The elegant trogon is a colorful bird found in forests across southwestern North America and parts of Central America. Known for its vibrant plumage and distinctive vocalizations, the elegant trogon produces a variety of sounds used for communication and display.
Description of the Elegant Trogon
The elegant trogon (Trogon elegans) is a medium-sized bird measuring 28–33 cm (11–13 in) long and weighing 85–110 g (3.0–3.9 oz). The male has glossy green upperparts and a pink belly, with a white undertail and wing patches. The female is similar but with a grayish breast and less pink on the belly. Both sexes have a yellow-tipped black bill, a white eye ring, and a short square tail marked with black and white bands.
This trogon species inhabits forests and woodlands from southeastern Arizona and southwest New Mexico through western Mexico. Its habitat includes oak, pine-oak, and tropical deciduous forests at elevations between 600–2400 m (2000–8000 ft). Elegant trogons are non-migratory and defend breeding territories year-round.
Common Vocalizations
The elegant trogon produces a variety of distinct vocalizations used for communication. Here are some of the most frequent calls:
- Song – A melodic series of whistled notes, often transcribed as “coo coo coo coo quaa quaa quaa quaa.” The song has a ventriloquial quality which makes the source difficult to locate.
- Kwik call – A sharp, clicking “wik” note used by both sexes throughout the year.
- Rattle call – A rapid series of clicking notes “kwikwikwikwikwik” given mainly by females during the breeding season.
- Juvenile begging calls – High-pitched squealing or whistling noises made by young trogons when soliciting food from parents.
In addition to vocalizations, elegant trogons communicate using non-vocal sounds like bill clicks and wing snaps.
Purpose of Vocalizations
Elegant trogons use their various calls and songs to:
- Defend breeding territories – Songs and calls are used to proclaim ownership of an area and ward off intruders.
- Attract mates – Males sing to court females during the breeding season.
- Locate mates – The far-carrying song allows males and females to find each other.
- Communicate with partners – Mates use contact calls like the kwik to maintain contact and coordinate activities.
- Beg for food – Juveniles beg via loud squeals to solicit feeding from parents.
- Express alarm – Harsh calls are emitted to signal danger or threats.
Vocalizations thus play an important role in breeding, territoriality, foraging, predator avoidance, and parent-offspring communication in elegant trogons.
When Are Calls Usually Heard?
The frequency and type of vocalizations vary over the course of the year:
- Songs are most often heard during the breeding season from early spring through summer.
- Territorial calls are common in spring and fall when competition for breeding areas is highest.
- Contact calls like the kwik are heard year-round between mated pairs.
- Juvenile begging is most frequent in summer when young fledge and require feeding.
- Alarm calls may occur at any time but are especially common during the nesting period.
In general, elegant trogons are most vocal in the morning. Singing typically starts before dawn and diminishes after a few hours once the day warms up. Cooler weather may prolong vocal activity into mid-morning.
Regional Variations in Vocalizations
The vocalizations of elegant trogons vary slightly across different parts of their range. Some key regional variations include:
- Arizona birds have faster-paced songs with more repeated notes.
- Sonoran trogons in Mexico have slower, whistled songs.
- Calls of Yucatan birds have a lower pitch and fewer clicks.
- Costa Rican trogons use a shorter, faster version of the kwik call.
Researchers think these localized dialects help trogons identify members of their own population. The regional accents arise through cultural transmission as young trogons mimic the calls of adults in their area.
How Do Elegant Trogons Produce Sound?
Elegant trogons, like other bird species, produce calls using the syrinx – a sound-generating organ located at the branching of the trachea into the two bronchi. Air is pushed from the lungs through the trachea and into the syrinx, causing vibrations that create sound.
The elegant trogon’s syrinx contains pairs of opposing muscles that can be contracted to modify the shape of the syrinx and vocal tract, changing the pitch, timbre, and volume of sounds. Birds can control these muscles with fine precision to create intricate vocalizations.
Other physical adaptations elegant trogons use to vocalize include:
- A hardened pessulus structure on the trachea that reflects sound waves back into the bird’s body, giving calls a ventriloquial quality.
- Thin tracheal rings that allow the trachea to lengthen and shorten, altering resonances.
- A notched tongue that may help shape sound.
How Do Scientists Study Trogon Vocalizations?
Ornithologists use several methods to study the sounds of elegant trogons:
- Field recordings – Researchers make audio recordings of trogons vocalizing in the wild, then analyze the sonograms.
- Lab analysis – Captive trogons may be recorded in controlled settings to precisely measure acoustic features.
- Anatomical study – Dissections and tissue samples reveal the physical structures trogons use to vocalize.
- Playback experiments – Scientists play trogon calls and monitor responses to understand meanings.
- Statistical analysis – Large datasets of trogon sounds are analyzed to identify patterns and geographic variation.
These methods help shed light on how trogons vocalize and communicate, advancing our biological understanding of birdsong and mechanisms of sound production in nature.
Mimicking the Elegant Trogon’s Call
The elegant trogon has a highly distinctive song that birders strive to recognize. With practice, the whistle call can be mimicked by humans to draw trogons in for observation. Here are some tips for mimicking an elegant trogon:
- Use your lips to make a modulated whistling sound, aiming for a smooth, mellow timbre.
- Vary the pitch between a low and high note in a “coo COO” pattern.
- Add a ventriloquial quality by whistling while slightly inhaling to direct sound internally.
- Maintain a steady rhythm but vary the pace, inserting pauses.
- Practice the characteristic descending note sequence “coo COO coo COO coo quaa quaa quaa.”
With practice mimicking the tempo, tone, pitch, and phrasing, you can produce a convincing elegant trogon song. Focus on smoothly whistled notes and a regular cadence. Mastering the call takes time but allows an exciting glimpse into the secret world of this rainforest bird.
Key Facts About the Elegant Trogon’s Call
Here are some key facts to remember about the vocalizations of elegant trogons:
- Songs are a melodic series of whistled “coo” notes.
- Sharp “kwik” calls serve as contact notes between mates.
- Females give fast “kwikwikwik” rattles during breeding.
- Juveniles beg with loud, squealing whistles.
- Songs proclaim territory ownership and attract mates.
- Most vocal activity occurs early morning in the breeding season.
- Dialects exist between different regions.
- Syrinx organ in the trachea generates the sounds.
Understanding the unique sounds of the elegant trogon provides insight into the daily dramas of this rainforest bird as it sings for territory, courts mates, and cares for young. With patient observation, anyone can tune into the trogon’s vocal world.
Conclusion
The elegant trogon produces a variety of vocalizations that serve important functions in communication, breeding, and territoriality. By whistling melodic song phrases and rattling off sharp calls, elegant trogons are able to defend territories, attract mates, locate partners, beg for food and express alarm. Regional dialects exist across different parts of the trogon’s range, but the most recognizable sound is the whistled “coo COO coo COO” song performed by males in early morning throughout the spring and summer breeding season. Being able to identify and even mimic the elegant trogon’s distinctive vocalizations provides a special window into observing the behavior of this remarkable rainforest bird.