Slaty-tailed Trogon

Trogon Massena

eBird describes the Slaty-tailed Trogon like this:  Large, red-bellied trogon of humid tropical lowlands. Favors rainforest interior, but also found at edges and around clearings, mainly perched quietly and in an upright position at middle to upper levels in larger trees. Lack of white band above the red belly and entirely dark gray undertail (or with a few fine white bars at the sides on immatures) separate Slaty-tailed from other red-bellied trogons. On males also note the stout orange bill and orange eyering. Digs its nest in arboreal termite nests.

The Birds of the World website provides this introduction to this bird:  Slaty-tailed Trogon is a typical trogon of Central America. It feeds on fruit and insects in the canopy of dense humid forest. The species often is detected by its voice, a series of deep croaks. Like other species of trogons, Slaty-tailed often remains on a single perch for long periods, before sallying out to grab fruit or capture an insect. The male Slaty-tailed Trogon has a green head, back, and throat, orange bill, and red underparts with a slate-colored undertail; the female is dull gray throughout except for a red belly. Slaty-tailed Trogon occurs from southern Mexico south through Central America to northwestern South America in humid lowland rainforest.

I saw my first Slaty-tailed Trogon on the late afternoon of Sunday, February 5, 2023, at La Selva.  This bird was spotted by our driver Luis, off of a small road leading down to the river (near the mess hall).  The bird was well concealed and it was difficult for me to get a good photograph in the dim light under the canopy.  I accidentally deleted my best photo, so what you see below is all I had left.  To see my blog post that contains my visit to La Selva and the sighting of this bird, look here.  I hope you enjoy my meager photographic evidence of the Slaty-tailed Trogon!