Bird · GBIF taxon 9323342
Elegant Trogon
Trogon elegansAlso known as Coppery-tailed Trogon
Elegant trogons inhabit pine-oak woodlands and humid canyons, where adult males display striking emerald-green upperparts, a bright red belly, and a crisp white breast band. Their distinctive, dog-like croaking call often echoes through forested ravines long before the bird itself is spotted perching motionless on mid-canopy branches. They nest in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes, raising chicks on a rich diet of large insects and wild canopy fruits.
ColorfulForest BirdCavity Nester
Licensed referencedominic sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Caterpillars
- Cicadas
- Wild berries
Predators
- Hawks
- Owls
- Snakes
ThreatsDeforestation, forest degradation, and human disturbance near nest sites
HabitatsPine-oak woodlands, sycamore canyons, and tropical dry forests
Life span5–10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyTrogonidae
- SpeciesTrogon elegans
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for the metallic green back, vivid red underparts, white chest stripe, and undertail fine black-and-white barring.
- Support conservation
- Refrain from using audio playback calls to attract birds and keep well clear of nesting holes.
Responsible observation
- Listen First: Learn its low, husky barking call to locate perching birds in dense foliage.
- Maintain Distance: Keep a respectful distance from active nest cavities during the breeding season.
- Scan Mid-Canopy: Search horizontal branches where individuals sit still for long stretches between feeding sallies.
Frequent Companion (c) Dmitry Mozzherin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative 
Family Relative (c) Cephas, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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