The elegant trogon is a brightly colored tropical bird found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. For bird watchers and nature enthusiasts, catching a glimpse of this elusive creature is a special treat. But with the elegant trogon’s limited range and secretive nature, finding one requires some strategizing. Here is a guide to the best places and techniques for spotting the elegant trogon.
What is an elegant trogon?
The elegant trogon (Trogon elegans) is a medium-sized bird belonging to the trogon family. It measures around 11-12 inches in length. The male has striking green upperparts and a pink belly, with a white chest band, iridescent green throat, yellow bill, and white and black banded tail. The elegant trogon is sometimes called the “rainbow” bird in Mexico for its brilliant plumage. The female elegant trogon is less vibrantly colored than the male with grayish upperparts and a white belly. Both the male and female have distinctive yellow eye-rings.
The elegant trogon is found in pine-oak woodlands and other forest habitats. Its range extends from southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico and western Texas in the United States south through the highlands of Mexico. This species eats insects, small reptiles and fruit. The elegant trogon nests in cavities carved out by woodpeckers. Its distinctive call sounds like a low-pitched croak or bark.
Where can I see elegant trogons in the United States?
In the United States, elegant trogons are found in the Madrean Sky Islands region, a series of isolated mountain ranges in southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and west Texas. This habitat consists of pine, oak and fir forests at higher elevations. Good locations to spot elegant trogons in the U.S. include:
- Chiricahua Mountains, Coronado National Forest, southeastern Arizona
- Santa Rita Mountains, Coronado National Forest, southern Arizona
- Huachuca Mountains, Fort Huachuca, southern Arizona
- Mule Mountains, Bisbee, southeastern Arizona
- Rincon Mountains, Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona
- Santa Catalina Mountains, Coronado National Forest, southern Arizona
- Pinos Altos Range, Gila National Forest, southwestern New Mexico
- Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, western Texas
Some key spots include Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Miller Canyon and Florida Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, and Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains. The mountains around Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding Coronado National Forest also offer excellent trogon habitat. Birders have the highest chance of seeing elegant trogons in southeastern Arizona from mid-April through July during the breeding season.
Where are the best places to see elegant trogons in Mexico?
The elegant trogon has a much wider range in the highlands of Mexico. Good birding spots include:
- Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park, Baja California
- El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, Tamaulipas
- El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas
- Sierra Gorda, Queretaro
- Bosencheve National Park, Chihuahua
- La Malinche National Park, Tlaxcala
- Pico de Orizaba, Veracruz
- Sierra Nombre de Dios, Durango
In general, tropical and subtropical montane cloud forests at higher elevations provide the best habitat. Some key areas are El Cielo Biosphere Reserve near the Texas border, the mountains around Monterrey, and the highlands surrounding Mexico City.
What techniques help find elegant trogons?
Elegant trogons are challenging to spot for several reasons. They typically perch motionless high in the forest canopy, camouflaged by their green back plumage. Trogons have a quiet, barking call that does not carry far. And they generally reside deep in rugged mountainous terrain far from trails. However, birders can improve their chances of sighting an elegant trogon by following these tips:
- Use birding apps or resources to find recent elegant trogon sightings in your area.
- Concentrate efforts in early morning when trogons are most active.
- Listen for their distinctive croaking call.
- Scan treetops carefully with binoculars in promising habitat.
- Try using a spotting scope to search the high canopy.
- Look for them perched motionless along drainages and canyon slopes.
- Spend time sitting quietly in one spot to increase chances of detection.
- Play recordings of elegant trogon calls sparingly to try to elicit a response.
Some top spots may have trails or access points where elegant trogons are known to dwell. Asking local birding groups and parks officials for tips can save time in locating reliably occupied areas.
What is the best time of year to see elegant trogons?
The elegant trogon breeding season lasts from March to August. During this time frame, trogons are most vocal and active as they court, build nests, and feed young. The males sing their croaking song through the spring and early summer to defend territories and attract mates. Peak calling occurs in April and May during courtship. Females incubate eggs from late April to early June, and both parents feed nestlings into July.
Spring is generally the optimal window for observing elegant trogons, especially May and June during nesting. However, some wintering trogons remain along the U.S.-Mexico border through February. Fall migration occurs from September through November as populations move southwest to their winter range. So spring and early fall offer the best chances overall for sighting elegant trogons before colder weather reduces insect food supplies and induces migration.
Conclusion
For keen birders, catching a glimpse of an elegant trogon is a thrilling and unforgettable experience. Their colorful plumage seems to glow against a backdrop of verdant high mountain forest. While finding an elegant trogon takes effort and luck, your chances are greatest during spring and early summer in southeastern Arizona’s sky island ranges, or in the highland forests of central Mexico. Focus your efforts in areas with recent sightings at prime dawn activity hours. With persistence and patience, you may be rewarded with a view of this shy tropical gem.