Masked trogon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Masked trogon
Male in Tandayapa Bird Lodge, Ecuador
Female, Tandayapa Valley, NW Ecuador
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Trogon
Species:	personatus

The masked trogon (scientific name: Trogon personatus) is a colorful bird from the Trogonidae family. You can often find these birds in the wet, high-up forests of South America, especially in the Andes mountains and unique flat-topped mountains called tepuis.

About Masked Trogons

Masked trogons are known for their bright colors. They live in humid, high-altitude forests. These birds are a common sight in their natural habitats.

Different Types of Masked Trogons

Scientists have found eight different types, or subspecies, of the masked trogon. These subspecies are slightly different from each other. They often live in specific areas.

• T. p. assimilis: Lives in the western Andean mountains of Ecuador.
• T. p. duidae: Found on Mount Duida in the tepui region of southern Venezuela. Males of this type have a reddish-bronze back.
• T. p. personatus: Lives in the Andes of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Males of this type have a shiny green back.
• T. p. ptaritepui: Found in the tepui region of southern Venezuela. Males of this type have a golden-green back.
• T. p. roraimae: Lives on Auyantepui and Monte Roraima, near the borders of Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil.
• T. p. sanctamartae: Found in the Santa Marta Mountains in northeastern Colombia.
• T. p. submontanus: Lives in the lower parts of the Andes mountains in Bolivia.
• T. p. temperatus: Sometimes called the highland trogon. It lives in the cooler parts of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

What Masked Trogons Look Like

The masked trogon is a medium-sized bird. It is about 27 centimeters (11 inches) long. It weighs around 56 grams (2 ounces).

Male and Female Differences

Like many birds, male and female masked trogons look different. This is called sexual dimorphism.

• Males: Their upper body, head, and upper chest are very shiny. The color can be green, reddish-bronze, or golden-green. This depends on the specific subspecies. Their belly and lower chest are red. A thin white band separates the green upper chest from the red lower parts. Males also have a clear eye-ring. This ring is usually red, but it can be orange in birds from the tepui regions.
• Females: They are brown on their upper body. Their belly and breast are pinkish to red. The white band that separates the brown and red colors is often thin or hard to see. All female masked trogons have a partial white eye-ring.

Masked Trogon Behavior

Feeding Habits

Masked trogons eat both fruits and insects. This mixed diet helps them get all the nutrients they need.

Reproduction and Nests

Masked trogons build their nests inside rotting tree trunks. They dig a cavity (a hole) in the soft wood. This keeps their eggs and chicks safe.

Images for kids

• 

  Male in northwestern Ecuador showing black "mask"

See also

In Spanish: Trogon personatus para niños