Trogons
| Trogons Temporal range: Early Eocene, 49–0 Ma |
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| A male red-headed trogon in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand | |
| Red-naped trogon song, recorded near Bangar, Brunei | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Eucavitaves |
| Clade: | Cavitaves |
| Order: |
Trogoniformes AOU, 1886 |
| Family: |
Trogonidae Lesson, 1828 |
| Genera | |
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Apaloderma |
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| global distribution | |
Apaloderma
Euptilotis
Harpactes
Apalharpactes
Pharomachrus
Priotelus
Trogon
The trogons and quetzals are birds in the order Trogoniformes which contains only one family, the Trogonidae. The family contains 39 species in seven genera. The fossil record of the trogons dates back 49 million years to the Early Eocene. They might constitute a member of the basal radiation of the order Coraciiformes or be closely related to mousebirds and owls. The word "trogon" is Greek for "nibbling" and refers to the fact that these birds gnaw holes in trees to make their nests.
Trogons are residents of tropical forests worldwide. The greatest diversity is in the Neotropics, where four genera, containing 24 species occur. The genus Apaloderma contains the three African species. The genera Harpactes and Apalharpactes, containing twelve species, are found in southeast Asia.
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 are generally not migratory, although some species undertake partial local movements. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage. They are the only type of animal with a heterodactyl toe arrangement. They nest in holes dug into trees or termite nests, laying 2–4 white or pastel-coloured eggs.
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Wikipedia