EnglishLos trogones, de la misma familia de aves que los quetzales, tienen un plumaje brillante con colores contrastantes., which makes them popular with birdwatchers.
Popular among birdwatchers, Los trogones son conocidos por su plumaje brillante con colores contrastantes.. Como otras aves tropicales, esta especie no migratoria puede permanecer perfectamente quieta para sobrevivir, haciéndolos difíciles de detectar.
Aunque los trogones existen desde hace millones de años, sus poblaciones están disminuyendo. Learn more about this unique bird, the threats it faces, y Paso Pacifico’s conservation efforts.
A Brief Background on Trogons
Trogon, Greek for “nibbling,” are birds that belong to the family Trogonidae in the order Trogoniformes. Alrededor 43 bird species comprise the Trogonidae family.
The African genus Apaloderma includes 3 especies. mientras tanto, Southeast Asia is home to 12 especies, divided between Harpactes and Apalharpactes. The greatest diversity is in the Neotropics, con 28 species across 4 genera.
Fascinating Facts About Trogons
Here are some interesting facts about this remarkable bird:
Trogons Are an Ancient Species
Geologically speaking, trogons originated acerca de 23 million years ago.
Sin embargo, fossil records indicate they’re even older, suggesting these birds go as far back as the early Eocene period. Experts theorize they first appeared in the Northern Hemisphere and moved towards the equator during the Cenozoic period as climatic and environmental conditions changed.
They Can Cling to Trees Vertically
The heterodactyl behavior is exclusive to the Trogonidae. Trogons cling vertically to trees by positioning their first two toes backward while the third and fourth face forward. This is an extremely useful ability since trogons love gnawing on dead trees while making nest cavities.
These Birds Aren’t Migratory
While their move from the Northern Hemisphere to the Equator must have been part of a survival strategy for the species , Trogons are generally not migratory. Sin embargo, certain species undertake partial local movements.
Trogons have the lowest leg muscle-to-body ratio of any bird at only 3%, making them inefficient flyers. Por eso, these ornithic creatures permanently occupy the forests within their range.
Sin embargo, they don’t let their short legs and weak feet keep them from traveling short distances or moving to lower elevations for fruiting events.
Trogons Have Distinct Physical Characteristics
Trogons have brilliant plumage though the males are more eye-catching than the females which is often the case in the avian kingdom. They have broad, serrated bills that allow them to swallow their food whole. They also have small, weak legs and long tails.
These Avians Are Residents of Tropical Forests
Trogons live in the tropical forests of Central and Southern Africa, Southeast Asia as well as North and South America. Some birds from the Trogon family, like the resplendent quetzal, are found in Central America and Southern Mexico.
They primarily inhabit rainforests and woodlands. Most live in the tropics and subtropics, scattered in the lower-to-middle elevations of forests.
These Tropical Inhabitants Feed on Insects and Fruits
Trogons of the African species feed on a variety of insects: caterpillars, cicadas, grillos, escarabajos, adult butterflies, dragonflies, walking sticks, moths, and various orthopterans. This diet could be responsible for the unusually foul odor detected in their flesh and feces. They also ingest small vertebrates (animals with spines or backbones) like anoles, ranas, and lizards.
Species in Asia and America include fruits in their diets.
They’re the Ventriloquists of the Animal Kingdom
These feathered animals have an uncanny ability to produce sounds without moving their beaks. It’s thus difficult to recognize the sounds they emit, prompting bird lovers to describe them as the ventriloquists of the animal kingdom.
Trogons Are Seed Dispersers
These fruit-eating avians are seed dispersers which is fundamental for the conservation of biodiversity. Sin embargo, research shows they aren’t very good at it since they only travel short distances.
All things considered, trogons are essential for diversity and addressing the declining global forest area. In the last 60 años, forests have shrunk by over 60% y 81.7 million hectares have been lost.
These Winged Creatures Are Loyal To Their Mates
The “nibbling” tropical species are monogamous, but they don’t remain in pairs throughout the year.
Durante la temporada de reproducción, many trogon species gather in mixed-gender calling assemblages and show a strong territorial nature. Esto suele ocurrir en la estación seca, cuando la comida es más abundante.. Sin embargo, su fenología es extremadamente variable y los nidos son visto durante la primavera y el verano.
Ambos padres cuidan de sus hijos
Ambos padres cuidan de sus hijos., con la hembra vigilando durante la noche. Sus polluelos sobreviven principalmente a base de insectos ingeridos enteros o regurgitados. (La comida que se ha tragado regresa a la boca.).
Son antiguos símbolos de poder y estatus
Los trogones eran capturados por sus plumas, pero rara vez se mataban. Las plumas de esta familia de aves, en particular el quetzal macho, se consideraban un símbolo de poder y estatus en la cultura y la literatura aztecas.. Los gobernantes utilizaban plumas de vivos colores dispuestas en semicírculo para sus tocados..
Trogones en peligro
Ten trogon species were classified as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (UICN) in its 2002 lista Roja.
These include:
- Baird’s trogon (T. bairdii)
- Diard’s trogon (Harpactes diardii)
- Whitehead’s trogon (H. whiteheadi)
- The Resplendent quetzal (PAG. mocinno)
- The Cinnamon-rumped trogon (H. orrhophaeus)
- The Eared trogon (Euptilotis neoxenus)
- The Hispaniolan trogon (Temnotrogon roseigaster)
- The Red-naped trogon (H. kasumba)
- The Scarlet-rumped trogon (H. duvaucelii)
- Ward’s trogon (H. wardi)
Tristemente, the dangers they face are mostly caused by humans.
Threats to Their Survival
Trogons are considered biological indicators of forest integrity. Ellos facilitate the presence of a variety of other species by creating necessary nest cavities (hollow areas), most of which are in arboreal termitaria.
Desafortunadamente, Trogonidae populations have declined across the world because of:
Illegal Aviculture Trade
The beautiful and elaborate plumages of the trogon have put them at a notable disadvantage. The trapping of exotic birds has increased dramatically, exacerbating forest destruction.
Destrucción del hábitat
Trogons build nests in arboreal termitaria and decaying palm trees. As a forest-dependent species, it is affected by habitat fragmentation due to old-growth trees being cut down at an alarming rate. The human-driven disturbance seriously affects the number of suitable nesting locations.
These factors have forced the species’ confinement to smaller areas.
The Resplendent Quetzal, a member of the Trogonidae family, has been restricted to ranges from Chiapas to Panama at elevations above 1,500 yardas. Since they depend on trees in primary cloud forests, they are undergoing a “moderately rapid population decline” due to habitat destruction.
Drawdown
La reducción de los niveles freáticos es otra amenaza para la supervivencia del trogón. A medida que los niveles de agua subterránea caen drásticamente en todo el mundo, La vegetación ribereña en estas áreas puede verse gravemente afectada.. Estas son las áreas principales donde los trogones construyen sus nidos..
Preserva los hábitats del trogón con Paso Pacífico
Además de la disminución de la población debido al pobre éxito reproductivo, Los trogones se enfrentan a una progresiva pérdida de hábitat. Esto ha afectado 76% de la especie, incluyendo quetzales, A menudo consideradas las aves más bellas del mundo..
Estas aves de colores vibrantes se encuentran desde el sur de México hasta Costa Rica y Guatemala.. Fueron descritos como raro y en peligro de extinción en 1969. Desafortunadamente, la situación no ha mejorado. Una de las subespecies, el resplandeciente quetzal, está en la Lista de Vigilancia de la NABCI como especie de gran preocupación para la conservación.
Paso Pacifico understands the urgency of their plight and is committed to making a difference.
Our efforts started in Nicaragua, where we enlisted the help of the locals to build a corridor at Paso del Istmo. The Interoceanic Corridor extends to El Salvador, a small country in Central America, connecting numerous distinct ecosystems that serve as habitats to the black-headed trogons.
But the effort can only continue with your generous support. Help us amplify our mission to restore and protect the Pacific Slope ecosystems of Mesoamerica by donating to Paso Pacifico.