BAR-TAILED TROGO RARE SIGHTING

On our way back after our morning game drive, at around 12:00 noon we stopped at the ascent road view point five minutes from the lodge, to enjoy the breathtaking view when my eyes suddenly focussed on this Bar-tailed trogon sitting motionless, high in the canopy of a cape chestnut tree.

I could not believe my own eyes, looking at this very stunning secretive long tailed forest bird. It has been over ten years now since the last time this elusive bird was seen in the Crater rim forest. It stayed in view long enough for us to identify it. We could clearly see the long  black tail and white edges while underneath the tail was entirely barred, which distinguishes the Bar-tailed Trogon from their cousin the Narina Trogon. The pale tipped wing coverts suggested that it was immature. It took off before we could take any pictures unfortunately.

Posted: Ngorongoro Crater by Erick Nyamohanga, Date: 15 February 2012