Trogon viridis
The Green-backed Trogon (Trogon viridis) is a resplendent neotropical bird, easily identified by its dazzling, iridescent plumage and distinctive morphology. Males showcase a brilliant metallic green back, head, and breast, vividly contrasted by a sunny yellow belly and undertail coverts, and an arresting blue orbital ring around its dark eyes. Their bill is robust and yellow-orange, while the largely green tail exhibits intricate white barring on the outer feathers. Females, though sharing t...
Primarily found in humid tropical and subtropical forests, inhabiting the mid-story and understory layers. They thrive in both terra firme and seasonally flooded forests, typically at elevations from sea level up to 1000 meters.
Their diet consists primarily of a mix of large insects, such as caterpillars, orthopterans, and beetles, along with a wide variety of small to medium-sized fruits, which they typically pluck while hovering.
Green-backed Trogons are typically solitary or found in quiet pairs, often remaining motionless on a shaded perch for extended periods, observing their surroundings with a characteristic upright posture. They are diurnal, spending their days foraging with a precise "perch-and-sally" technique, la...
The Green-backed Trogon is a widespread resident species found across the northern and central Neotropics, exhibiting no migratory behavior. Its extensive year-round range covers much of the Amazon Basin, extending from eastern Colombia and Venezuela, through the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French...
Least Concern
- The Green-backed Trogon possesses heterodactyl feet, a unique arrangement where two toes point forward and two point backward, a trait shared with only a few other bird groups like woodpeckers and cuckoos. - Despite their vibrant coloration, they are remarkably camouflaged in the dappled light ...