- Momotus subrufescens
Identification
38-48 cm
Green upperparts (olive in subspecies osgoodi), green or rufous underparts depending on subspecies (very variable how dark), black central spot on upper breast, black central crown surrounded by blue band, black eyemask sometimes edged pale at the back.
Tail is green with blue lower tail with two longest feathers showing an area missing barbs followed by an area with barbs (rackets); the tip of these feathers is black in some subspecies.
Notice that the tail feathers are normal when growing, the barbs fall off shortly after, and it is therefore possible to see a bird of this species that is missing rackets (feathers may also break below the rackets).
Juvenile has reduced black on upper breast.
Distribution
From Panama to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.
Taxonomy
There has been a recent split of a species known as Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) into six species:
- Blue-capped Motmot (M. coeruliceps) -- from Mexico
- Lesson's Motmot (M. lessoni) -- from southern Mexico to western Panama
- Whooping Motmot (M. subrufescens) -- from around the Canal zone in Panama to northern Colombia and northern Venezuela as well as lowland western Ecuador, and Peru
- Trinidad Motmot (M. bahamensis) -- Trinidad and Tobago
- Amazonian Motmot (M. momota) -- Amazonian lowlands from Colombia, to The Guianas and south to Bolivia and Argentina
- Andean Motmot (M. aequatorialis) -- Highlands in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
Subspecies
Seven subspecies recognized[1]:
- M. s. spatha in eastern Colombia (Serrania Macuira in eastern Guajira)
- M. s. olivaresi in eastern Colombia
- M. s. subrufescens on the Caribbean coast of northern Colombia and Venezuela
- M. s. conexus from Panama (Canal Zone) to northern Colombia (lower Río Cauca)
- M. s. reconditus from eastern Panama to northern Colombia (Atrato Valley)
- M. s. osgoodi in the humid forests of western Venezuela (Lake Maracaibo region)
- M. s. argenticinctus in tropical western Ecuador and northwestern Peru
This species was formerly considered conspecific with Blue-crowned Motmot.
Habitat
Habits near water, rivers, streams, and builds its nest in hollows excavated on banks. Likes to perch on branches in the shadow, inside forest, in hedgerows, or in scrub.
Behaviour
Breeding
It nests in tunnels in a bank, 3-4 white eggs are laid.
Diet
The diet includes insects, lizards and fruit.
Vocalisation
A single "whoop".
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- F. Gary Stiles 2009. A REVIEW OF THE GENUS MOMOTUS (CORACIIFORMES: MOMOTIDAE) IN NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA AND ADJACENT AREAS. Ornitología Colombiana No.8 (2009): 29-75. Subject of Birdforum discussion here
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Whooping Motmot. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Whooping_Motmot
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
