Narina Trogon | Apaloderma narina
Narina Trogon Birding Information
The Narina Trogon is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Trogonidae bird family group which includes birds such as Trogons.
The description for the Narina Trogon (Latin name Apaloderma narina) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Apaloderma narina can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 427 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 166. You will find a picture of the Narina Trogon on page 161.
NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any.
There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Narina Trogon between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition.
The Narina Trogon is my personal favourite bird and I have sighted them in Zululand, the Eastern Cape, Transkei and the Kruger National Park. The Narina Trogon is considered to be a "lifer".
The Narina Trogon is known in Afrikaans as Bosloerie.
The Narina Trogon has a height of 34 cms and weighs around 67 gms. The head is coloured green while the bill is coloured yellow. The Apaloderma narina has a yellow coloured throat, purple legs and a green coloured back. The eyes are chestnut.
Take note of the bird's main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size of the bird. Colours of a bird's body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts Birds using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts.
Head is green.
Eyes are chestnut.
Bill is yellow.
Legs are purple.
Throat is yellow.
Back is green.
Photo's & Differentiating Between Male, Female & Juveniles
- Male: Male has green and red upper body.
- Female: Has light red/pink/brown upper body, less colourful.
- Juvenile: Similar to female.
- Non breeding plumage: N/A
Please click the images below to make them larger:
| Male Adult |
 |
| Female Adult | |
| Juvenile | Similar To Female. |
| Non Breeding Plumage | N/A |
Narina Trogon Feeding Habits ...
The Narina Trogon is usually seen hunting for food within the tree foliage.
The Apaloderma narina attacks its prey aerially and feeds on wing or takes the prey to a secluded venue where it is killed, torn into small pieces and eaten.
This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten.
Narina Trogon Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...
The Narina Trogon is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 2 to 4 eggs and they are coloured white.
The bird builds its nest within a tree cavity just a few meters above the ground. The hole in the tree is normally reused in the next nesting season.
The Narina Trogon is mainly found in light and densely wooded forests, where there are Mopane trees.
The bird is at home in riverine forests and close to water bodies such as lakes, dams and streams.
This bird is very common in most of the Southern African Forests.
Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...
The Narina Trogon is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild.