Trogonidae
Trogonidae (trogons; class Aves, order Trogoniformes) A family of medium to large birds which have bright green or brown backs, green, blue, or violet heads and throats, and pink, red, orange, or yellow breasts. They have rounded wings, and most have long, square-ended tails. Pharomacrus mocino (resplendent quetzal) has very elongated upper tail coverts. The 15 species of Trogon, found in Central and S. America, have distinctive black and white markings on the underside of the tail. Trogons’ bills are broad, with a curved culmen. Their legs are short, with the first and second toes directed backwards. They are arboreal, inhabit forests and clearings, and feed on insects and fruit, fluttering in front of a leaf to pick off food. They nest in tree cavities and holes in termite nests. There are eight genera, with 37 species, found in Africa, Asia, and Central and S. America. The 11 species of Harpactes, found in India, China, south-east Asia, and Indonesia, are the only oriental representatives.
More From encyclopedia.com
NEARBY TERMS
Trogonidae