Bird Guide

Rufous-capped Motmot vs Rufous Motmot

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
Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii)

Rufous Motmot

Baryphthengus martii

Medium165 gForest

The rufous motmot is the second-largest member of its family. The male of the nominate subspecies is 42 to 47 cm (17 to 19 in) long and weighs 146 to 160 g (5.1 to 5.6 oz). The female weighs 153 to 173 g (5.4 to 6.1 oz). Male and female B. m. semirufus weigh 185 to 193 g (6.5 to 6.8 oz) and 170 to 208 g (6.0 to 7.3 oz) respectively. Adults are mainly cinnamon-rufous, with a black face mask and central breast spot, green wings and sides, a greenish-blue lower belly, and dark blue tail and flight feathers. The tail is very long, and that of B. m. Voice: The rufous motmot's song has been described as "hoos, hoots, or hoops". It is sometimes answered by a low owl-like hoop hoop huhuhuhuhuhu. An agitation call is a dry chatter.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Rufous Motmot
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Napo: 'Gareno (Guaponi) Lodge', Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: iNaturalist user: carnifex · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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