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Rare trogon bird spotted in Yunhe county

chinadaily.com.cn| Updated : Sep 9, 2022 L M S

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A magnificent red-headed trogon is photographed by Zhu Weiwen in the Yunhe county. [Photo by Zhu Weiwen/Zhejiang Daily]

A pair of Harpactes erythrocephalus, also known as the red-headed trogon, was spotted recently by photographer Zhu Weiwen in the Baihejian Mountain Scenic Area – located in the Yunhe county, administered by Lishui city, in East China's Zhejiang province.

The red-headed trogon is a protected species in China.

According to Zhu, the bird has a unique sound, like a cat's purr. "I was lucky enough to capture both genders as they were resting on a branch not far from each other," Zhu said.

The red-headed trogon is a large bird with a body length of about 35-36.5 centimeters and has striking colors. The male has a dark red head and belly, a brown back and black-and-white wings. The female has a more faded-red belly and a brown head.

Baihejian Mountain has the highest peak in Yunhe. It has lush forest vegetation and a favorable habitat, providing a perfect shelter for wildlife. In recent years, many national protected animals, such as the Tragopan caboti – a pheasant also called the Cabot's tragopan – and the Azemiopinae, a venomous species of viper, have been found there.