Narina Trogon

The Narina trogon, a member of the Trogonidae family, is a medium-sized bird, measuring 32 to 34 centimeters in length. This species exhibits a striking dichotomy of colors, with males donning a more vibrant palette compared to their female counterparts.

Identification Tips

Males are adorned with a bright amaranth red on their underside and possess bare, green gape and eye flanges. Their upperparts are a vivid, gingery green, and their tail feathers boast a metallic blue-green sheen. The outer three rectrices on each side are tipped and fringed with white, which is particularly noticeable when the bird is perched. Females, on the other hand, have a brown face and chest, with blue skin encircling the eyes and a duller red below. Juveniles resemble females but can be distinguished by the white tips on their tertials and less pronounced gape and eye flanges.

Habitat

The Narina trogon is native to the forests and woodlands of the Afrotropics, thriving in a variety of environments from lowland to highland, valley, and riparian forests, across tropical to temperate zones.

Distribution

This species boasts a broad African range, from Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, and from East Africa to the eastern and southern regions of South Africa. Some populations remain sedentary, while others exhibit regular movements.

Behaviour

The Narina trogon's diet is primarily composed of insects, small invertebrates, rodents, and reptiles. Males are known for their territorial and mating call—a grating, low, repeated hoot. During these vocal displays, males will expand their bare, blue-green throat patch, and both sexes may puff out their breast feathers. Nesting occurs in tree hollows, with both sexes sharing incubation and brooding responsibilities.

Song & Calls

The male Narina trogon's call is a distinctive, low-pitched hoot, used for both defending territory and attracting a mate.

Breeding

Nesting takes place in tree hollows, where both male and female trogons share the duties of incubation and brooding.

Similar Species

The Narina trogon can be confused with the bar-tailed trogon, but the latter can be differentiated by its tail pattern.

Diet and Feeding

The Narina trogon feeds on a diet rich in insects, small invertebrates, and occasionally small rodents and reptiles.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Narina trogon as Least Concern, indicating a stable population despite local depletion in numbers due to deforestation.