Slaty-tailed Trogon

Identification

The slaty-tailed trogon is a medium-sized bird, measuring 30 to 35.5 cm in length and weighing approximately 140 to 155 grams. Like all trogons, it displays striking sexual dimorphism. Males are particularly striking, featuring an orange-red bill, dull black face and upper throat with a distinctive red to orange eye-ring, and iridescent metallic green upperparts that shift from golden-green on the back to bluish-green on the crown and rump. The breast is metallic green while the belly and vent are deep red. The folded wings show fine black and white vermiculation appearing gray from a distance, and the distinctive slate-gray undersides of the tail feathers with black tips give the species its name.

Females are considerably duller, replacing most of the male's vibrant green plumage with pale gray on the upper breast and darker gray on the upperparts. The female's maxilla is dusky gray, and the tail appears entirely black from above. Three subspecies are recognized, with minor variations in golden or bluish tones on the tail and body size across their respective ranges.

Range & Habitat

The slaty-tailed trogon inhabits a broad range spanning Mexico, throughout Central America, and into Colombia and Ecuador. Different subspecies occupy distinct regions: the nominate race ranges from southern Mexico through Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua along the Caribbean slope; T. m. hoffmanni occupies both Caribbean and Pacific slopes of Costa Rica and Panama plus extreme northwestern Colombia; and T. m. australis is found in western Colombia and far northwestern Ecuador.

This species primarily inhabits the midstory to canopy levels of tropical evergreen forest and mature secondary forest. It also frequents gallery forest, coffee plantations, and mangroves. It is predominantly a lowland bird, reaching only 600 meters in Mexico and northern Central America, though it occurs locally as high as 1,200 meters in Costa Rica, 1,400 meters in Panama, and 1,100 meters in Colombia.

Behaviour & Diet

Slaty-tailed trogons forage for both fruits and insects by sallying and hover gleaning from a perch. They have developed a fascinating feeding association with white-faced capuchin monkeys, following these primates to catch insects that are displaced during the monkeys' foraging activities.

During breeding season, which varies geographically but spans February to July overall, males and females display to each other by raising their tails and fluffing their uppertail covert feathers. Both sexes excavate a nesting chamber in a cavity within an occupied termite nest or decaying tree trunk, reaching heights up to 15 meters. They typically lay two or three white or bluish-white eggs, which both partners incubate. The species produces a distinctive "steady deliberate series of cow or cue notes," alternatively described as a "deep full-throated wuk, wuk, wuk." Additional vocalizations include a "quiet clucking huh-huh-huh-huh" and "chuckling chatter."

Best Time & Places to See It

The slaty-tailed trogon is most actively visible during its breeding season from February through July. Look for it throughout its range in lowland tropical forests and secondary growth, with the best chances in protected forest reserves across Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America. Its presence in coffee plantations also makes it accessible in agricultural landscapes where native trees remain.

Photography Tips

Position yourself in the midstory to canopy levels of tropical forest where these birds forage. Early morning hours often yield the best viewing and photography opportunities. Males with their iridescent green plumage and striking red underparts are visually spectacular against forest foliage, particularly when backlit by dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. Watch for their characteristic perch-hunting behavior and consider following white-faced capuchin monkey troops, as trogons often appear nearby to feed on flushed insects. The bird's relatively steady perching habits make it more approachable than many forest species.