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🦜 Slaty-tailed Trogon (*Trogon massena*)

Posted
Updated
ByZusi Agenti

Slaty-tailed Trogon (Trogon massena) is one of the animal species documented at Yuyo in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica.

🔤 Name English / nombre español / Name Deutsch

Slaty-tailed Trogon / Trogón colipizarra / Schieferschwanztrogon

🔬 Taxonomy & conservation

Family

Trogonidae — trogons

IUCN status

LC — Least Concern

ⓘ What does this mean?

About the IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List assesses the global risk of extinction of species using criteria such as population size and trends, geographic range, and the degree of population decline. The category shown here describes conservation status — it does not indicate whether an animal is dangerous to humans.

EX Extinct · EW Extinct in the Wild · CR Critically Endangered · EN Endangered · VU Vulnerable · NT Near Threatened · LC Least Concern · DD Data Deficient · NE Not Evaluated

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

🌿 Habitat & Ecology

Local distribution & habitat

Found throughout Central America; in Costa Rica it occurs locally as high as 1,200 m.

GBIF occurrence evidence around Yuyo

Costa Rica: 60350 GBIF records
Within 5 km: 414 records
Within 10 km: 1641 records
Within 25 km: 2711 records
Within 50 km: 3287 records
Nearest GBIF record: 0.28 km away · human observation

Photo from Yuyo
A trogon viewed from the side and slightly behind, perched on a horizontal branch among broad green leaves, showing a blue-green head and back, pale gray folded wing, red lower underparts, orange eye ring, and long dark tail.
A trogon viewed from the side and slightly behind, perched on a horizontal branch among broad green leaves, showing a blue-green head and back, pale gray folded wing, red lower underparts, orange eye ring, and long dark tail.
Diet & ecological role

Fruits and insects.

Behavior

Forages by sallying or hover-gleaning from a perch and often follows white-faced capuchin monkeys to catch displaced insects. Both sexes perform courtship displays, excavate nest cavities in occupied termite nests or decaying tree trunks, and incubate the eggs.

⚠️ Risk & safety

Risk Level

None

📍📈 Local frequency

frequent

Occurrence pattern

stable

📖✨ Stories

Stefan K.: These trogons have been regular visitors since the beginning and may be a pair living nearby. They often approach close enough for extended observation and appear relatively unafraid of people. Their call is described as unmistakable. Sometimes they appear daily for several consecutive days, while at other times only one bird is seen; overall, encounters average about once a week. Many photographs and video recordings have been made of them.

🎬 Related videos

Trogons in Costa Rica: Unique close ups
▶ Watch on YouTube: Trogons in Costa Rica: Unique close ups

📷 Photos

A trogon facing forward on a slender, nearly vertical branch in dense vegetation, with a dark blue-green head and chest, orange bill, vivid red underparts, gray folded wings, and a long gray tail.
A trogon facing forward on a slender, nearly vertical branch in dense vegetation, with a dark blue-green head and chest, orange bill, vivid red underparts, gray folded wings, and a long gray tail.
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