Baryphthengus martii
The Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii) is a striking, medium-large non-passerine bird, measuring approximately 42-48 cm (16.5-19 in) in length and weighing 140-200 g (4.9-7.1 oz). Its plumage is predominantly rufous on the head, neck, and underparts, contrasting sharply with a bright green back and wings. A distinctive black mask extends from the lores through the eye to the auriculars, often bordered above by a narrow, pale blue band. The most iconic feature is its long, graduated tail, wh...
This species thrives in humid lowland and foothill forests, primarily in wet primary and mature secondary tropical and subtropical rainforests, often near water bodies or along forest edges, typically below 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) elevation.
Their diet is eclectic, consisting mainly of large insects and arthropods such as cicadas, beetles, and spiders, supplemented with a significant proportion of fruits, and occasionally small reptiles, amphibians, and even fish.
Rufous Motmots are diurnal, often solitary or found in pairs, perching motionless for extended periods within the forest understory, scanning for prey. They employ a classic "perch-and-pounce" foraging strategy, darting out from a favored branch to snatch insects, fruits, or small vertebrates. A ...
The Rufous Motmot boasts a broad geographic distribution spanning from southeastern Honduras through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, extending southward into South America. In South America, its range encompasses the humid lowlands of Colombia, western and eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northe...
Least Concern
- The Rufous Motmot doesn't grow its tail rackets naturally; it meticulously grooms the barbs off the middle section of its two central tail feathers to create the distinctive bare shaft. - Despite their vibrant colors, they are surprisingly difficult to spot in the dense forest understory, often...