Motmots are restricted to woodland or forest in the Neotropics, and the largest diversity is in Middle America. They have a colorful plumage and a relatively heavy bill. All except the Tody Motmot have relatively long tails that in some species has a distinctive racket-like tip. Motmots eat small prey such as insects and lizards, and will also take fruit. Like most of the Coraciiformes, motmots nest in tunnels in banks, laying about four white eggs. Motmots often move their tail back and forth in a wag-display that commonly draws attention to an otherwise hidden bird. This signal provides a benefit to both the motmot and the predator: the display prevents the motmot from wasting time and energy fleeing, and the predator avoids a costly pursuit that is unlikely to result in capture. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Baryphthengus

Motmot, Rufous  Baryphthengus martii Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 3)  Dominic Sherony  2) Jerry Oldenettel - Costa Rica 



Genus Electron

Motmot, Broad-billed  Electron platyrhynchum  Found: Central and South America
Photographed by: 1)  Dominic Sherony - La Mesa, Coclé, Panama  2)   Vince Smith - Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador  3) Tom Giebel

Motmot, Keel-billed  Electron carinatum  Found: Central America
Photographed by: 1) Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1857  2) Dominic Sherony 



Genus Eumomota - 1 species

Motmot, Turquoise-browed  Eumomota superciliosa  Found: Central America
Photographed by:  1, 2)  Dominic Sherony  3) Jerry Oldenettel - Costa Rica   4) Alastair Rae 



Genus Hylomanes - 1 species

Motmot, Tody Hylomanes momotula  Found: South America
Photographed by: Mdf - Panama



Genus Momotus

Motmot, Blue-crowned  Momotus momota  Found: Central and South America
Photographed by:  1) New Jersy Birds  2) Alastair Rae  3) Sandy Cole - San Diego Zoo  4) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo


Motmot, Russet-crowned  Momotus mexicanus  Found: Panama, New Mexico
Photographed by: Len Blumin - the San Blas region of Mexico, on the Pacific Slope