African Wildlife & Environment Issue 79

BIRDING

The Nerina Trogon sits motionless in the dense canopy and blends into the dappled shade (Photograph: John Wesson)

the only birds in the world to have a second or inner toe moved backward, instead of the fourth or outer toe.When threatened the birds are able to secrete an extremely foul-smelling liquid from the preen gland at the base of the tail. An interesting fact: The species name commemorates Narina, after the mistress of the French ornithologist François Levaillant, whose name he derived from a Khoikhoi word for 'flower', as her given name was difficult to pronounce. He discovered the bird in the Knysna forest area in 1782 Distribution and habitat Although it is the most widespread and catholic in habitat choice of the three Apaloderma species, numbers of the Narina Trogon are locally depleted due to deforestation,

especially riparian woodland, but the species remains locally common in suitable habitats. Some populations are sedentary while others undertake regular movements, especially to lower-lying warmer areas in winter. This species occurs in Africa south of the Sahel, from Ghana to Ethiopia, extending south to Angola and much of sub-Saharan Africa. Within southern Africa it is locally common in the Caprivi Strip (Namibia), northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and eastern and southern South Africa. It generally prefers evergreen lowland and afromontane forest, as well as riverine forest in savanna, with trees such as Acacias ( Vachellia and Senegalia ), Mopane Colophospermum mopane , Zambezi teak Baikiaea plurijuga , Lebombo-ironwood Androstachys johnsonii and alien Eucalyptus trees.

51 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 79 (2021)