Blue-Crowned Motmot
Momotus Momota
Scientific Name
Blue-Crowned Motmot:
Momotus Momota
Distribution and Habitat
Geographic Range
Blue-Crowned Motmots are found in Central and South America, specifically
Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia, Trinidad, Tobago and Argentina.
Natural Habitat
Blue-Crowned Motmots are found in diverse environments, everywhere from Pacific lowlands to deforested highlands, shady woods, thickets, hedgerows and wooded ravines. Motmots choose to live near water for drinking and bathing.
Physical Characteristics
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Blue-Crowned Motmots, as their name suggests, have fluorescent blue feathers on top of their heads. The rest of their plumage is green and blue. They have short, down-curved bills and reddish-orange eyes. Their feet are unique due to a middle toe that is almost fully fused to the inner toe. Their feet are small and they have one rear toe. The central feathers of the long tail extend far beyond the lateral tail feathers. There is a short length of shaft where the barbs have fallen, resulting in 2 recognizable blue, black-tipped isolated feathers. These birds are about 17 inches long and weigh 3 ounces.
Quick Facts
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Blue-Crowned Motmots are featured birds on Neotropical and Central American nature trips.
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Blue-Crowned Motmots are related to other colorful avian like the kingfishers, bee-eaters and rollers.
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Their feet are unique due to a middle toe that is almost fully fused to the inner toe.
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Motmots bash large prey against rocks to kill and tenderize their food.
Conservation Status
Least Concern: The Blue-Crowned Motmot is common or abundant and is likely to survive in the wild.
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Diet
Omnivore
Blue-Crowned Motmots eat insects, fruits, spiders and the occasional lizard. They are considered omnivorous. Motmots bash large prey against rocks to kill and tenderize their food. They swallow their prey whole.
