Andean motmot explained

The Andean motmot or highland motmot (Momotus aequatorialis) is a colorful near-passerine bird found from northern Colombia to western Bolivia.^[1]

Taxonomy and systematics

The Andean motmot and the blue-capped (Momotus coeruleiceps), whooping (M. subrufrescens), Trinidad (M. bahamensis), Lesson's (M. lessonii), and Amazonian motmots (M. momota) were all at one time considered conspecific.^{[2] [3] [4]} The Andean motmot has two recognized subspecies, the nominate Momotus aequatorialis aequatorialis and M. a. chlorolaemus.^[1]

Appearance

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 46to long and weighs 143to. 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.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

The Andean motmot is resident in the Andes from Colombia through Ecuador and Peru to La Paz Department in northwestern Bolivia. In Colombia, it occurs in all three major cordilleras, but in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia it is found only along the eastern side of the Andes. In Colombia it ranges in elevation from 1500to, in Ecuador from 1000to, in Peru from 1000to, and in Bolivia from 1600to.^[3]

The Andean motmot primarily inhabits humid montane forest, often near steams. It can also be found along forest edges and in secondary forest.^[3]

Behavior

Feeding

The Andean motmot is omnivorous. It primarily feeds on arthropods but also eats fruit. It has been documented taking a small marsupial of genus Micoureus.^[3]

Breeding

The Andean motmot is assumed to nest in a long burrow in an earth bank like other motmots, but the nest has not been described. A male in breeding condition was collected in September in Colombia.^[3]

Vocalization

The song of the Andean motmot has been described as "a monotone boop-oop" https://www.xeno-canto.org/273644, similar to that of rufous motmot.^[3]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the Andean motmot as being of Least Concern.

Additional reading

• Book: A guide to the birds of Colombia. Hilty, S. L.. W. L. Brown. amp. Princeton University Press. 1986. Princeton. New Jersey.
• Book: The Birds of Ecuador: Status, Distribution, and Taxonomy. Ridgely, Robert S.. Greenfield, Paul J.. Cornell University Press. 2001. Ithaca, New York.

Notes and References

1. Web site: IOC World Bird List (v 11.1) . Gill . F. . Donsker. D.. Rasmussen . P. . January 2021 . January 14, 2021 .
2. 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
3. Schulenberg, T. S. (2020). Andean Motmot (Momotus aequatorialis), 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.higmot1.01 retrieved May 6, 2021
4. Stiles . F. Gary . 2009 . A review of the genus Momotus (Coraciiformes:Momotidae) in Northern South America and adjacent areas . Ornitología Colombiana . PDF . 8 . 29–75 . 1794-0915 . May 5, 2021.