The Guianan trogon, is a near passerine bird in the trogon and quetzal family Trogonidae. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, and Venezuela.
Region
Guianas and northeastern South America
Typical Environment
Found from Trinidad through the Guianas into northeastern Brazil and adjacent Venezuela, primarily in lowland evergreen rainforest. It uses forest edges, gallery forests along rivers, and well-wooded secondary growth. Birds spend much time in the midstory to canopy, often along quiet forest streams and clearings. It tolerates some habitat disturbance where large trees and shaded edges persist.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Guianan trogon is a quiet, motionless percher that often goes unnoticed despite its bright belly, sallying out to snatch insects and fruit. It frequently nests in cavities excavated in rotten stubs or arboreal termitaria. Pairs or family groups are often seen along shaded forest edges and streams, and the species will sometimes join mixed-species flocks.
Temperament
quiet and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups. Nests are cavities in rotten wood or arboreal termitaria, excavated by the pair. The species is territorial around nest sites but otherwise tolerant of nearby birds and may accompany mixed-species foraging parties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives a series of soft, hollow hoot-like notes delivered in even tempo, often in short bouts from a concealed perch. Calls include mellow cuu or whoop notes, repeated and carrying through forest understory.
Plumage
Male with glossy dark bluish-violet head and breast, greenish upperparts, narrow white breast band, and bright yellow belly; tail underside largely white with fine black barring. Female is slaty-brown to gray above with gray breast and duller yellow underparts; tail underside more extensively barred and grayish. Both sexes have soft, loose-textured feathers typical of trogons.
Diet
Takes a mix of small fruits (such as figs and other soft berries) and arthropods including beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Often sallies from a perch to pluck fruit or hawk insects and may hover-glean from foliage. Occasionally snaps prey flushed by mixed flocks or follows army-ant activity at canopy level.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in shaded midstory to canopy along forest edges, river corridors, and light gaps. Also uses tall secondary growth and old gardens with large trees.
