Whooping Motmot

The Whooping Motmot, known scientifically as Momotus subrufescens, is a vibrant member of the Momotidae family. This near-passerine bird boasts an olive-green back and wings, with underparts of a more subdued brown hue. Its tail is a striking green to blue with elongated feathers that culminate in racquet-like tips, blue with black accents. A black crown encircled by a blue band and a black eyemask edged with turquoise add to its distinctive appearance. Adult birds typically weigh between 75 to 124 grams.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Whooping Motmot, look for its long tail with unique racquet tips, as well as the contrasting black and blue head markings. The bird's overall olive and brown plumage can help distinguish it from other species.

Habitat

The Whooping Motmot is an inhabitant of various forest ecosystems, including lowland evergreen, deciduous primary forests, forest edges, and secondary forests, where it can be seen flitting among the foliage.

Distribution

This species has a fragmented range across Central and South America. The nominate subspecies is found from eastern Panama through northern and western Colombia. The subspecies M. s. spatha resides on Colombia's Guajira Peninsula, M. s. osgoodi ranges from eastern Colombia into northwestern Venezuela, and M. s. agenticinctus is located in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru.

Behaviour

The Whooping Motmot's behavior in the wild, particularly regarding its diet, is not extensively documented. However, it is believed to primarily consume large arthropods, supplemented by berries and lizards.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Whooping Motmot includes a distinctive "whoooop" and a shorter "whoop," which can be heard echoing through its forest habitat.

Breeding

In line with other members of the Coraciiformes order, the Whooping Motmot nests in lengthy tunnels excavated in earth banks, a remarkable architectural feat for such a bird.

Conservation status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Whooping Motmot as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, the species does not face an immediate threat of extinction.