first time a beautiful Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans).
I have been hiking around the Huachucas for about 20 years and have never seen one before. It sure is a pretty bird.
Here is a little 411 for you.
Tomahawk - Scouts Out!
The Elegant Trogon, Trogon elegans (formerly the "Coppery-tailed" Trogon), is a near passerine bird in the trogon family. It breeds from southeasternmost Arizona in the United States to northwestern Costa Rica. It occasionally is found as a vagrant in southeasternmost and western Texas.
It is a resident of the lower levels of semi-arid open woodlands and forests. It nests 2–6 metres (7–20 ft) high in an unlined shallow cavity, usually selecting an old woodpecker hole, with a typical clutch of 2–3 eggs.
Trogons have distinctive male and female plumages, with soft, often colourful, feathers. This species is 28–30 centimetres (11–12 in) long and weighs 65–67 grams (2.3–2.4 oz). Both sexes have a white undertail with fine horizontal black barring. The undertail also has large white tips spaced evenly ending in a black terminal band. Both have a yellow bill, orange-red undertail coverts and lower belly, and a white horizontal breast stripe.
The male Elegant Trogon has a metallic deep green head, upper breast and back, black face and throat, and red-orange lower breast and belly. He shows grey upperwing coverts. The female has a metallic bronze head, upper breast, back, upper tail and upperwing coverts. She shows a dull white upper belly, and a small white vertical stripe behind the eye.
The usual call is a croaking "co-ah co-ah co-ah". The trogon will also include some chattering notes.
Elegant 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.
Wow. What a beautiful sight the trogon is. Take care.
ReplyDeleteOld Paddy