Species profile
About this species
The Collared Trogon is a medium-sized bird found across tropical forests from Mexico to South America, including Trinidad. The male is striking with a bright red belly, green upperparts & a distinctive white-&-black barred tail, whilst the female is more subdued with brown replacing the green. It belongs to the family Trogonidae & is closely related to the Quetzal.
Humid tropical & subtropical forests, forest edges & mature secondary growth, typically in lowland & foothill areas up to around 2000 metres elevation.
Where to photograph
Where our trips feature this species
You can photograph Collared Trogon with us in Trinidad & Tobago.
These departures are part of our South America programme.
In the field, David Miles helps guests make the most of these encounters.
Field notes
Photography notes
Early morning between 06:00 & 09:00 is ideal when birds are most active & calling. The April trip to Trinidad coincides with the late dry season into early wet season, which is an excellent period as birds are often paired up & easier to locate near nesting cavities.
Look for Collared Trogons perched motionless on mid-level branches in shaded forest understorey, as they tend to sit still for extended periods making framing easier. Use a fast lens such as f/2.8 to cope with the low light conditions typical of Trinidad's rainforest interior, & boost ISO carefully to retain colour detail in the vivid red & green plumage. Listen for the soft, repetitive call to locate birds before approaching slowly, as they are tolerant of quiet observers at a respectful distance.
Available holidays
Trips featuring Collared Trogon
The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article.