Apalharpactes mackloti
The Sumatran Trogon (*Apalharpactes mackloti*) is a medium-sized, strikingly beautiful bird endemic to the montane forests of Sumatra, Indonesia. Males exhibit brilliant emerald-green plumage on the head, back, and upper breast, contrasting with a yellowish-olive lower breast and belly. A distinctive pale blue orbital skin surrounds a dark eye, often highlighted by a partially red bill, while the graduated tail features intricate white barring on the outer rectrices. Measuring approximately 3...
Found exclusively in subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, typically at elevations ranging from 800 to 2000 meters. It prefers dense mid-canopy and understory layers.
Feeds primarily on large insects such as mantids, cicadas, stick insects, orthopterans, and caterpillars, supplemented occasionally by spiders and small fruits.
Sumatran Trogons are generally solitary or found in pairs, maintaining a rather inconspicuous presence in their forest habitat. They are diurnal, spending much of the day perched motionless, often for long periods, which aids in their cryptic camouflage. Foraging primarily involves a 'sit-and-wai...
The Sumatran Trogon is endemic to the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, where it is a resident species. Its distribution is confined to the montane rainforests along the Barisan Mountains, which stretch across the island from Aceh province in the north to Lampung province in the south. Within this ra...
Least Concern
- The Sumatran Trogon is one of only two species in the unique genus *Apalharpactes*, the other being the Javan Trogon, from which it was only recently recognized as a distinct species. - Its genus name, *Apalharpactes*, combines the Greek 'apaleos' (soft) and 'harpactes' (robber), referring to i...