It is now usually considered as a morph of the collared trogon, but was previously sometimes treated as a separate species.

[2][3] It is found in the Talamancan montane forests of Costa Rica and Panama.

The back, head and breast of the male are green, and a white line separates the breast from the orange underparts.

The female has a brown back, head and breast, a relatively uniform undertail (not clearly barred), and underparts that are slightly paler than in the male.

It is distinguished from the collared trogon by belly colour alone.