[order] TROGONIFORMES | [family] Trogonidae | [latin] Apaloderma aequatoriale | [authority] Sharpe, 1901 | [UK] Bare-cheeked Trogon | [FR] Couroucou a joues jaune | [DE] Gelbwangen-Trogon | [ES] Trogon Carigualdo | [NL] Geelwangtrogon
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Region | Range |
| Apaloderma | aequatoriale | AF | c, wc |
Genus
Apaloderma is a genus of African birds in the Trogonidae family. The African species are considered the original species of Trogons. Espinosa De Los Monteros (1991) states that the idea of a Neotropical origin is not supported. Instead, an African origin for trogons seems a reasonable conclusion, with the New World representing a secondary center of radiation for the Trogoniformes. Another aspect of difference between the African and Asian and Netropical species is their coloration, the African are less iridescent because the feathers have a diffenret (less complex) structure.
Physical charateristics
Male has light green bill with yellow base. Head, upper breast and upper parts all green with golden blue shine. Yellowish bare skin on face. Underparts light-red. On the wings fine pale grey with black bars. Female brown face and throat. Breast more cinnamon washed brown.
| wingspan min.: | 0 | cm | wingspan max.: | 0 | cm |
| size min.: | 28 | cm | size max.: | 31 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 16 | days | incubation max.: | 17 | days |
| fledging min.: | 16 | days | fledging max.: | 17 | days |
| broods: | 0 | eggs min.: | 2 | ||
| eggs max.: | 3 |
Range
Africa : Central, Westcentral
Habitat
Primary lowland forest, favors dense closed canopy. Usually 3-8 meters up in the understorey. Almost never in open land, which seperates it from lokkalike Narina Trogon.
Reproduction
Monogamous species and very territorial. Male selects and defends nest, usually a cavity in a tree 2-8 meters up. Clutch size is 2 eggs with are incubated for about 16 days. Young leave nest after about 16 days.
Feeding habits
Insects of all kinds, but favors fat caterpillars. Also snails, hunts like a Drongo. Will also chase prey on the floor.
Conservation
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
Presumed sedentary
Distribution map
