With a Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina) spotted near Farmhouse Crossing by bungalow 66, it is only fitting that this bird is our species of the month!
As a difficult bird to find, mostly found in cooler forests, this bird is a rarity for Ingwelala. With an estimated population of just 500 in the Kruger National Park area, this bird is an absolute highlight to tick off your list, no matter how many times you’ve seen it, and is a species worth looking for.
With stunning plumage to match the forest tones, this bird is often found alone, or sometimes in pairs, perched in the foliage of trees where it sits and waits for food. A particular favourite on the menu is smooth-skinned caterpillars, and sometimes even small chameleons.
Did you know?
Part of the reason this bird is so hard to find is that it hardly ever makes any noise when out of the breeding season. This species has also been known to actively turn it’s green back towards humans when aware of their presence, hiding the bright red underparts and blending into the tree canopy with expert camouflage!
Words by Tess Woollgar, image courtesy of Maureen Kirk