kids encyclopedia robot

Ecuadorian trogon facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Ecuadorian trogon
Ecuadorian Trogon - Ecuador S4E9606.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Genus:
Trogon
Species:
mesurus
Trogon mesurus map.svg
Synonyms
  • Troctes mesurus
  • Curucujus melanurus pacificus
  • Trogon melanurus mesurus

The Ecuadorian trogon (Trogon mesurus) is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae, the quetzals and trogons. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.

Taxonomy and systematics

What is now the Ecuadorian trogon went through several scientific name changes. The last before the current binomial was Trogon melanurus mesurus, a subspecies of black-tailed trogon. Genetic studies in the early 2000s determined that it is a species in its own right. It is monotypic.

Description

The Ecuadorian trogon is 30.5 to 32 cm (12 to 13 in) long. One male weighed 96 g (3.4 oz) and a female 100 g (3.5 oz). The male has a black face and throat with a red ring around the eye. The crown, nape, upperparts, and upper breast are iridescent green. A white band separates the upper breast from the deep red lower breast, belly, and vent. The upperside of the tail is green and the underside is slaty gray. The folded wing has fine black and grayish white vermiculation. The female replaces the male's green parts with shades of gray.

Distribution and habitat

The Ecuadorian trogon is found from Ecuador's most northerly province, Esmeraldas, south into Peru's Lambayeque Province. It inhabits the edges and interior of humid evergreen forest and semideciduous forest. In Ecuador it ranges in elevation from sea level to about 2,000 m (6,600 ft) and in Peru it occurs between 400 and 1,250 m (1,300 and 4,100 ft).

Behavior

Feeding

The feeding behavior and diet of the Ecuadorian trogon have not been studied. It is assumed to sally from a perch to pluck fruit or arthropods from vegetation in the same manner as other trogons.

Breeding

The only described nests of the Ecuadorian trogon were cavities excavated in active arboreal termitaria. The clutch size was three eggs. Both sexes incubated the eggs.

Vocalization

The Ecuadorian trogon's song is "a slow, short series of cow notes that often starts slowly and builds in strength, e.g., cuh-cuh-cuh-cuh-cow-cow-ców-ców-ców." Both sexes make a call of "a rapid series of churring notes: crra crra crra crra."

Status

The IUCN has assessed the Ecuadorian trogon as being of Least Concern. Though its population has not been quantified, it is believed to be stable. However, "As with other species that occupy forested habitats, [the] Ecuadorian Trogon is vulnerable to habitat loss or degradation."

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Trogón ecuatoriano para niños

kids search engine
Ecuadorian trogon Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.