Bird Guide

Blue-throated Motmot vs Rufous-capped Motmot

Blue-throated Motmot (Aspatha gularis)

Blue-throated Motmot

Aspatha gularis

Medium63 gForest

The blue-throated motmot is 25.5 to 28.0 cm (10.0 to 11.0 in) long and weighs 56.0 to 67.3 g (1.98 to 2.37 oz). It has a long, graduated, tail that in contrast to that of most other motmots does not have racquet tips. The side of the adult's head is ochre with a black "ear" spot. It is mostly green above and paler green below. The throat is blue with a black spot just below it. The juvenile is duller and the green of the back is washed with olive. Voice: The blue-throated motmot typically calls from a high exposed perch. It usually gives single "hoot" or "huuk" notes but sometimes strings them together as "hoodloodloodloodl..." .

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Blue-throated Motmot
Recorded by Oliver Komar · Call · Opatoro, Departamento de La Paz, Honduras · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: (c) William Stephens, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Rufous-capped Motmot (Baryphthengus ruficapillus)

Rufous-capped Motmot

Baryphthengus ruficapillus

Medium142 gForest

The rufous-capped motmot is 42 cm (17 in) long and weighs 140 to 151 g (4.9 to 5.3 oz). The adults are mostly green above and olive-green below. The crown and nape are rufous and a black "mask" has a turquoise border. The chest has a black spot, there is a rufous band across the belly, and the lower belly is blue-green. The juvenile is similarly colored but duller. Voice: The rufous-capped motmot vocalizes mostly before dawn and at dusk. Its makes a "series of 'hoo-oo-oo-oo-oo' notes" that have been compared to owl calls .

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Daniel S. Katz · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Blue-throated Motmot and Rufous-capped Motmot.