Amazonian Motmot (Momotus momota)

Identification & Behavior: ~40 cm (16 in). The Amazonian Motmot has green upperparts shading to blue on the lower back and wings. The underparts are rufous. The crown is bright blue with a black center. It has a black mask fringed with blue. It has a very long tail with a bare-shafted racket tip. The similar Andean Motmot ranges at higher elevations and is overall green shading to tawny in the underparts. Also, see Whooping Motmot.

Status: The Amazonian Motmot is generally uncommon in floodplain forests. It sits still and can be difficult to see, despite their size. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Relojero Amazónico.

Sub-species: Amazonian Motmot (Momotus momota) (Linnaeus, 1766).
M.m. microstephanus: E Ecuador, NE Peru and NW Brazil.
M. m. ignobilis: E Amazonian Peru and w Brazil.

Meaning of Name: Momotus:  A word derived from the word Motmot, which is supposed to be the native Mexican name for Motmots.

See more of the Family Momotidae