Photographer: Stephan Lorenz   Destination: Costa Rica

The trogons are among the most charismatic bird families in the world, largely confined to the tropical forests of Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. All species are brilliantly coloured, often combining vivid reds, oranges, yellows, blues, and greens in their plumage. Typically associated with deep, forested habitats, trogons are often unobtrusive, feeding quietly in the mid-storey and canopy, sometimes in association with mixed-species feeding flocks. Their presence always adds a wonderful splash of colour to any birding experience.

 

Of the world’s 46 trogon species - including the quetzals, which belong to this family - only three occur in Africa. A further twelve are found across tropical Asia, while the remainder are New World species. Remarkably, an impressive ten different trogons, including the iconic Resplendent Quetzal, can be found in the tiny country of Costa Rica, making it one of the richest areas on Earth for trogon diversity and density.

 

This month we feature the Baird’s Trogon, a striking and vocal specialty that is a near-endemic of Costa Rica and western Panama. This stunning individual was beautifully captured by Stephan Lorenz on a recent Rockjumper tour to the region. Within its limited range, the species is most often encountered in the mid to upper canopy of humid rainforest, though it will sometimes venture to forest edges to feed at fruiting trees. Its bold tail pattern and rich coloration make it one of the most distinctive trogons in the region.

 

Primarily a fruit-eater, the Baird’s Trogon has also been recorded taking insects and even small lizards. Despite its charismatic presence, much remains to be learned about its population biology, and its overall status is still not fully understood. With such a restricted distribution, the species is currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, with habitat loss and fragmentation posing the greatest long-term threats.

 

 

Costa Rica is one of the world’s great birding destinations, offering an extraordinary diversity of species within a remarkably compact area. An incredible 948 species have been recorded within the country’s borders, and it even boasts seven true endemics, two of which are hummingbirds. The Coppery-headed Emerald is found in the highlands of the Caribbean slope and at higher elevations along the Pacific slope, while the Endangered Mangrove Hummingbird is restricted to mangroves and adjacent habitats along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. The Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager, the third endemic, is centred around the famed Osa Peninsula, and the Cabanis’s Ground Sparrow occupies a small region of the central highlands between 600 and 1,600 metres. Finally, the remote Cocos Island - a Costa Rican territory far out in the Pacific - is home to the remaining three endemics: Cocos Cuckoo, Cocos Flycatcher, and Cocos Finch.

 

From misty cloudforests and lush Caribbean lowlands to Pacific dry forests and towering volcanic slopes, Costa Rica’s range of habitats supports an exceptional variety of birdlife. Add to this a strong culture of conservation, excellent infrastructure for nature travel, and consistently rewarding wildlife encounters, and it’s easy to see why Costa Rica remains a firm favourite. Few places deliver such an immersive combination of tropical beauty, accessibility, and unforgettable avian highlights.

 

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