Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus), mature adult

Sovereign of the Canopy

Perched motionless amidst a tangled web of moss-draped branches, a magnificent Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus) commands the humid understory of the Caribbean's most biologically diverse cloud forest.

David S. McMeans · Sony Alpha I · Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS super-telephoto

Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Holguín and Guantánamo Provinces, Cuba

Image

Channels

Sovereign of the Canopy

Perched motionless amidst a tangled web of moss-draped branches, a magnificent Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus) commands the humid understory of the Caribbean's most biologically diverse cloud forest. Locally celebrated as the Tocororo due to its rhythmic, resonant call, this medium-sized arboreal specialist wears a striking palette of iridescent metallic green, deep violet-blue, and brilliant crimson—colors that perfectly mirror the national flag of Cuba. As a non-migratory endemic species, it acts as a critical seed disperser throughout the island's primary and secondary forests. It navigates complex forest canopies with short, explosive bursts of flight to pluck wild fruits, flowers, and insects directly from the foliage. Nesting deep within natural tree cavities and abandoned woodpecker holes, this resilient bird remains a living symbol of ecological continuity and untamed freedom, fiercely reliant on the preservation of old-growth Caribbean ecosystems to survive.

Open the photograph page