Bird Guide

Andean Motmot vs Whooping Motmot

Andean Motmot (Momotus aequatorialis)

Andean Motmot

Momotus aequatorialis

Medium158 gForest

The Andean motmot is in general typical of its family: It is a large bird with a stout black bill and a long tail with a "racquet" tip. It is 46 to 48 cm (18 to 19 in) long and weighs 143 to 202 g (5.0 to 7.1 oz). Its back, wings, throat, breast, and belly are green. The crown is black, bordered on the sides and rear with a "diadem" of various shades of blue. It has a black "mask" bordered with blue and a black spot or streak in the center of the breast. The racquets are dark blue. Voice: The song of the Andean motmot has been described as "a monotone boop-oop" , similar to that of rufous motmot.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Peter Archdale · CC BY 4.0
Whooping Motmot (Momotus subrufescens)

Whooping Motmot

Momotus subrufescens

Medium97 gForest

The whooping motmot's back and wings are olive-green and the underparts dull brown. It has a long, green to blue, tail that has extended feathers with racquet tips that are blue tipped with black. Its crown is black surrounded by a blue band, and it has a black eyemask bordered with turquoise. Twenty-seven specimens of the nominate whooping motmot weighed 75 to 124 g (2.6 to 4.4 oz). Voice: The whooping motmot's song has been described as "whoooop" and a shorter "whoop" .

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: HarmonyonPlanetEarth · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Andean Motmot and Whooping Motmot.