Elegant Trogon

Some guys get all the attention.

There are hundreds to thousands of people looking for this bird.

The lure of the Elegant Trogon is amazing.

People come 'birding' for the Elegant Trogon with all sorts of binoculars, guidebooks, and photographic equipment.

Although some do come with nothing at all, I suspect the 'nothing at all' people are the spouses.

This is Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains of the Coronado National Forest, Arizona.  You're about 50 miles north of the Mexico border.

This bird 'holds court' every day for his subjects, but not always on the same spot on the mountain. Everyone must guess where and when he'll show up on any given day.

He is not shy about revealing his presence though. He barks out his bizarre song and it travels up and down the canyon, mostly in the early mornings.

Here is an audio link to an Elegant Trogon 'barking'... it's strange.

Cornell University:  https://ebird.org/species/eletro

Men and women, boys and girls string out along the creek with guidebooks and 'binos' hoping today is the day they'll get to see this rare bird.

The Coronado National Forest is south of Tucson. It's a 10 mile drive up to the end of the canyon. That's where you'll start looking for this colorful bird.

Because Elegant Trogons barely make it into the United States from Mexico and Central America, this bird's uniqueness feeds the local economy with purchases of gas, food and lodging.

All this attention certainly is wasted on the Elegant Trogon though. All he is interested in is fruit and insects to eat and a place to call home.

He has that here, along with exposure to a lot of people to which he's blissfully unconcerned.

Allan

Credits: 
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds
The Sibley's Guide to Birds