The species is restricted to the canopy of tall rainforest at elevations up to 1,200 m, but sometimes uses the transitional zones between humid and dry forests (Stiles and Skutch 1989, Schulze et al. 2019, Collar 2020). Additionally, it is occasionally found at forest edges, tall secondary growth, shrubby vegetation and the upper understory, and sometimes even in shaded semi-open woodland at fruiting trees (Collar 2020). It feeds on fruit and insects, and has been observed to take a small lizard (del Hoyo et al. 2001). Breeding takes place in April-August. Its nest is a rounded, unlined chamber with an ascending tunnel, 2-5 m up in a large decaying trunk. It lays 2-3 eggs, and has an incubation period of 16-17 days followed by a fledging period of c.25 days (del Hoyo et al. 2001).

Trogon bairdii is fairly common in suitable habitat on the Pacific slope of south-west Costa Rica, but there are very few recent records in extreme west Panama (Ridgely and Gwynne 1989, Stiles and Skutch 1989, Angehr and Jordán 1998).

Conservation Actions Underway
Its core populations occur in Corcovado National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, Peñas Blancas Wildlife Refuge, Carara Biological Reserve, the lowlands of La Amistad International Park, and several private reserves (del Hoyo et al. 2001, Unión de Ornitólogos de Costa Rica in litt. 2011).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out thorough surveys to assess the population size. Search for the species on the Caribbean slope of Panama and southern Costa Rica. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation. Increase the area of suitable habitat that is protected. Encourage the restoration of lowland and middle-elevation forest.