Narina Trogon
Apaloderma narina
A spectacular, mostly iridescent-metallic-green bird, with a scarlet belly, broad yellow bill, and white under tail. The face and throat of the male are green, while the females’ are dirty gray-brown. It sits upright and still in the canopy of riverine and lowland forest, watching for insect prey, then flying fast and directly to catch it. During the breeding season, its soft, deep, throaty “huooo-huooo” call makes it much easier to find. The similar Bare-cheeked Trogon differs by having a face with a large bare yellow skin patches that extend from cheek to bill--not small blue-green spots. Bar-tailed Trogon has a heavily-barred undertail and prefers montane forest above 900 m.
Identification
It is sexually dimorphic, with males more brightly coloured. Both sexes have vivid, gingery green upperpart plumage. The tail feathers have a metallic blue-green gloss. The outer three rectices on each side are tipped and fringed white, giving the undertail of perched birds a characteristic white appearance (compare bar-tailed trogon). The wing coverts are a grizzled grey, and remiges mostly colourless grey.<p>The male especially, has bright amaranth red underside plumage and bare, green gape and eye flanges. The female has brown face and chest plumage, blue skin orbiting the eyes and duller red plumage below. Immature birds resemble females, but have distinct white tips to the tertials (inner wing), and less distinct gape and eye flanges.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Apaloderma narina
- Authority
- (Stephens, 1815)
- Order
- Trogoniformes
- Family
- Trogonidae
- Genus
- Apaloderma
Range and habitat
The species has a large range in Africa, inhabiting lowland to highland, valley and riparian forests, from tropical to temperate regions, those occurring in highlands dispersing seasonally to lower levels. It is found from Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, and east Africa to eastern and southern South Africa. Due to its wide range and varied habitat choice, the Narina trogon is considered to be a species of least conservation concern.
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black Sittella
Daphoenositta miranda
A small, rare nuthatchlike bird of upper montane forest canopy. Uniform blackish plumage with pink under the end of the tail, a red face, yellow legs and a white band in the wing, visible in flight. Female has a white iris. Moves in flocks. Similar shape and habits to Papuan Sittella, but Black lives at higher elevations with little overlap. Only the juvenile coloration could be confused, but Papuan Sitella has a paler belly. Voice, a high-pitch twittering.
Barka Indigobird
Vidua larvaticola
A nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Black-faced Firefinch. Breeding males are glossy black with blue or blue-green iridescence and a pale brownish panel in the wings. Females and non-breeding males are brown and streaky on the back and pale below, with a bold facial pattern. The bill is white and the legs pinkish. Found in woodland, grassland, and thickets, often near water. Breeding males can be identified with care by their vocalizations and by their blue or blue-green gloss. Non-breeding males and females cannot be separated visually from other indigobirds. Imitates the vocalizations of its host firefinches, including soft, repeated whistles.
Hook-billed Bulbul
Setornis criniger
A highly localized species, found almost exclusively in the kerangas and peatswamp forests of Borneo and Sumatra’s lowlands (rarely in adjacent wooded habitats). Fairly plain overall; note brown upperparts, off-white chest, pale yellow belly, and elegant white eyebrow. Long and heavy hook-tipped silver bill is diagnostic if seen well. Forages singly, in pairs, and in small bands, typically in the middle and lower levels of forest. Gives a variety of harsh scolding calls, including a nasal “jyaw, jyaw” and a quicker, drier rattle.
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