Is colorful “Kanson Wouj” or Cacos, Haiti’s national bird, endangered? | DID YOU KNOW

From guerrilla resistance to ecological rarity, the colorful bird, known in Haiti as Kanson Wouj, Haitian Creole for “red underpants,” is more than a splash of color in the canopy. It’s a living symbol of Haiti’s cultural identity, resilience and urgent need for conservation.

While this striking and endemic bird remains relatively common in parts of the Dominican Republic, its population in Haiti has shrunk dramatically, ecologists and conservationists say.Outside of residents in the north, south, southeast and southwest, many Haitians are unfamiliar with the species. Confined mainly to the diminishing forests of the Massif de la Hotte and Chaîne de la Selle, Kanson Wouj faces growing threats from habitat loss and deforestation. Despite being classified as a “least concern” species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), experts warn that its numbers are declining and its survival in Haiti may soon be at risk without stronger environmental protections.

The following are seven facts about the Hispaniolan Trogon—Haiti’s symbolic yet threatened national bird:

1. Its local name means “red underpants”                                                                                                           

Haitians affectionately call the bird Kanson Wouj, referring to its vivid red belly resembling a pair of shorts. The name reflects the creative ways many Haitians connect with their natural surroundings. It is scientifically classified as a species in the trogon family, or Trogonidae, which is Greek for “nibbling” and refers to the fact that these birds gnaw holes in trees to make their nests.

2. It’s only found on one island in the world                                                                                                    

The Haitian Trogon—also known by the external world as the Hispaniolan Trogon or Priotelus roseigaster, which are two Greek words meaning genus of trogons and rosy belly—is endemic to this part of the Caribbean, making it a rare and regionally unique species. It is found in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, but it is much more abundant on the latter side of the border.

Kanson Wouj is one of only two trogon species identified in the Caribbean by ecologists and conservationists, alongside the Cuban trogon.

3. It helped define a national resistance movement called Cacos                                                               

During the U.S. occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934, peasant fighters organized a guerrilla resistance against the American Marines, known as Cacos. This is another name given to the bird by some locals, which is after the Haitian trogon. Like the bird, they moved stealthily through the forest and attacked their enemies unexpectedly. Resistance leaders such as Rosalvo Bobo, Charlemagne Péralte and Benoît Batraville drew inspiration from the Cacos’ legacy in their fight for Haitian sovereignty.

4. It thrives in old-growth forests, but those are vanishing                                                                            

This bird depends on large, decayed trees with natural cavities for nesting. It’s most commonly found between 500 and 3,000 meters in elevation, inhabiting moist montane, broadleaf, pine, and even dry forests. In Haiti, its habitat has been severely degraded, limiting its presence to just a few protected zones like La Visite and Pic Macaya national parks. Occasional sightings in mangrove swamps west of Miragoâne, about 60 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince,  remain unconfirmed as permanent populations.

5. It’s classified as “least concern,” but experts say that’s misleading                                                    

According to the IUCN, the trogon is currently listed as a species of “least concern,” meaning it’s not immediately at risk of extinction. However, this designation is based on global population figures that don’t reflect the drastic habitat loss happening in Haiti. In reality, conservationists have documented a moderately rapid population decline due to deforestation.

6. Its diet is diverse, and its foraging method is aerial                                                                                 

Kanson Wouj feeds primarily on insects but also consumes small vertebrates like anoles and fruits, particularly those from the West Indian sumac (Brunellia comocladifolia). Like other trogons, it forages mostly in mid-level forest canopies, using agile flight to snatch food from branches or fruit in midair.

7. It still flies with mixed flocks—just not often                                                                                              

Although the bird is typically solitary or seen in pairs, it has occasionally been observed foraging in mixed-species flocks, especially in the humid pine forests of the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. These interactions, recorded in a 2011 study by researchers Cañizares Morera, Jeff Gerbracht, and C. C. Rimmer for Cornell Lab of Ornithology and published in 2024 in Birds of the World, offer insights into its ecological role and the interdependence of tropical bird communities.

“Its foraging behavior is presumed to be similar to that of other species of trogon: most food is taken in aerial sallies to fruit or surrounding vegetation,” the researchers observe. 

Why the Kanson Wouj matters

As Haiti’s national bird, the Hispaniolan Trogon is not just a symbol—it’s a warning. Its decline mirrors the broader environmental degradation affecting Haiti, where forest cover has dropped below 2% of its original extent. Conservationists like Haitian ecologist Anderson Jean emphasize that protecting the Kanson Wouj also means safeguarding the future of biodiversity, including Haiti’s fauna and flora,  climate resilience and even national pride.“At a time when so much is being lost, the survival of this brilliantly feathered bird stands as a test of Haiti’s will to protect what’s left—and to reclaim its legacy of strength and sovereignty in every form, feathered or not,” Jean told The Haitian Times.

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