T rogons are medium to large arboreal, cavity-nesting birds native to tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Considering that they're so widely separated, trogons are surprisingly similar. The trogon family includes some of the world's most beautiful birds. In adult males of all species the color of the chest and upper parts usually contrasts with the lower breast and abdomen, which are bright red, pink, orange, or yellow. Asian males may have red or pink on the head, rump, chest or tail.
Females are considerably duller.
Trogons have long, graduated tails that tend to be closed, creating a square-tipped appearance. These include the resplendent quetzal, which inhabits mountain forests from southern Mexico into western Panama. A sacred bird to the ancient Mayas and Aztecs, the quetzal is Guatemala's national bird. Trogons have weak feet with two toes directed forward, two backward. They are the only birds in which the two toes pointing backwards are the first and second digits.