Malabar Trogon

Harpactes fasciatus

This vibrant forest spectacle can be found gliding silently through the dense canopies of South Asia's tropical rainforests.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

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.

Size

Length

25cm to 31cm

Wingspan

40cm to 45cm

Weight

55g to 65g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Red Brown

Secondary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Blue

Leg Colour

Blue

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Yellow

Secondary Colour (Female)

Black White

Beak Colour (Female)

Blue

Leg Colour (Female)

Blue

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Malabar Trogon can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Malabar Trogon is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Malabar Trogon is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Malabar Trogon is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Malabar Trogon is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Malabar Trogon is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Malabar Trogon is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Malabar Trogon is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Malabar Trogon is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Malabar Trogon can be found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Malabar Trogon is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Malabar Trogon is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Malabar Trogons are endemic to the Western Ghats of India, inhabiting tropical and subtropical moist forests. They prefer dense, undisturbed rainforests with a closed canopy and are typically found in the mid to lower levels of the forest.

Their range extends from Maharashtra in the north to the southern tip of Kerala, with the highest densities found in the states of Karnataka and Kerala. They are non-migratory, maintaining their territories year-round.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,800 meters

Climate zones

Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Malabar Trogon. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons