Rufous Motmot

Baryphthengus martii

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernFruitForestCavity nestMedium · 165 g

What the Rufous Motmot sounds like

Sonogram of the Rufous Motmot: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Napo: 'Gareno (Guaponi) Lodge', Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

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.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Rufous Motmot

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is February, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Rufous Motmot

Regular range

The map shades 9 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the Rufous Motmot

The rufous motmot is a near-passerine bird in the family Momotidae. It is found from northeastern Honduras south to western Ecuador, northern Bolivia, and western Brazil.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Rufous-capped Motmot vs Rufous Motmot

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