Baird's Trogon

George Newbold Lawrence, an American ornithologist (1806-1895), discovered Baird's Trogon in 1868 in San Mateo, Costa Rica and so named it in honor of Spencer Fullerton Baird (1823-1887), another American ornithologist, his friend and colleague with whom he made several expeditions. As with all trogons, Baird's Trogon has a peculiarity that makes each member of the trogonidae family unique: it is the only trogon with a red belly and blue beak and scientists believe it forms a super-species with Trogon viridis, citroleus and melanocephalus. Baird's Trogon measures from 25 to 28 cm, with a clear dimorphism, the male has the pale blue beak which is an unmistakable distinctive element, the beak color is matched to its orbital circle of the same pale blue, the iris is black. The black eyebrow contrasts little with the cap and neck of a dark blue-sea, depending on the light this blue will tint purple. The mantle, back and shoulder blades are emerald green, there too the light will play its role, depending on its exposure, the bird will sometimes look turquoise blue, violet blue or downright purple! The feathers are gray and the characteristic vermiculations of many trogons are absent, the remiges are almost black anthracite with quite clear white edgings. The chest is black on its central part and on the edges near the feathers, slightly tinted with the same blue-sea found on the nape and cap. The belly is orange-red, the lower rectrices are white and end with a black horizontal line, the upper rectrices presenting a green-bronze color with turquoise blue reflections. The tarsi are blue-gray. The female has a grayer beak with a black upper jaw, the cap and neck are anthracite, the brows, throat and chest are gray, the belly remains orange-red with an orange dominant than the male.The mantle, back and scapulars are anthracite, the dark gray coverts are painted with very faint white horizontal wavy lines, the remiges are identical to the male: black with white edges. The tail is completely different from the male, the lower rectrices are horizontally striped grey and white, the base of the tail near the abdomen being only anthracite like the upper rectrices. Juveniles resemble their mother, young males show the first green reflections of their adult plumage on the back, the lower rectrices are vaguely striped before becoming white for males and striped for females.