Hylomanes momotula
Identification
Length: 16.5–18 cm (6½-7in)
Much the smallest motmot, chunky and large-headed; tail shortish with central pair of rectrices only slightly elongated and lacking racket-like extensions. Crown and nape rufous; supercilium turquoise-blue; black mask bordered below by two white stripes. Back and tail green. Juveniles duller with grayish-brown crown and nape.
Variations
Subspecies chapiensis and obscurus both darker, the latter with less white on its throat.
Distribution
Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Three subspecies usually recognized[1]:
- H. m. chiapensis:
- Pacific coast of southern Mexico (Chiapas)
- H. m. momotula:
- H. m. obscurus:
- North-western Costa Rica to extreme north-western Colombia
Habitat
Tropical wet forest
Behaviour
Shy and secretive. Frequently flicks tail back and forth sideways like a clock.
Breeding
Nest unrecorded but probably a burrow in earth embankment.
Diet
Insects, spiders and small snails. Butterflies and dragonflies taken in mid-air.
Vocalisations
Song is a rising-falling and accelerating series of rising whistles. Also a resonant, far-carrying, gruff-sounding kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa... or quah quah quah
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Wikipedia
- BF Member observations
- Snow, D. & Kirwan, G.M. (2018). Tody Motmot (Hylomanes momotula). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/55818 on 23 December 2018).
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
