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Trogon

Trogons
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Trogoniformes
Family: Trogonidae
Genera
Apaloderma
Euptilotis
Harpactes
Pharomachrus
Priotelus
Trogon
Ref: ITIS 178094 2002-10-06

The trogons and quetzals are birds in the order Trogoniformes. The order contains only one family, Trogonidae: it is so called because these birds gnaw holes in trees to make their nests. They are residents of tropical forests, particularly in South America.

They feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons do not migrate.

Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

They nest in holes in trees, laying white or pastel coloured eggs.

The genus Apaloderma contains the few African species, and Harpactes the Asian. The rest are neotropical.

Species list:

See also quetzal.