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Orange-bellied Trogon is now found with such regularity at Cerro Gaital and Altos
del Maria that it is hard to believe that less than 20 years ago it was not known from the area.
As of the most recent revision of Birds of Panama there was a large range gap between El Copé (in western Coclé) and
Cerro Campana (just east of Altos). I have never missed this species in multiple trips to the area, and I believe I can safely
say that the same is true for virtually all visiting birders. The lovely photo of a male Orange-bellied Trogon reprinted below
was captured by my father, Richard Allaire, at Altos del Maria in May, 2006.
Birders should be aware that Collared Trogon Trogon collaris remains a possibility in central Panama. This species
occupies a much larger range than the near-endemic Orange-bellied Trogon, found from southern Mexico through northern South America, with an apparent range
gap between western Chiriquí and eastern Darién. The question of the taxonomic status of these species remains in question;
aurantiiventris may simply be a color variant of collaris, or more than one species of collaris may be involved. Even a detailed study of the phylogeny of
trogons (Monteros, Auk 1998) essentially ignores the matter, so this issue awaits a definitive study. Collared Trogon is essentially identical to Orange-bellied except in that the males
possess a red belly; elsewhere in its range Collared Trogon ranges to elevations found in central Panama, so the possibility that the species (or intergrade forms) exists in central Panama is an intriguing one.
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