Choco Trogon

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Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Trogon comptus
  • Spanish Name: Trogón del Chocó
  • Family: Trogonidae
  • Known Nicknames: Blue-tailed Trogon, Chocó Trogon
  • Average Length: 28–29 cm / 11–11.4 in
  • Average Weight: 95–110 g / 3.4–3.9 oz
  • Wingspan: 38–42 cm / 15–16.5 in
  • Key Feature: Striking white eyes (irises), bright red belly, and dark blue-black tail without barring
  • Primary Diet: Omnivorous (Frugivore and Insectivore)
  • Range: Chocó region of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador
  • Habitat: Tropical moist lowland forests and foothill forests
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in pairs
  • Nesting/Breeding: Tree cavities (often excavated in rotting wood or termite nests)
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Decreasing

The Choco Trogon (*Trogon comptus*) is a dazzling, elusive bird endemic to the lush, humid rainforests of the Chocó bioregion stretching across western Colombia and Ecuador. This striking canopy-dweller exhibits gorgeous sexual dimorphism; the male boasts a shimmering metallic-green back, a deep blue-black head and breast, and a brilliant, sun-yellow belly, while the female sports more understated charcoal-grey plumage. A key defining feature of this species is its prominent, powder-blue eye-ring and thick yellow bill, which contrast vividly against its dark face. Unlike closely related trogons, the male Choco Trogon is distinguished by its almost entirely black undertail, making this quiet, sit-and-wait predator of fruits and insects a prized sight for birdwatchers navigating the misty tropical lowlands.

Fun Facts

Despite their flashy metallic green backs and bright yellow bellies, Choco Trogons are surprisingly zen, sitting completely motionless for hours to blend into the misty rainforest canopy. When they finally move, they show off their unique "heterodactyl" feet—a rare anatomical feature where the first two toes point backward and the others forward—which helps them execute acrobatic mid-air twists to snatch fruit or insects directly from foliage. Adding to their quirky nature, these birds often excavate their nests directly inside active wasp nests or termite mounds, cleverly using the stinging residents as a highly effective, built-in security system to protect their eggs.

Habitats & Distribution

This species is restricted to the Chocó biogeographic region of South America, stretching along the Pacific slope of the Andes from western Colombia south to northwestern Ecuador. Within this geographical range, it is endemic to the highly humid coastal and foothill corridor, which is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and high annual rainfall. It primarily inhabits the canopy and middle strata of wet, humid lowland and premontane evergreen forests. While it shows a strong preference for pristine, undisturbed primary rainforests, it can also occasionally be found in mature secondary forests. It typically occupies elevations from near sea level up to around 1,200 meters, staying within the dense, lush foliage of its tropical environment.

Behaviours & Reproduction

Typically observed singly or in monogamous pairs, this species exhibits a quiet and relatively sedentary lifestyle, often remaining motionless in the middle and upper canopy of humid forests for extended periods. While territorial during the breeding season, they are generally non-aggressive and may occasionally join mixed-species foraging flocks to feed on fruits and insects. Communication between mates relies on soft, repetitive vocalizations used to advertise territory boundaries and maintain contact within the dense foliage. During the breeding season, pairs engage in a cooperative nesting strategy, working together to excavate a cavity in decaying tree trunks, stumps, or occasionally active arboreal termite nests. Utilizing termite nests is a specialized reproductive strategy that provides the eggs with a stable microclimate and protection from certain predators. Both the male and female share incubation duties for the typically two-egg clutch and cooperate closely in brooding and feeding the altricial chicks until they are ready to fledge.

Diet

The Choco Trogon (*Trogon comptus*) maintains a diverse, omnivorous diet consisting primarily of a wide variety of forest fruits and various invertebrates, such as caterpillars, cicadas, beetles, and grasshoppers. An intriguing aspect of its feeding behavior is its reliance on "sallying" or hover-gleaning, a technique where the bird perches quietly to scan its surroundings before launching into a brief, hovering flight to pluck fruit or snatch insects directly from the foliage. To assist with this lifestyle, the Choco Trogon possesses a specialized, finely serrated bill that provides a firm grip on slippery tropical fruits and helps saw through tough insect exoskeletons. Furthermore, because it typically swallows fruits whole and later regurgitates the seeds undamaged, this species serves as a vital ecological seed disperser within the wet, humid forests of the Chocó biogeographic region.

Colors

The male Choco Trogon boasts a shimmering metallic blue-green back and head, a black face, a bright yellow bill and eye-ring, and a vibrant yellow belly, paired with a distinctive, mostly solid black undertail. Females display camouflage-friendly grayish-brown upperparts and breasts while retaining the yellow belly. This combination of iridescent upperparts and bright underparts allows these birds to blend into the dappled light of the wet forest canopy while remaining visible to mates.

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