Amazonian motmot
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English
The Amazonian motmot (Momotus momota) is a colorful near-passerine bird in the family Momotidae. It is found in the Amazon lowlands and low Andean foothills from eastern Venezuela to eastern Brazil and northeastern Argentina.<ref name=IOC11.1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Taxonomy and systematicsEdit
The Amazonian motmot and the blue-capped (Momotus coeruleiceps), whooping (M. subrufrescens), Trinidad (M. bahamensis), Lesson's (M. lessonii), and Andean motmots (M. aequatorialis) were all at one time considered conspecific.<ref name=SACClist>Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 19 January 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 19, 2021</ref><ref name=AMMO-BOW>Orzechowski, S. C. and T. S. Schulenberg (2020). Amazonian Motmot (Momotus momota), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.bucmot4.01 retrieved May 5, 2021</ref><ref name=Stiles>Template:Cite journal</ref> The Amazonian motmot has nine recognized subspecies; they are listed in the "Distribution and habitat" section below.<ref name=IOC11.1/>
DescriptionEdit
The Amazonian motmot's plumage varies among the subspecies. The bodies of all are shades of green. All have a long tail that has extended feathers with racquet tips that are green or black. Most have a black eyemask, though their size and shape differ. The central crown is black and surrounded or partially bordered by a blue band. The nominate subspecies has a chestnut nape. Momotus momota ignobilis and M. m. cametensis have more extensive chestnut on the neck and face.<ref name=AMMO-BOW/>
Distribution and habitatEdit
The Amazonian motmot is widely distributed in South America east of the Andes. Nine subspecies are recognized:<ref name=IOC11.1/>
- Momotus momota momota — eastern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil
- M. m. microstephanus — southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and northwestern Brazil
- M. m. ignobilis — eastern Peru and western Brazil
- M. m. nattereri — northeastern Bolivia
- M. m. simplex — western to west central Brazil south of the Amazon
- M. m. cametensis — north central Brazil
- M. m. parensis — northeastern Brazil
- M. m. marcgravianus — eastern Brazil
- M. m. pilcomajensis — southern Bolivia, southern Brazil, and northwestern Argentina
Throughout its range the Amazonian motmot inhabits the interior and edges of humid lowland forest. It is found up to Template:Convert in Venezuela, to Template:Convert in Ecuador, and to Template:Convert in Peru.<ref name=AMMO-BOW/>
BehaviorEdit
FeedingEdit
The Amazonian motmot is omnivorous. It has been documented eating insects and other arthropods, small mammals and reptiles, and fruit.<ref name=AMMO-BOW/>
BreedingEdit
Like most Coraciiformes, the Amazonian motmot nests in long tunnels in earth banks. Very little else is known about its breeding phenology.<ref name=AMMO-BOW/>
VocalizationEdit
The Amazonian motmot's song has been described as "a fast, hollow hoo-do" and "a bubbling whOOP-oo"[1]. It also makes "a gruff kak", sometimes in a series.[2]<ref name=AMMO-BOW/>