TROGONS 



Trogonidse. 



^F THE magnificently plumaged family of Trogonidse (Trogons) only 

 one species penetrates into our territory from the tropics. This is 

 the Coppery-tailed Trogox, Trogon ambiguus Goux-d, an inhabitant 

 of Mexico, north to the valley of the lower Rio Grande and the 

 mountains of south-western New Mexico and Arizona. Though it 

 must be considered an exceedingly rare summer resident within our borders, 

 there is no doubt that it breeds in some of the mountain ranges of southern 

 Arizona, especially in the Huachuca Mountains. Dr. A K. Fisher writes: 

 "Arriving at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., I learned that the Trogon was not 

 uncommon among the pines in the neighboring mountains. . . . On June 9, 

 I made a trip toward the head of Tanner and Garden Canon, as it is more 

 commonly designated in the vicinity. While riding up the shady trail 

 among the pines a beautiful male Trogon flew across the path and alighted among the 

 trees on the opposite side of the narrow c^non. It was impossible to follow it and to 

 pass through the thick underbrush and loose rocks without making considerable noise, 

 which startled the bird, and it was finally lost among the thick foliage. Higher up in 

 the mountains I heard its peculiar note, which was uttered at regular intervals, and 

 closely resembles that of a hen Turkey. Later in the afternoon another was heard, and 

 by carefully approaching along the hillside a male was discovered sitting on the lower 

 limb of a pine. It sat straight upright, with the tail hanging perpendicular to the 

 body, and while uttering its note the head was thrown backward and the bill extended 

 nearly upward. . . . The stomach contained a few caterpillars." 



All the Trogons, as far as their nesting habits are known, breed iii natural cavities 

 of trees or in Woodpecker's holes. The eggs of the inimitable Quezal {Pbormocras mo- 

 cinnus) are said to be of a uniform pale bluish-green color, while those of the Mexican 

 Trogon {Trogon mexicanus) are very pale greenish. 



DESCRIPTION: The color of the Coppery-tailed Trogon is metallic bronze-green on the crown, hind-neck, 

 back, rump, and upper tail ; wings delicately undulated with white and black ; fore-head, lores, sides 

 of head, chin and throat dull opaque-black; chest, metallic-greenish or coppery-bronze, like back; a 

 pure white band across breast ; behind this, all the lower parts pure scarlet verxnillion, etc. 



