Birds Active during the day

Lattice-tailed Trogon

Trogon clathratus

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A hidden gem of the Central American rainforest, the Lattice-tailed Trogon is named for the exquisite, lace-like patterns hidden beneath its tail. This iridescent emerald and ruby resident is a master of the humid Caribbean slopes.

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0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

29-31 cm (11.5-12.2 inches) in length; weighs approximately 85-110g (3-3.8 oz)

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Colors

Males feature an iridescent green head and back, a bright red belly, and a yellow bill. Females are slaty-gray with a similar red belly.

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Key Features

Intricate white-on-black lattice pattern on the underside of the tail
Bright red belly with no white breast band
Pale white or yellow iris
Stocky, upright perching posture

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 3-5 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Omnivorous, feeding on a variety of large insects like cicadas and caterpillars, as well as small tropical fruits and berries.

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Habitat Humid lowland and foothill evergreen forests, typically staying within the shaded mid-story.

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Where Does the Lattice-tailed Trogon Live?

Native to the lush tropical corridors of Central America, the Lattice-tailed Trogon is a regional specialist found exclusively on the Caribbean slope. Its core range spans from eastern Costa Rica through western and central Panama. It thrives in the humid, high-rainfall environments of the Atlantic lowlands and foothills where primary rainforest remains intact.

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2 Countries

35K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

CR Costa Rica PA Panama

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Lattice-tailed Trogon is a classic "sit-and-wait" predator of the tropical mid-story. It spends significant portions of its day perched motionlessly on horizontal branches, its large eyes scanning for the slightest movement of an insect or the glint of a ripening berry. When prey is spotted, the trogon executes a sudden, acrobatic sally, hovering briefly to pluck its target from the foliage before returning to a nearby perch to consume it.

Unlike many tropical birds that travel in noisy flocks, this species is generally solitary or found in quiet pairs. They are known for being somewhat sluggish and approachable, often allowing observers to get quite close before they fly off with an undulating flight pattern. Their presence is often revealed more by their voice—a series of soft, resonant, accelerating hoots—than by their movement through the dense Caribbean slope forests.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Lattice-tailed Trogon on your camera, focus your efforts on the mid-story rather than the forest floor. These birds prefer perching on horizontal branches between 5 and 15 feet off the ground. Mount your camera on a tree trunk overlooking a small clearing or a "light gap" where a tree has fallen. Trogons love these edges because they provide high visibility for hunting insects. Angle the lens slightly upward to ensure you capture the brilliant red of the belly and the crucial lattice details on the tail.

While they won't visit standard bird feeders, you can entice them by placing cameras near native fruiting trees, particularly those in the nutmeg (Virola) or laurel families. Because they are "sit-and-wait" hunters, they often remain still for minutes at a time. Set your camera's trigger sensitivity to high and utilize a high-speed burst mode. This ensures that when the bird finally makes its lightning-fast sally for food, you catch the action rather than just an empty branch.

Lighting in the humid rainforest is often dim and dappled, which can trick auto-exposure settings. If your camera allows, set a slightly higher ISO or use a fast shutter speed to prevent motion blur during their quick flights. Early morning is the golden hour for this species; they are most vocal and active just as the sun begins to penetrate the canopy. If your property borders a forested area, keeping a water source like a high-placed birdbath might occasionally lure them down for a drink or a splash.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Lattice-tailed Trogon.

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Has a uniform gray tail underside without fine white barring, and an orange-red bill instead of yellow.

Baird's Trogon

Found on the Pacific slope rather than the Caribbean; has a blue eye-ring and different tail patterns.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Lattice-tailed Trogons are most active during the early morning hours, typically between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM, and again in the late afternoon. They are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and sleep at night.

These birds are forest specialists, so they are difficult to attract to standard urban backyards. However, if you live near a forest edge, planting native fruit-bearing trees and maintaining a tiered garden with plenty of horizontal perching branches will make your space more attractive to them.

Their diet consists of a mix of protein and sugar. They hunt large insects like stick insects, katydids, and beetles, and they also consume a significant amount of small forest fruits which they pluck while hovering in mid-air.

No, they are rarely seen in suburban environments unless the property is directly adjacent to mature, humid tropical forest. They require dense canopy cover and high humidity levels not found in most cleared residential areas.

The best way is to look at the tail's underside. The Lattice-tailed Trogon has very fine, intricate white barring (the 'lattice'), while the Slaty-tailed Trogon has a more uniform, lead-gray tail. Additionally, the male Lattice-tailed has a yellow bill, whereas the Slaty-tailed has an orange-red bill.

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