Momotus | |
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File:Blue-crowned Motmot front 2.jpg | |
Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Coraciiformes |
Family: | Momotidae |
Genus: | Momotus Brisson, 1760 |
Species | |
M. mexicanus |
Momotus is a small genus of the motmots, a family of near passerine birds found in forest and woodland of the Neotropics. They have a colourful plumage, which is green on the back becoming blue on the flight feathers and the long tails. The barbs near the ends of the two longest central tail feathers fall off, leaving a length of bare shaft so that tails appear racket-shaped.
Momotus species, like other motmots, eat small prey such as insects and lizards, and will also take fruit. They nest in tunnels in banks, laying about four white eggs.
Taxonomy[]
Name | Associated Subspecies | Range |
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Blue-crowned Motmot, Momotus coeruliceps | coeruliceps | NE Mexico: Nuevo Leon & Tamaulipas |
Blue-diademed Motmot, Momotus lessonii | goldmani, exiguus, lessonii | Middle America: Veracruz to W Panama (Chiriqui) |
Amazonian Motmot, Momotus momota | microstephanus, momota, ignobilis, simplex, cametensis, paraensis, marcgravianus, nattereri, pilcomajensis | Amazon Basin |
Silver-banded Motmot, Momotus argenticinctus | argenticinctus | W Ecuador and NW Peru, W of Andes |
Trinidad Motmot, Momotus bahamensis | bahamensis | Trinidad & Tobago |
Whooping Motmot, Momotus subrufescens | subrufescens, spatha, osgoodi, conexus*, reconditus*, olivaresi* | C & E Panama and NW South America (Chocó, Caribbean slope, Magdalena Valley) |
* = There is a case for submerging conexus, reconditus, olivaresi into subrufescens. |
Species[]
- Andean Motmot / Highland Motmot, Momotus aequatorialis
- Russet-crowned Motmot, Momotus mexicanus
- Blue-crowned Motmot, Momotus coeruliceps
- Blue-diademed Motmot, Momotus lessonii
- Amazonian Motmot, Momotus momota
- Silver-banded Motmot, Momotus argenticinctus
- Trinidad Motmot, Momotus bahamensis
- Whooping Motmot, Momotus subrufescens
References[]
- Birds of Venezuela by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
- A guide to the birds of Costa Rica by Stiles and Skutch ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
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This article is part of Project Bird Genera, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each genus, including made-up genera. |
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