Trogon mexicanus
The Mountain Trogon, *Trogon mexicanus*, is a striking member of the Trogonidae family, renowned for its vibrant plumage and elegant form. Males are instantly recognizable with their iridescent metallic green upperparts, a stark black face, a distinctive white breast band, and a brilliant red belly, contrasted by a bright yellow bill and a conspicuous white eye-ring. They measure approximately 28-31 cm in length and weigh around 60-70 grams. Females, while beautiful, are more subtly colored, ...
Found primarily in humid pine-oak and evergreen montane forests, including cloud forests and canyons, typically at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on large insects such as caterpillars, beetles, and cicadas, but also consumes a significant amount of wild fruits and berries, especially during the non-breeding season.
Mountain Trogons are diurnal but often remain remarkably still and inconspicuous, blending into the forest canopy. They employ a 'perch-and-sally' foraging technique, darting out from a favored perch to snatch insects from foliage or to pluck fruits. These birds are generally solitary or found in...
The Mountain Trogon has a relatively extensive distribution across the highlands of Mesoamerica. Its primary breeding range extends from central and eastern Mexico, following the Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental mountain ranges, south through Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Within these...
Least Concern
- Mountain Trogons are often called 'bird of the gods' by indigenous communities due to their striking beauty and elusive nature. - Unlike most birds, trogons have a heterodactyl foot structure, with the first and second toes pointing backward, and the third and fourth toes pointing forward. - Th...