Out of the 743 Bird species that call the Philippine archipelago their home, there is one so colorful and majestic that they captivate any visitor with their presence: the Philippine Trogon. This Bird is dubbed by many as the Ibong Adarna, the legendary Bird of Philippine folklore.
My search for the Philippine Trogon, despite being considered by many Birdwatchers and photographers as a “beginner’s Bird”, was not a walk in the park. A sighting posted on our Facebook group took me to the winding road of Ternate, Cavite leading to Caylabne Re- sort. I arrived at the spot before the sun rose and parked my car at the nearest shoulder as I played their Bird call in hopes of seeing one up close.
After five hours of searching, I decided to call it quits and started to focus on other Birds instead.
WATCH AND WAIT
A fellow photographer then posted a sighting in Infanta, Quezon, at the southern corridor of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Trogons frequent this area due to its proximity to hectares of undisturbed forest.
I took a two-hour drive to meet a local guide, determined to finally document this beautiful Bird. Just like before, I arrived on the site before the sun rose, played their Bird call, and waited for a response. We spent eleven hours on the site hoping to catch a glimpse of the male Philippine Trogon.
ELUSIVE MALES
We saw a female Trogon forty meters away. Although not as colorful as the male, the female’s signature Tiger-striped wings were a sight to behold.
This encounter inspired me to go back to Infanta six more times in different locations. I made short hikes in the forest and endured countless downpours in the process while playing their Bird call and waiting for the “Ibong Adarna” to come our way.
It actually didn’t help that their signature call sounds like a laughing Bird. It almost felt like we were being ridiculed with our every attempt to document the Trogon, with us always going home empty-handed.
It was on my eighth trip to Infanta one foggy morning when we finally heard a Philippine Trogon’s call.
WORTH THE WAIT
We hurriedly replied to him with a call of our own. His call grew louder and louder, until finally, the fog cleared just in time and revealed this beautiful male Philippine Trogon perched nineteen meters away, scanning his surroundings for food.
It was a first encounter fit for a fairy tale. He posed for pictures for at least ten minutes, moving from branch to branch until he finally noticed our presence and flew back to the confines of the deep forest.
“TREE NIBBLER”
The name Trogon is a Greek term for nibbling. Trogons are known to nibble on tree trunks to make a hole large enough to serve as a nest. They are found all over the world. Each species is known for their beautiful array of colors and patterns.
Trogons are primarily Insectivores, but they are known to occasionally take fruits and small Lizards as well. I have observed Philippine Trogons following Malkohas (large tropical Cuckoos) in their feeding raids, possibly taking advantage of the faster moving Malkohas in scanning a larger area of the forest for food.
DIMORPHIC AND MAJESTIC
The Philippine Trogon is sexually dimorphic. Males sport a yellow bill which transitions to green and blue as it reaches its base. The skin surrounding the eyes is blue. Their head transitions from black to red-violet, while their back is brown, with wings that sport a zebra stripe pattern. Their chest is pink and the underbelly is bright red. Their tail is a combination of brown, white, and black.
Females, on the other hand, have a more muted color. Their head is brown; their chest and belly are orange, and they sport a Tiger stripe on the wings. The rest of their body is the same as the male.
SURREAL ENCOUNTER
The Philippine Trogon is endemic to — and is the only Trogon species in — the country. They are currently listed as being of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with their population decreasing due to habitat loss.
Unlike the Ibong Adarna, the Philippine Trogon does not sing a beautiful tune, nor do they turn visitors to stone or serve as a cure for any illness.
I can attest, though, that seeing one will make you stop what you’re doing to admire their presence. Their beauty will make you doubt if what you’re seeing is real.
The experience is enough to make a bad day turn into something you will remember for a lifetime — that, for me, is what makes the Philippine Trogon legendary.
