From Opus

Trogon massena

Male. Photo by blubird
Location: Costa Rica.

[edit] Identification

30 cm. Dark grey tail, apparently grey wing coverts finely vermiculated in black and white. The male has a green back, head and breast, red belly and orange bill. The female has a dark grey back, head and breast, red belly and only partially orange bill, most of the upper mandible being black. When seen directly from below, the tail can look silvery, where it really is dark slaty grey. The orange-red bill is important in separating this species from Black-tailed Trogon.

[edit] Distribution

From Mexico to Ecuador

[edit] Taxonomy

Three subspecies: massena, hoffmanni, and australis.

[edit] Habitat

Canopy and higher levels of damp tropical forests.

Female. Photo by Gary Clark.
Location: La Selva Biological Research Station, Costa Rica.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes insects and fruit.

Both sexes excavate nests 3-15 m high, with an ascending tunnel leading to a chamber, in an occupied termite nest or decaying tree trunk. 3 white or blue-white eggs are laid.

[edit] External Links