Trogons are medium-sized birds that sit very still on branches in forest shade, watching for insects and fruit. They have a funny habit of perching upright and turning their head slowly, as if they are thinking deeply about something. When they do fly, their long tails trail behind them like a kite's tail.
The male Hispaniolan trogon is more colourful than the female. Both have metallic green feathers on their backs that shine differently in different light — sometimes bright green, sometimes with a blue or golden tinge. The female's belly is a softer pinkish colour instead of the brilliant crimson of the male.
Trogons nest in holes in dead trees. The parents take turns sitting on the eggs and feeding the chicks. Their call is a soft, low whistle — quite gentle for such a striking-looking bird. Birdwatchers sometimes hear trogons long before they spot one sitting quietly in the canopy above.
You can find Hispaniolan trogons in mountain forests like La Visite National Park, where the trees are tall and the air is cool. Because the bird lives only on one island and nowhere else on Earth, it is a very special species. Haitian people are proud to have such a beautiful bird as their national symbol.