Momotus subrufescens
The Whooping Motmot (*Momotus subrufescens*) is a vibrant neotropical bird, easily recognized by its distinctive long, racquet-tipped tail and rich coloration. Averaging 38-43 cm (15-17 inches) in length, including its prominent tail, and weighing around 60-80 grams, this species exhibits an olive-green back and wings, with warm rufous underparts that intensify on the breast and belly. A striking black mask extends through the eye, neatly framed by a bright blue supercilium and crown. The uni...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical or tropical dry and moist lowland forests, gallery forests, and woodland edges, often found near rivers or ravines with suitable earthen banks for nesting, typically at elevations from sea level up to 1,500 meters.
Mainly insectivorous, consuming a wide range of large insects like beetles, dragonflies, and cicadas, supplemented with spiders, small lizards, frogs, and some fruits, captured using a perch-and-pounce foraging method.
The Whooping Motmot is a diurnal bird, generally observed solitarily or in pairs, typically perching motionlessly for extended periods before sallying forth. Its foraging strategy involves a characteristic 'perch-and-pounce' technique, where it dives from a vantage point to snatch insects, small ...
The Whooping Motmot (*Momotus subrufescens*) has a resident, non-migratory distribution spanning southern Central America and northern South America. Its range begins in eastern Panama, extending southwards through Colombia, Venezuela, and west-central Ecuador, reaching into extreme northwestern ...
Least Concern
- The Whooping Motmot's distinctive "racquets" on its tail are not naturally grown that way; the bird meticulously plucks barbs from its central tail feathers to create the bare shaft. - Their name, "Motmot," is onomatopoeic, mimicking their characteristic deep, resonant calls heard throughout th...