Collared Trogon

Collared Trogon
Male in NW Ecuador
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Trogoniformes
Family:	Trogonidae
Genus:	Trogon
Species:	T. collaris
Binomial name
Trogon collaris Vieillot, 1817

The Collared Trogon, Trogon collaris, is a near passerine bird in the trogon family, Trogonidae. It is found in the warmer parts of the Neotropics, and includes numerous subspecies, including T. c. exoptatus from northern Colombia, northern Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.

It is a resident of tropical forests, where it nests in a hole in a termite nest or tree, with a typical clutch of two white eggs.

Collared Trogons feed on insects and fruit, and 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.

Trogons have distinctive male and female plumages, with soft, often colourful, feathers. This species is about 25 cm long. The back, head and breast of the male are green, and a white line separates the breast from the red underparts. The undertail is white with black barring, and the wings are black, vermiculated with white.

The female is has a brown back, head and breast, a relatively uniform undertail (not clearly barred), and underparts that are slightly paler than in the male.

The call is a plaintive caow, caow, caow.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Trogon collaris. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 06 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

• ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd edition ed.). Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2. 
• Hilty, Steven L (2003). Birds of Venezuela. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5.