Blue-capped motmot
The blue-capped motmot or blue-crowned motmot (Momotus coeruliceps ) is a colorful near-passerine bird found in forests and woodlands of eastern Mexico. This species and the Lesson's Motmot, Whooping Motmot, Trinidad Motmot, Amazonian Motmot, and Andean Motmot were all considered conspecific. The IUCN uses blue-crowned as their identifier for this species, however it was also the name used for the prior species complex.
It is the only species in the former complex where the central crown is blue. There is a black eyemask. The call is a low owl-like ooo-doot. Blue-crowned motmots have a body length ranging from 38–43 cm (15-17 inches). These birds often sit still, and in their dense forest habitat can be difficult to see, despite their size. They eat small prey such as insects and lizards, and will also regularly take fruit.
Like most of the Coraciiformes, motmots nest in tunnels in banks, laying about three or four white eggs.
The Blue-crowned motmot is a colorful bird found in eastern Mexico. It has a black eyemask, blue crown atop its head, green wings and long tail feathers. This bird is very easy to recognize by its long, bright blue racquet-shaped tail feathers which it swings from side to side when it is disturbed. Both the male and female have similar plumage, however, the female is usually slightly smaller in size.
Blue-crowned motmots are found in eastern Mexico. Within this range, motmots live in the rainforest, tropical dry forest, and woodlands, usually near the water. They can also be found in forest edges, coffee plantations, and shady gardens.
Blue-crowned motmots are secretive birds; they often sit still, and in their dense forest habitat can be difficult to see, despite their size. They are active at twilight, and during the day they rest in the foliage of a tree. Blue-crowned motmots live in pairs and each pair has its feeding territory. The birds usually forage separately and may not indicate that they are mated. Blue-crowned motmots can be usually heard at dawn when they emit their low owl-like 'ooo-doot' call.
Blue-crowned motmots are carnivores (insectivores) and herbivores (frugivores). They eat small prey such as insects and lizards, and will also regularly take fruit.
Blue-crowned motmots are monogamous but don't form long-lasting pair bonds. During the breeding season, males perform courtship dance in order to attract the female. Motmots begin to excavate their nests between August and September; this is the rainy season and the good time for excavating when the soil is soft. The nests are dug in the shape of tunnels often located in banks or other places that are difficult to discover. After the nest is ready, the pair leaves and returns only in March-April to breed. The female lays about 3 or 4 white eggs and both parents incubate them within 2-3 weeks. The chicks are altricial; they are born helpless and blind. The parents take care of them within a month after hatching until the young are ready to leave the nest and become independent. Blue-crowned motmots usually reach reproductive maturity and start breeding when they are one yearl old.
Blue-crowned motmots are not considered threatened at present, however, in the future, the loss of habitat may pose a serious threat to these beautiful birds.
According to the Birds of the World resource the total population size of the Blue-crowned motmot is around 5-50 million individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
