Monday, March 18, 2013

Trinidad Motmot - Momotus bahamensis

We were lucky to see the Trinidad Motmot, Momotus bahamensis, on 5 of our 8 birding days in T-T, but most times it was partially obscured, or too far for a photo.


The Motmots are a New World family in the order Coraciiformes, joined there by other rather striking birds like the Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Rollers and Hornbills. There were about 10 Motmot species until about 2009-2010 when authorities concluded that the subspecies in the Blue-crowned Motmot "complex" were sufficiently distinct geographically and genetically as to warrant full species status. Thus the Blue-crowned was split into 5 separate species (now including the Blue-crowned, Trinidad, Whooping, Amazonian and Andean Motmots). The Trinidad Motmot, is found only on Trinidad-Tobago, not ranging even to the nearby mainland of Venezuela.

Second photo here lacks sharpness but is included to show the specilized long tail feathers that end in a racket-shape.



The Trinidad Motmot has a deeper rufous color below than the other blue-crowned types. The rich rufous is compliment by a green back, blue wings and a striking blue and turquoise on the head. Any description begs comparison to seeing the bird in the wild. Hopefully the photos will suffice for those who don't plan a trip.

Motmots nest in long tunnels that they dig into a bank, much like our Belter Kingfishers. They eat mostly insects prey, caught in sallies from an open perch. The specialized long tail feathers end in a racket-shape, sometimes hidden when perched. Juveniles resemble the adult, but lack the black spot in the upper chest.

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