Birding in Peru VIII: Trogonidae: The Colorful Birds of the Tropics

The Trogonidae family is split into two subfamilies: Trogoninae (true trogons), which includes 5 genera and Apalodermatinae (quetzals) with 2 genera.
Trogons are distributed across tropical forests worldwide, with 24 species found in Central and South America (Neotropics), 12 species found in Southeast Asia, and 3 species found in Africa.
Quetzals are exclusive to the Americas.
While trogons are commonly found in mainland forests, they are generally absent from oceanic islands, except in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. Some species, such as the quetzals, are adapted to cooler montane forests. Notably, one of the species, the golden-headed quetzal, can be found in the Quillabamba Road, which is located a 2–3 hour ride from Birds Hotel Molino.
The exact evolutionary placement of the trogons within the avian class continues to be debated. Over the years, various hypotheses have been proposed, suggesting that trogons are related to birds such as parrots, cuckoos, toucans, jacamars, puffbirds, rollers, owls, and nightjars, with recent studies pointing to a closer relationship with mousebirds.

Despite their colorful plumage being the first characteristic to attract attention, the Latin name of the family Trogonidae comes from the Greek word trogon, meaning "nibbling," referring to the birds’ habit of gnawing holes in trees to make their nests.
Vibrant Plumage: Trogons are known for their vibrant plumage, especially the males, which display hues of green, blue, red, and purple. Many species exhibit iridescent colors, though not all; for example, the Asian species often have more muted colors on their undersides.
Stocky Build: Trogons have a sturdy, robust appearance, with a large round head, thick neck, and short bill. This gives them a compact look, which is complemented by their distinctive tail, aiding in their movement through dense foliage.
Distinctive Tail: One of the most remarkable features of trogons is their square-tipped tail.
Size: Trogons vary in size, with the smallest species being the scarlet-rumped trogon, measuring 23 cm (9.1 in) in length and weighing 40 g (1.4 oz). In contrast, the resplendent quetzal can grow up to 40 cm (16 in) in length and weigh 210 g (7.4 oz), not including the male’s remarkable 3-foot-long (0.91 m) tail streamers.

Heterodactyl Feet: Trogons possess a unique toe arrangement known as heterodactyl, where the first and fourth toes point backward, and the second and third toes point forward. This arrangement enables them to grip tree branches securely while feeding or resting. Trogons are the only type of animal with this distinctive toe arrangement. Their feet muscle-to-body weight ratio is only 3%, the lowest known ratio of any bird species. As a result, trogons have weak, short legs and are essentially unable to walk beyond a very occasional shuffle along a branch. They are even incapable of turning around on a branch without using their wings.
Head Movements: Similar to owls, trogons can rotate their heads up to 180 degrees, allowing them to scan their surroundings for predators and prey without needing to move their bodies.
Strong Wings: While their feet are relatively weak, their wings are strong and powerful, enabling them to fly at speeds of up to 40 mph (64 km/h). In fact their wings are one of the strongest in the bird kingdom, with the wing muscle ratio accounting for about 22% of their body weight. Trogons prefer flying over walking, using their powerful wings to make quick, short flights to change positions rather than hopping or walking along branches. Though their flight is fast, trogons are reluctant to fly long distances and typically travel no more than a few hundred meters at a time.

Diet: Trogons are omnivores, feeding on a mix of insects and fruits. Some species, like the black-tailed trogon, are known to eat caterpillars regularly, making them one of the few bird groups to prey on them.
Feeding Behavior: Trogons typically hunt by perching quietly and waiting for prey to come into view. They are also known to forage for fruit in the dense canopy. Their strong wings enable them to fly to new locations in search of food.

Nesting: Trogons usually nest in tree cavities, with at least one species using old wasp nests.
Mating Behavior: Trogons are monogamous and territorial. Males attract females through vocalizations, and in the case of quetzals, they also perform feather display flights. Both parents share the duties of brooding and feeding the chicks.
The majority of trogons are not currently endangered.

Sources:

Cornell Lab of Ornithology – Trogonidae Family Overview
https://www.allaboutbirds.org
Encyclopedia of Life – Trogonidae Overview
https://eol.org/pages/355
Wikipedia – Trogonidae
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trogonidae
Photo: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/20853-Pharomachrus-auriceps

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