Bird Guide

Orange-breasted Trogon vs Scarlet-rumped Trogon

Orange-breasted Trogon (Harpactes oreskios)

Orange-breasted Trogon

Harpactes oreskios

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The orange-breasted trogon is a medium-sized bird that measures between 25 and 31 cm in length and weighs about 49 to 57 g. The males have a dull olive-yellow head and a rufous-chestnut colour that extends from the upperparts to the upperpart of the tail. Underneath the tail the body is black and white. Primaries are black with white vertical bars and wing coverts are barred black. There is a yellow-orange lower breast which becomes lighter as it approaches the vent. A blue eye ring is present. Voice: Generally, the song will start with a 1–3 note "to (to to)" then 3–4 even-pitched "tau-tau-tau". The different subspecies might have a slightly different song; the male song of H. o. stellae a five note kek tau-tau-tau-tau-tau with a repeated harsh kek-kek.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Julia Wittmann · CC BY 4.0
Scarlet-rumped Trogon (Harpactes duvaucelii)

Scarlet-rumped Trogon

Harpactes duvaucelii

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The scarlet-rumped trogon is the world's smallest trogon, with adults measuring around 23–24 cm (9.1–9.4 in) with wings of 10 to 11 cm (3.9 to 4.3 in) in length, tails of about 11 to 13.5 cm (4.3 to 5.3 in), and weighing between 34 and 43 g (1.2 and 1.5 oz). Its eggs are estimated to measure 23.7 mm × 19.9 mm (0.93 in × 0.78 in) and weigh 5.2 g (0.18 oz). Males have a black head, neck and throat, but females and juveniles are a duller brown. Males have red underparts, rump and uppertail coverts along with rich buff or yellowish-brown upperparts and uppertail. Voice: Males have been recorded to emit a call of 12 short and rapid "yau" notes that accelerate in a diminuendo, sometimes to the point that they seem to merge, a much quicker call than other trogons. Females produce quiet rattles. When in alarm, the scarlet-rumped trogon utters quiet "kir-r-r-r" whirrings. This species also has a call that is similar to a scolding squirrel.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Lip Kee Yap from Singapore, Republic of Singapore · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Orange-breasted Trogon and Scarlet-rumped Trogon.