Mountain Trogon (also known as Mexican Trogon)

The Mountain Trogon is a medium-sized, elegant bird. Males feature a vibrant metallic green back and a stunning red underbelly separated by a crisp white horizontal breast band. They have a short, heavy yellow bill and a distinctive upright posture when perched.

Upperparts are metallic iridescent green with golden or bronze highlights. The male shown has a bright red belly, white breast band, and a dark grey-to-black head with a yellow bill.

Pennaceous at the distal tip for color, transitioning to a loose, downy plumulaceous structure at the base for insulation.

The rachis is thin and dark, supporting densely packed barbs that create a smooth, continuous iridescent surface for structural color reflecting green and teal.

Glossy and metallic on the upper surface due to structural coloration; extremely soft and thin skin/feather attachment, which is a characteristic of the Trogon family.

Based on the iridescent green visible in the image, these feathers originate from the upperparts, specifically the mantle, back, or rump.

White breast band, metallic green upperparts, bright red belly, and finely barred outer tail feathers (black and white) visible in the field.

Montane pine-oak and evergreen forests, typically at elevations between 3,000 and 10,000 feet.

Resident from the highlands of Mexico through Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras; occasionally found as a rare visitor in southeastern Arizona.

Primary consumer of insects and small fruits; they are 'sit-and-wait' predators that sally out to pluck prey from foliage.

Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans) is very similar but occupies lower elevations and has a different tail pattern and vocalization.

Trogons have 'heterodactyl' feet, where the first and second toes face backward and the third and fourth face forward—a trait unique to this order of birds.

Trogons and Quetzals hold significant cultural weight in Mesoamerican history, often symbolizing forest health and beauty; their feathers were historically used in ornamental headdresses.

Look for the white 'necklace' and yellow bill; listen for their characteristic 'cow-cow-cow' barking call in high-altitude pine forests.

The illustration depicts a male in fresh adult breeding plumage with clean, vibrant iridescence.