Trinidad motmot

The Trinidad motmot (Momotus bahamensis) is a colorful near-passerine bird endemic to the forests and woodlands of Trinidad and Tobago. This species and the blue-capped motmot, Lesson's motmot, whooping motmot, Amazonian motmot, and Andean motmot were all considered conspecific. Though found on both islands, this bird is more abundant in Tobago than it is in Trinidad.

Trinidad motmot
in Tobago

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Momotidae
Genus: Momotus
Species:
M. bahamensis
Binomial name
Momotus bahamensis
(Swainson, 1838)

The central crown is black and surrounded by a blue band. There is a black eyemask. The call is a low owl-like ooo-doot.

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. They are known to eat small tree snails, and to use forest floor rocks as 'anvils' to crack open the hard shells of these prey items to access the soft edible bodies within.

Like most of the Coraciiformes, motmots nest in tunnels in banks, laying about three or four white eggs.

gollark: Actually, it is.
gollark: Saved everyone?
gollark: ++list_deleted
gollark: Yep!
gollark: ++delete an esolang

References
  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Momotus bahamensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T61634940A95173793. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T61634940A95173793.en. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.