| Rufous motmot | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Coraciiformes |
| Family: | Momotidae |
| Genus: | Baryphthengus |
| Species: | B. martii |
| Binomial name | |
| Baryphthengus martii (Spix, 1824) | |
 | |
Therufous motmot (Baryphthengus martii) is anear-passerinebird in the familyMomotidae. It is found from northeasternHonduras south to westernEcuador, northernBolivia, and westernBrazil.[2][3]
The rufous motmot and rufous-capped motmot (Baryphtengus ruficapillus) are the only two species in their genus, and have sometimes been treated asconspecific and apparently form a superspecies.[3] The rufous motmot has two recognized subspecies, the nominate Baryphthengus martii martii andB. m. semirufus.[2] In the early 20th century,B. m. martii was classified in its own genus,Urospatha.[4] Later, the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican populations were considered to be a third subspecies,B. m. costaricensis, but it was decided they were part ofB. m. semirufus.[3] The binomial commemorates the German botanist and explorerCarl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.[citation needed]
The rufous motmot is the second-largest member of its family. The male of the nominate subspecies is 42 to 47 cm (17 to 19 in) long and weighs 146 to 160 g (5.1 to 5.6 oz). The female weighs 153 to 173 g (5.4 to 6.1 oz). Male and femaleB. m. semirufus weigh 185 to 193 g (6.5 to 6.8 oz) and 170 to 208 g (6.0 to 7.3 oz) respectively. Adults are mainly cinnamon-rufous, with a black face mask and central breast spot, green wings and sides, a greenish-blue lower belly, and dark blue tail and flight feathers. The tail is very long, and that ofB. m. semirufus but not the nominate has a bare-shafted racket tip. The bill and legs are black. Young birds are paler and duller than adults, and lack the tail rackets and black breast spot.[3]
The nominate subspecies of rufous motmot occurs in the westernAmazon Basin in southeastern Colombia through eastern Ecuador and Peru to northern Bolivia, and east into western Brazil. The range ofB. m. semirufus is separate from that of the nominate. It occurs from eastern Honduras through the Caribbean slopes of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, and continues on the Pacific slope of Panama into northwestern Colombia and western Ecuador. In elevation it ranges from near sea level to 1,250 m (4,100 ft) in Costa Rica and to 1,400 m (4,600 ft) in Panama and Ecuador. In Peru it can be found locally to 1,600 m (5,200 ft) but more generally to 1,300 m (4,300 ft).[3]
The rufous motmot inhabits humid lowland evergreenprimary forest and alsosecondary forest. It prefers tall forest, especially along rivers and streams, but avoids dense foliage.[3]
The rufous motmot isomnivorous. It has been documented eating many types of fruit, adult insects and their larva,arachnids including crustaceans, and small fish, lizards, and frogs.[3]
The rufous motmot's breeding and nestingphenology has few reported details. It is assumed to nest in deep burrows in earthen banks like other motmots. Theclutch size and eggs are undescribed.[3]
The rufous motmot's song has been described as "hoos,hoots, orhoops".[5] It is sometimes answered by a lowowl-likehoop hoop huhuhuhuhuhu.[6] An agitation call is a dry chatter.[7][3]
TheIUCN has assessed the rufous motmot as being of Least Concern.[1]
