Home › Aves › Trogonidae › Hispaniolan Trogon (Priotelus roseigaster)
SPECIES PROFILE
Hispaniolan Trogon (Priotelus roseigaster)
Priotelus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Endemic to the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti); one of two trogons in the genus Priotelus.
DIET
Omnivore
HABITAT
Montane pine forest, cloud forest, and humid broadleaf forest from sea level to 3,000 m in Hispaniola.
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Trogoniformes
FAMILY
Trogonidae
GENUS
Priotelus
📋 Description
SIZE
Medium trogon 27–30 cm; stocky build with a long tail.
COLORATION
Males: dark iridescent blue-green head and breast; red belly; white tail with black-and-white barring; yellow bill.
ADAPTATIONS
Zygodactyl feet for perching; wide gape for catching insects in aerial sallies; cryptic green-and-red camouflage in canopy.
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Montane pine forest, cloud forest, and humid broadleaf forest from sea level to 3,000 m in Hispaniola.
DIET
Omnivore
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Endemic to the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti); one of two trogons in the genus Priotelus.
REPRODUCTION
Excavate nesting cavities in tree trunks or termite mounds; 2–3 white eggs; both parents incubate for ~18 days.
DIET DETAILS
Insects, small lizards, berries, and small fruits; sallies from a perch to catch prey in mid-air.
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Deforestation — Haiti has lost over 98% of its original forest; Dominican Republic's forests are better protected but still under pressure.
💡 Interesting Facts
1
The Hispaniolan Trogon is one of only two Caribbean-endemic trogon species, both belonging to the same genus Priotelus.
2
It shares Hispaniola with its sister species the Cuban Trogon — their divergence mirrors the separation of the two islands.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Parque Nacional Armando Bermúdez (La Ciénaga trailhead), Dominican Republic — excellent montane forest for Hispaniolan Trogon.
Valle Nuevo Scientific Reserve, Constanza, Dominican Republic — high-altitude pine forest accessible by 4WD with reliable Trogon sightings.
Parque Nacional Los Haitises, Dominican Republic — lowland humid forest with cave systems and resident Hispaniolan Trogon.
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round; most vocal and visible February–May breeding season; most accessible on the road to Valle Nuevo.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Visit pine forest trails in Armando Bermúdez at dawn; listen for a soft cooing call and scan mid-level branches.
🏨 Where to Stay
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