Red-headed Trogons are mostly single or in pairs; they live in trees, either climbing on the top branches of small trees to eat wild fruits, or standing quietly on tree branches waiting for an opportunity to attack flying insects, and occasionally following flying insects. They have poor flying ability, and although they are fast, they do not fly far. Their calls are a bit like the fragmented meows of cats, usually three intermittent "shiu" sounds, which are issued leisurely, about 5 or 6 times a minute. When attacking insects or when frightened, they often make a single noise like "krak", but they are usually very quiet. Not only do they not like to call when they are perched, but they are also very quiet when they come and go. They are timid and solitary, often standing vertically on the low branches of the canopy or on vines. When flying, they often fly in the forest in an ups and downs wave-like manner.
Mainly feeds on insects and insect larvae. Also eats plant fruits. Often preys in the air by flying. But can also prey on the ground.
The breeding season of the red-headed trogon is from April to July. They choose natural holes in rotten tree stumps or abandoned nests of woodpeckers in the depths of dense forests as their nests. They usually nest in natural tree holes, and sometimes they dig holes on dead trees to nest. There is no bedding in the hole, and the eggs are laid directly in the hole. Each nest has 3-4 eggs, which are blunt oval or oval. The color is light yellow or coffee, very smooth. The size of the egg is 26-33×22-26 mm; the average is 29×24 mm. Male and female participate in incubation and brooding. The chicks are late-maturing.
Listed in the second level of the "List of National Key Protected Wildlife in China".