Fun Cuban Trogon Facts For Kids

Cuba's lush tropical ecology supports around 300 bird species. One among them is the country's national bird, the Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus).

This bird can only be found in Cuba, and only in the wild. The vibrant blue, white and red of the Cuban national flag is mirrored by the national bird of Cuba. Even though the Cuban trogon bird is an endemic species, it is not Endangered.

The bird is commonly found in the country's forests, especially in mountainous areas. It is also known as tocororo or tocoloro, which is derived from its natural call 'toco-tocoro-tocoro'.

For the indigenous population in Cuba, the P. temnurus represents a bearer of good news and fortune. The national bird of Cuba was also officially depicted on the country's stamp in 1987.

It is time to learn other facts like where does the Cuban trogon live in their habitat. If you love birds, then check out other Kidadl articles like metallic starling and blue grosbeak.

Cuban Trogon Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Cuban trogon?

The Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus) is a brightly colored bird in the Trogoniformes order and the Priotelus genus. This trogon is only found in Cuba.

What class of animal does a Cuban trogon belong to?

The endemic Cuban trogon or the tocororo from Cuba belongs to the class of Aves or birds like other species like barn owls.

How many Cuban trogons are there in the world?

The tocororo can only be found in Cuba, like the Cuban Amazon. It is estimated that there are about 5000 breeding trogon pairs.

Where does a Cuban trogon live?

This endemic species lives in wet, dry, and secondary tropical forests of Cuba. It is also spotted in shrublands near water bodies. You can spot these birds in tall and dense pine forests on the island of Cuba.

In these habitats, it prefers shaded areas. While they are widespread in all these habitats, these birds are more common in upland areas. Compared to other locations, it might be difficult to see these birds on the Isle of Guajaba, Romano, and Sabinal.

What is a Cuban trogon's habitat?

In the island of Cuba, the national bird is quite widespread, occupying almost all available habitats ranging from evergreen forests to deciduous forests.

Who do Cuban trogons live with?

The tocororo is often seen flying in pairs. This is most likely due to the trogon's monogamous nature during the breeding season. The pairs collaborate to feed and care for the juveniles.

How long does a Cuban trogon live?

The lifespan of the Cuban trogon bird is not known.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding season for the Cuban trogon bird begins in May and ends in August. The trogon constructs its nest in natural tree holes or cavities. It will occasionally occupy abandoned woodpecker nests.

There would be three to four eggs in a clutch of a Cuban trogon. The egg color is typically white with a bluish tint.

The incubation period for the eggs is approximately 19 days. Male and female trogons both share responsibility for feeding the juveniles. Finally, about 18 days after hatching, the juveniles will leave the nest.

What is their conservation status?

The Cuban trogon, are they in danger? Despite the fact that the bird's population is declining, the International Union for Conservation of Nature considers the bird to be of Least Concern. In Cuba, the tocororo is fairly common. They can be found in Cuba's forests, mountains, shrublands, and other habitats.

Cuban Trogon Fun Facts

What do Cuban trogons look like?

The tocororo is a vibrant, colorful bird. In the forests of Cuba, its bright plumage shines out. In fact, available photos do not do the tocororo's stunning appearance justice.

Dark blue, white, and red are the most prevalent hues on the trogon. The crown and back are a blue-green blend. The bird's wings and extended tail include some white, green, and blue patterns.

When light reaches the green back, it gleams. The throat is white, with a vivid red belly. The white feathers on the bird's throat stand out. The upper mandible is a shade darker than the beak, which is reddish.

The legs are darker and the piercing eyes are red. A male and female trogon has similar coloring, albeit the latter can have a lighter red belly. When compared to adults, a juvenile's coat is likely to be duller.

How cute are they?

While they may not be as colorful as great green macaws or parrots, Cuban trogon or tocororo birds have a fluffy, cute appearance.

How do they communicate?

You will occasionally hear sounds that sound like 'toco-toco-tocoro' in the forests of Cuba. This is the well-known call of the tocororo, as the name suggests. The trogon repeats the 'toco-toco-tocoro' call for long periods of time, with tiny gaps in between.

You will notice the trogon's trembling tail if you hear it calling. The bird makes a range of sounds, including clucks and barking, in addition to this call. When the birds are scared, they make a short sorrowful cry.

How big is a Cuban trogon?

The Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus) can grow to be 9-10 in (23-25 cm) long. The female bird will be significantly smaller than the male. Compared to a Carolina parakeet, this species is quite small.

How fast can a Cuban trogon fly?

Unfortunately, we do not know the flight speed of Cuban trogons.

How much does a Cuban trogon weigh?

These birds weigh somewhere between 1.6-2.6 oz (47-75 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Both male and female birds are known as the tocororo or toco, or trogans.

What would you call a baby Cuban trogon?

The baby is referred to as a Cuban trogon juvenile.

What do they eat?

The omnivorous Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus) eats a wide variety of foods. Their food includes nectar from flowers and fruits such as berries, insects, and lizards. The masticated versions of these meals are fed to the juveniles by the adults.

Are they friendly?

It is unknown whether this trogon species is friendly or not.

Would they make a good pet?

No, they won't. The tocoloro cannot be raised in captivity. It was discovered that when the tocororo is caged, it dies from sadness.

Did you know...

Trogons only migrate from one habitat to another within Cuba.

This trogon species does not build its own nests.

Cuban Indians also call this bird guatini.

The trogon toe pattern is unique and allows it efficiently perch on tree branches.

Northern bobwhite, blue-headed quail-dove, and ring-necked pheasant are all birds found in Cuba.

How does the Cuban trogon affect the community?

An indicator species, the tocororo reflects the health of Cuba's tropical forest ecosystem.

What does the Cuban trogon represent?

The Cuban trogon is the national bird of Cuba. There are two reasons why this bird was chosen. For starters, the bright dark blue, red, and white plumage are similar to the colors of the country's flag.

Second, the Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus) is a bird that cannot survive in captivity. The tocoloro will sacrifice itself to gain freedom. This is the type of behavior that appeals to the Cuban people's desire for freedom.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our rook facts or swallow facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable starling coloring pages.

Second image by Baldo Simone