Baird's Trogon

In the verdant rainforests of Costa Rica and Panama, one may encounter the Baird's trogon, a bird of striking beauty and poise. This species, named in honor of the esteemed 19th-century naturalist Spencer Fullerton Baird, is a medium-sized trogon, measuring between 25 to 28 cm in length and weighing approximately 95 grams. The male is adorned with a bluish-black head and breast, while the remainder of its underparts are a vivid, bright red. A stout light blue bill and eye ring complement its metallic blue-green upperparts and predominantly blackish wings, which are accented with white on the primary feathers. The tail is a tapestry of greenish to violet-blue with black tips above, and a contrasting white with black tips below. The female, in contrast, sports dark slate above and a paler gray throat and breast, with less red on the underparts and a tail underside barred with black and white.

Identification Tips

To identify Baird's trogon, look for the male's distinctive bluish-black head and bright red underparts. The female can be recognized by her slate-colored upperparts and grayish throat. Both sexes have a unique tail pattern, with the males showing a greenish to violet-blue upper tail with black tips, and the females exhibiting a barred black and white underside.

Habitat

Baird's trogon is a denizen of the humid rainforest's interior canopy, but it is also known to frequent the forest edges, tall secondary growth, and shady semi-open woodlands.

Distribution

This trogon's range is confined to the Pacific slope of Costa Rica, starting from the Tárcoles River, and extending just into western Panama's Chiriquí Province.

Behaviour

Baird's trogon is an active forager, employing sallying tactics to snatch fruits and insects from the foliage. It is also known to hunt prey on the forest floor and occasionally includes small vertebrates in its diet.

Song & calls

The vocal repertoire of Baird's trogon includes a series of barking notes that start at a level pitch, then accelerate and drop abruptly, sometimes ending with several spaced notes at a lower pitch. When disturbed, it emits a sharp cackle.

Breeding

The breeding season for Baird's trogon spans from April to August. They select decaying trunks of dead trees to nest in, laying clutches of two to three eggs. Incubation lasts 16 to 17 days, with fledglings leaving the nest approximately 25 days after hatching.

Similar Species

Baird's trogon may be confused with the green-backed trogon (T. viridis) and white-tailed trogon (T. chionurus), with which it sometimes is treated as conspecific. However, its unique coloration and distribution can help distinguish it from these relatives.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of Baird's trogon primarily consists of fruits and insects, which it captures from the foliage or ground. Small vertebrates are occasionally consumed as well.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified Baird's trogon as Near Threatened due to its small range and the ongoing threat of habitat loss from deforestation. While mostly found within protected areas in Costa Rica, it is considered rare in Panama.