Red-headed Trogon

The Red-headed Trogon, Harpactes erythrocephalus, is a bird of arresting beauty, belonging to the family Trogonidae. The male is particularly striking with its crimson head and breast, a characteristic that sets it apart within its group. Females, while more subdued in coloration, share the same elegant form.

Identification Tips

To identify the male Red-headed Trogon, look for its dull crimson head, neck, and upper breast, contrasted by a narrow white band across the mid-breast. Below this band, the lower breast to abdomen transitions to a light red or pink. The mantle and back are a rustic brown, and the wings display a vermiculated black and white pattern. The tail is dark brown with a black tip, and the bill is a cobalt blue with a black tip, accompanied by a deep mauve-blue gape and eyering.

The female is more olive-brown on the head, neck, and upper breast, with a similar white band and light red to pink lower breast. The mantle and back are orange to brown, and the wings are vermiculated dark brown and yellowish brown. The tail feathers resemble the male's, and the bill, gape, and eyering are a pale blue.

Juveniles are buff brown on the head, neck, and upper-parts, with buff white underparts, and lack the black tip on the central tail feathers.

Habitat

The Red-headed Trogon inhabits dense broadleaved forests, preferring upland areas. It is found in tropical and subtropical zones, particularly in the Himalayan foothills, and ranges in elevation from 300 to 2,600 meters.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed across central Nepal, Southeast Asia, southern China, and Sumatra. It is fairly common in northeastern India, frequent in Bhutan, and locally dispersed in Bangladesh.

Behaviour

The Red-headed Trogon is often seen perching on shaded branches, either alone or in pairs. Its flight is typically sluggish and low to the ground. The bird is most active in the early morning and at night, and in some regions, it exhibits migratory behavior, moving between different elevations.

Song & Calls

The male's call is reminiscent of the Eurasian golden oriole, consisting of mellow "tyaup" notes, usually in a sequence of five to six. Occasionally, it emits an extended "pluu-du" note with a notable drop in pitch at the end.

Breeding

Nesting occurs in natural tree cavities or old nesting holes of woodpeckers and barbets, with the entrance hole being quite wide. The female lays 2 to 4 round, cream-colored, glossy eggs. Both parents participate in nesting duties, with the female incubating and brooding more, especially at night, while the male provides food for the chicks.

Similar Species

The female Red-headed Trogon can be confused with the Diard's trogon, but it lacks the speckled undertail of the latter.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists mainly of insects and their larvae, such as orthopterans, cicadas, and moths. It also consumes leaves and fruits.

Conservation status

The Red-headed Trogon is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of widespread decline.