Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – the Narina Trogon

IN this issue we feature one of the more secretive birds in our area but one that bird enthusiasts will travel thousands of kilometres to see!

It is considered by many to be the most beautiful bird of the Upper Highway.

Description

The Narina Trogon is approximately 29-34cm in size – similar to a small dove. Both the male and female have very bright, ginger-green upper-part plumage while the tail feathers have a metallic blue-green gloss with the outer three tail feathers (the feathers the bird uses to direct flight) on each side are white. The mid-breast feathers are a striking bright crimson making them easily identifiable.

To add to the dazzle, the male will flash a turquoise throat when he calls and displays. If you are lucky enough to see the bird facing you, then you will see a remarkable kaleidoscope of bright colours.

Behaviour

To find the bird it is best to learn its call as that will alert you to its presence. It will often fly to a branch and then perch and stay still for very long periods making it very difficult to spot! It is also well known for turning its back to potential threats (including humans) and the shimmering blue-green feathers on its back blend perfectly into the forest greenery making it even more difficulty to spot.

Diet

It feeds mainly on a range of invertebrates such as caterpillars, spiders and mantids and occasionally even on small reptiles.

ALSO READ: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – the Woolly-necked Stork

Breeding

It nests in natural tree cavities a few metres from the ground. Two to four eggs are laid and incubated by both the male and female for up to 21 days. The chicks stay in the nest for about 28 days and they remain with the parents for a number of months after fledging.

Distribution

It is quite widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa and in southern Africa it can be found along the Caprivi Strip in Namibia, the Chobe area of Botswana, most of Zimbabwe and Mozambique and the eastern part of South Africa, including the KZN coastline.

Habitat

It can be found in evergreen lowland and afromontane forests, as well as in many riverine forests.

Threats

Humans are its biggest threat and, in the urban context, the biggest threat is the human practice of destroying habitat when we cut down forested areas, particularly along rivers.

ALSO READ: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – the Purple Crested Turaco

Local information

They are reasonably common in the forested parts of the Upper Highway. In Krantzkloof Nature Reserve they are often heard with their characteristic hooting call. Popular spots to find them are at the Kloof Falls picnic site, the Molweni Trail, the forested section of the Mpithi Trail as well as the Forest Trail.

Interesting facts

The bird’s name has an interesting origin. François Le Vaillant was a French ornithologist and is considered by many to be the father of ornithology in Southern Africa. He stubbornly opposed the generally accepted and systematic species nomenclature introduced by Carolus Linnaeus.

He refused to use Linnaeus’ naming system and only gave the new species he discovered French names. He visited South Africa in the 18th century, just before the French Revolution, and made two expeditions from the Cape. One was to the east, as far as the Fish River, and the second north, to Namaqualand. It is rumoured that he was not only interested in birds but was also fond of the local lasses. He was very attracted to a young Khoi woman, Narina, and named the beautiful trogon in her honour.

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