Eared Quetzal - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by Glen Tepke
Cave Creek Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, 6 October 2020

Alternative names: Eared Trogon

Euptilotis neoxenus

Identification

Side view
Photo © by Glen Tepke
Cave Creek Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. 6 October 2020

• Turquoise blue upperparts
• Emerald green breast
• Red belly and underparts
• Black head
• Iridescent wing coverts
• Black blue tail with white underneath
• Dark bill

Distribution

One of the few trogons found in the United States, where it is a rare visitor to southeast Arizona. The core of its range is in the highland forests of Mexico´s Sierra Madre Occidental.

Taxonomy

Also known as Eared Trogon (for instance, by Sibley and Monroe). More recent authorities have preferred Eared Quetzal in order to recognise this genus's similarity to the Pharomachrus quetzals.

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Montane forest.

Behaviour

They nest in tree cavities, lined with wood chips. The clutch consists of 2 pale blue eggs.

References

1. Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Eared Quetzal. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eared_Quetzal

External Links

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