Birds
Masked Trogon
Trogon personatus
High in Andean cloud forest where cooler air greets fewer trogon species, a masked trogon perches with a black mask framing its eyes against vivid green plumage, tolerating elevations that push past the comfort zone of many lowland relatives.
Overview
The masked trogon, Trogon personatus, is a Least Concern bird found across Andean cloud forest from Venezuela and Colombia south through Peru and Bolivia. Its distinctive black facial mask, vivid green-and-red plumage, and tolerance for higher elevation than many relatives make it one of the more specialized trogon species found in the Andes.
A trogon for the mountains
While many trogon species stay confined to warm lowland forest, the masked trogon pushes higher into cooler Andean cloud forest, carving out a niche less contested by its lowland-dwelling relatives.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable Andean cloud forest habitat throughout its range.
Masked Trogon: common questions
Why is it called the masked trogon?
Males show a black mask surrounding the eyes, a feature that gives the species its common name and contrasts sharply against its otherwise vivid green plumage.
How is the masked trogon different from lowland trogon species?
It tolerates cooler, higher-elevation Andean cloud forest more readily than many lowland-restricted trogon relatives, found well up into the mountains along much of its range.
What does the masked trogon eat?
It is an omnivore, eating insects and fruit, typically caught or plucked during brief sallying flights before returning to its perch.
Where is the masked trogon found?
It ranges along the Andes from Venezuela and Colombia south through Peru and Bolivia, favoring cloud forest habitat.