Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States

Natural History and Habitat Use

Elegant Trogon -- Trogon elegans
(formerly Coppery-tailed Trogon)


RANGE: Resident from southern Arizona, primarily in Chiricahua, Huachuca and Atascosa mountains south to Costa Rica. Mostly migratory in northernmost part of range; casual in Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and southern Texas in winter.

STATUS: Locally fairly common.

HABITAT: Occurs in oak and pine-oak forests in mountain canyons, and in sycamore, walnut, and cottonwood groves along canyon streams.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Natural cavities in trees or large, deserted woodpecker holes.

NEST: Builds nest inside cavities of large streamside trees such as sycamores or cottonwoods, 12 to 40 feet above the ground.

FOOD: Primarily eats insects and some fruits.

REFERENCES: Bent 1940a, Cottam and Knappen 1939, Oberholser 1974a, Terres 1980, Terrill in Farrand 1983b.


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