Malabar Trogon

The Malabar Trogon is a striking bird. Males have a black head and upper breast, with pink-red colouring from mid-breast to tail. Their back and wings are yellowish-brown with white barring. They have distinctive blue bills and a blue stripe of bare skin under their eyes. The tail is rufous-brown with a black band at the end.

Females are more subdued, with a brown head and breast areas, a subtle buff-coloured breast line, and tawny-yellow colouring from mid-breast to tail. Their wings show buff-coloured barring.

The Malabar Trogon's call is a soft, repetitive 'kyow-kyow' or 'coo-coo-coo', often given in series.

During the breeding season, males may produce a more rapid and excited version of this call. They also make a low, churring sound when alarmed or agitated.

• Look for Malabar Trogons in dense, moist forests of the Western Ghats
• Listen for their soft, repetitive 'kyow-kyow' calls to locate them
• Scan mid-level branches where they often perch motionless
• Be patient, as they can remain still for long periods
• Visit during early morning or late afternoon when they are most active

The Malabar Trogon's diet consists primarily of insects, particularly caterpillars, beetles, and moths. They also consume small lizards and various fruits, especially figs.

Their feeding strategy involves sitting motionless on a perch and making quick, short flights to catch prey or pluck fruit.

Breeding season for Malabar Trogons typically occurs between February and May. Pairs form monogamous bonds and engage in courtship displays that include tail-fanning and soft vocalisations.

Nests are built in tree cavities, often using abandoned woodpecker holes or natural hollows. The female lays 2-3 pale blue or white eggs in the unlined cavity.

Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 16-17 days. After hatching, the chicks remain in the nest for approximately 20 days before fledging, with both parents contributing to their care.

Malabar Trogons are typically solitary or found in pairs. They perch upright on branches, often remaining motionless for long periods while scanning for prey.

When foraging, they make short, quick flights to catch insects or pluck berries, returning to the same or a nearby perch.

While currently listed as Least Concern, the Malabar Trogon faces threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and fragmentation of its rainforest home.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring the Western Ghats' forests to ensure the species' long-term survival.