Green-backed Trogon

Identification

The green-backed trogon is a relatively large trogon, measuring 28 to 30 centimetres in length. Like all trogons, it is strongly sexually dimorphic, making identification straightforward once you observe a bird clearly. Males are unmistakable: they display a dark blue head and upper breast, a vibrant green back, and a distinctive yellow-orange lower belly. The wings are black with fine white vermiculation, while the undertail is boldly patterned black and white, with each feather showing a broad black base and broad white tip. A pale bluish eye-ring completes the striking male plumage. Females are considerably duller, with a grey head, grey back, and grey breast, along with black-and-white barring on the outer webs of the tail feathers. The similar white-tailed trogon can be distinguished by its undertail pattern: the male white-tailed has only a very narrow black base to each tail feather (appearing almost entirely white), while females show barring mainly on inner webs.

Range & Habitat

The green-backed trogon is widely distributed across South America, including the Amazon basin, the Guiana Shield, Trinidad, and the Atlantic Forest in eastern Brazil. It inhabits tropical humid forests and is typically the commonest trogon throughout its range. This preference for humid forest makes it a reliable species to encounter in appropriate habitat across much of the Amazon region.

Behaviour & Diet

Green-backed trogons are characteristically sedentary birds, typically perching upright and motionless for extended periods. Despite possessing fast flight, they are reluctant to travel any significant distance, preferring to remain in their chosen perches. Their broad bills and weak legs are well-adapted to their primarily frugivorous diet. They feed mainly on small fruits, supplemented by arthropods and lizards, with invertebrates becoming more important during the dry season when fruit is scarce. Notably, they are among the most frugivorous of all trogons in their range and consequently join mixed-species feeding flocks less frequently than other trogon species.

Best Time & Places to See It

The green-backed trogon can be found throughout the year in tropical humid forests across the Amazon, Guiana Shield, and Atlantic Forest regions. The nesting season appears to occur mainly during the summer months (June–August). Its abundance throughout its range and preference for humid forest habitat make it a realistic target for travellers visiting the Amazon region, where it is the commonest trogon species available to see.

Photography Tips

The green-backed trogon's characteristic habit of perching upright and motionless works to the photographer's advantage, allowing ample opportunity for well-composed shots once a bird is located. The dramatic sexual dimorphism means you should aim to photograph both males and females to capture the full range of plumage variation. The male's brilliant yellow-orange belly and bold undertail pattern are particularly striking photographic subjects. Early morning sessions are recommended, as the distinctive song—consisting of about 20 accelerating cow notes—can help locate birds. The pale bluish orbital ring is a subtle but diagnostic feature worth capturing in close-ups of males.