Amazonian motmot

Amazonian motmot
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Momotidae
Genus:	Momotus
Species:	M. momota
Binomial name
Momotus momota (Linnaeus, 1766)
Synonyms
Ramphastos momota Linnaeus, 1766

The Amazonian motmot (Momotus momota) is a colourful near-passerine bird found in the Amazonian forests from eastern Venezuela to north-eastern Argentina. This species and the blue-capped motmot, whooping motmot, Trinidad motmot, Lesson's motmot, and Andean motmot were all formerly considered conspecific.

The central crown is black and surrounded by a blue band. There is a black eyemask, and the nape of momota is chestnut. The call is a low owl-like ooo-doot, although there are variations depending on the subspecies involved.

These birds often sit still, and in their dense forest habitat can be difficult to see, despite their size. They eat small prey such as insects and lizards, and will also regularly take fruit.

Like most of the Coraciiformes, motmots nest in tunnels in banks, laying about three or four white eggs.

References

• Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5.
• Stiles, F. Gary (2009). "A review of the genus Momotus (Coraciiformes:Momotidae) in Northern South America and adjacent areas" (PDF). Ornitología Colombiana. 8: 29–75. ISSN 1794-0915.