Bare-cheeked trogon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bare-cheeked trogon |
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The bare-cheeked trogon (Apaloderma aequatoriale) is a type of bird that lives in the rainforests of western central Africa. It belongs to the Trogonidae family.
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What Does the Bare-Cheeked Trogon Look Like?
The bare-cheeked trogon looks a lot like its cousin, the narina trogon. However, you can tell them apart by their faces! The bare-cheeked trogon has bright yellow skin on its face, while the narina trogon has green facial skin. Bare-cheeked trogons are also a bit smaller and have shorter tails.
Male vs. Female Trogons
Male and female bare-cheeked trogons look different, which is called sexual dimorphism.
- The male has a greenish-blue back, head, and upper chest. His lower chest is pinkish-red.
- The female has a pinkish-red chest, but only her back and the back of her head are greenish-blue.
Both males and females have pale grey wings with fine stripes. They both also have that special yellow patch of skin on their faces. Their tails are white underneath, and their bills are yellow. These birds are usually about 28 to 31 centimeters long.
Unique Feet
Trogons have special feet called heterodactyl feet. This means two toes point forward and two toes point backward. This unique foot shape is only found in trogons!
Where Do Bare-Cheeked Trogons Live?
Bare-cheeked trogons live in central west Africa. They stay in the same areas all year and do not usually migrate.
Countries Where They Are Found
You can find these birds in several countries:
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Republic of the Congo
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Nigeria
Their Forest Home
These trogons prefer to live deep inside lowland rainforests. They like areas with a closed-canopy (where tree branches form a dense roof). This includes swamp-forests, flood forests with lots of liana vines, and even forests that have been logged but still have their canopy intact. They spend most of their time just below the main tree canopy. They also rely on holes in trees for their nests.
How Do Bare-Cheeked Trogons Behave?
What Sounds Do They Make?
You can easily tell a bare-cheeked trogon from a narina trogon by its song. Their song is a series of 6 to 8 "chuu" sounds, repeated every 15 to 20 seconds. When adult trogons bring food to their nest, they make soft grunting calls.
Sometimes, bare-cheeked trogons gather in groups to sing. This "calling assemblage" involves 3 to 10 adult males, and sometimes even up to 20! They sing continuously while chasing each other from one branch to another. Male narina trogons might even join in. This behavior happens during the breeding season, so it might be related to reproduction, but it doesn't lead to mating. This singing gathering is common for several types of trogons.
What Do They Eat?
Bare-cheeked trogons are insectivores, meaning they mainly eat insects. Their diet includes:
- Large green caterpillars
- Beetles
- Moths
- Mantises
- Bush-crickets
They also eat grass and moss. They hunt in a similar way to drongos, sometimes even chasing their prey to the ground. Their relatives, the narina trogons, are known to hunt by flying out from a perch to catch insects that are still or moving. Bare-cheeked trogons likely share this hunting style, but more research is needed to know for sure.
How Do They Raise Their Young?
Bare-cheeked trogons don't have a specific breeding season; it changes depending on the region. They are monogamous, meaning they have one partner, and they protect their territory. The male will fight to claim a nest.
Their nests are usually found in holes within rotting trees, about 2 to 8 meters off the ground. The female lays two eggs, which hatch after 16 days. Once the chicks hatch, both parents feed them for another 16 days until they are ready to leave the nest.
