AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN NTInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Near Threatened — close to qualifying as Vulnerable. Requires ongoing monitoring.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Trogon bairdii
Baird's Trogon
Lawrence, 1868
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
A large, brightly colored arboreal bird displaying strong sexual dimorphism. Males feature a glossy dark metallic blue to violet head and breast, a distinctive bare light blue orbital ring, a pale blue bill, and a vibrant vermilion-red underbelly separated by a narrow white breast band. Their undertail is predominantly white with fine black patterning. Females are duller, with a slate-grey head and upper breast, and an orange-red lower belly.
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Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Trogoniformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Trogonidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Trogon
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.Lawrence, 1868
Record Completeness
96%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Decreasing
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Omnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Restricted to the humid, lowland and foothill primary rainforests of the South Pacific slope, spanning from southwestern Costa Rica to extreme western Panama. It strictly prefers the interior canopy of mature, undisturbed evergreen forests and dense secondary woodlands.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
A quiet and sluggish canopy dweller. It sits upright and motionless on middle-to-high forest perches for extended periods, making sudden, swift sallying flights to snatch large katydids, caterpillars, lizards, or rich oily fruits (like Lauraceae) from foliage before returning to a nearby branch.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Primarily solitary or found in monogamous breeding pairs during the nesting season. They do not join large mixed-species foraging flocks, preferring to maintain quiet, low-density territories within thick forest interiors.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Frugivore and insectivore (mixed omnivorous diet shifting seasonally based on fruit abundance).Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Acts as an essential seed disperser for large-seeded tropical rainforest trees, particularly within the laurel family, by digesting the nutritious outer flesh and regurgitating the intact seeds away from the parent tree. It serves as prey for large forest raptors such as the Ornate Hawk-Eagle or forest falcons.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Monogamous pairs excavate a nest chamber or utilize existing soft decay cavities in vertical rotting tree trunks, typically between 2 to 12 meters above the ground. The female lays 2 to 3 white eggs, and both parents share incubation duties and actively feed the altricial chicks.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
26.0 - 28.5 cm
Weight (Grams)
90 g - 105 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.2 - 3
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).Yes
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
11 - 13 Months
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
16 - 19
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males6 - 11 Years
Females6 - 11 Years
Sexual DimorphismPhysical differences in size, coloration, or morphology between males and females of this species.
Males Multi-lang
Possesses a vibrant, metallic dark blue to deep violet head, hindneck, and upper breast, along with an intense, solid vermilion-red abdomen and distinctive pale blue bill.
Females Multi-lang
Lacks bright blue tints; head, back, and upper breast are uniform dark slate-grey, and the lower abdominal region is a duller, pale orange-red or salmon coloration.
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Heterodactyl feet (inner toes turned backward) allow an exceptionally firm grip on mossy, horizontal branches, enabling the bird to remain perfectly motionless for long periods while scanning for prey.
A short, broad serrated bill uniquely adapted for plucking large fruits while hovering mid-air and tearing apart tough exoskeleton structures of large orthopterans or cicadas.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Severe habitat fragmentation and deforestation driven by agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, and logging within its highly restricted endemic range, making it continuous-forest dependent.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
Baird's Trogon is a classic example of a regional endemic, completely restricted to the Osa Peninsula and Talamanca lowlands' moist biological corridors shared between Costa Rica and western Panama.
Like many trogons, they nest inside decaying, upright tree trunks, often utilizing old woodpecker cavities or modifying soft, rotting wood themselves using their bills.