Some nests aren't obvious and can only be found by seeing a bird go into the nest. The Elegant Trogon is a migratory bird that arrives in the Madrean Sky Islands of Southern Arizona in March and April. Males begin looking for a female on arrival and usually nest by the end of Spring. They stay here until September or so, then head back to South for the winter.
I remember hiking along Cave Creek in the Chiricahua Mountains looking for Elegant Trogons. They are most easily found by following their "call." Their call is a very distinctive "bark", like a seal. Four to six very loud bursts. One April I followed the barking until I saw a flash of red disappear in the hole of a Sycamore Tree. I parked myself about 25 feet away and waited. I was rewarded with both male and female poking their heads out of the nest:
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| Male Elegant Trogon in nest of Sycamore Tree, Chiricahua Mountains |
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| Female Elegant Trogon in same nest, Chiricahua Mountains |
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| Male Elegant Trogon in Gardener Canyon (Huachuca Mountains) |
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| Male Elegant Trogon near Patagonia Lake |
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