Scarlet-rumped Trogon (Harpactes duvaucelii)

Kesumba Puteri*红腰咬鹃*コシアカキヌバネドリ

The Scarlet-rumped Trogons are more frequently seen than the Red-naped and Diard’s Trogons in Panti. Their sizes are smaller, and both male and female have distinctive plumage on their feathers. Like most bird species, the male are more colorful and a real beauty to the eyes.

The SRTs perch lower and closer (especially the female) while responding to calls, and typically with their backs facing you with the glamorous over-the-shoulder look, a real shooting delight for photographers.

I have experienced on a few ocassions that the female perches only about 5-6’ away from me, forcing me to step back repetitive to get the shot, for the min focus distant on my 500mm VR is ~10’.

While the territorial calls of the RNTs and DT’s are usually heard in certain stretch of the 8km bunker trail, the SRTs’ are in much wider stretch. I have no idea if this is due to their higher population or simply because they like to move about habitually. So just get yourself prepared for the SRTs if you visit Panti!

This year, however, sighting of the 3 species of trogon are lesser and their calls are seldom heard at the usual spots compared to the previous year. I surely hope that this is not a sign of their diminishing population as the Scarlet-rumped Trogon was chosen as the official logo for Panti Bird Sanctuary!

female

Both shots were taken with D300 500mmVR TC1.4