Whooping Motmot

Momotus subrufescens

Cali Valle Del Cauca Colombia

Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Momotus subfacies
  • Spanish Name: Momoto canelo
  • Family: Momotidae
  • Known Nicknames: Whooping Motmot, Blue-crowned Motmot (formerly)
  • Average Length: 38–48 cm / 15–19 in
  • Average Weight: 100–160 g / 3.5–5.6 oz
  • Wingspan: 45–55 cm / 18–22 in
  • Key Feature: Long tail with distinctive racquet-like tips and a turquoise-blue ringed black crown
  • Primary Diet: Omnivore (Insects, small vertebrates, and various fruits)
  • Range: Eastern Panama to Northwest Colombia
  • Habitat: Humid lowland forests, secondary growth, and forest edges
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in pairs
  • Nesting/Breeding: Tunnels excavated in earthen banks or cliffs
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Stable

The Whooping Motmot (*Momotus subrufescens*) is a striking neotropical bird instantly recognizable by its vibrant emerald-green plumage and its signature "racket-tipped" tail. These unique tail feathers are formed as the bird preens, intentionally removing the barbs from the central shafts to leave distinctive tufts at the ends, which it often swings back and forth like a pendulum when it detects a predator. Adorned with a brilliant turquoise-blue crown surrounding a black center and a bold black facial mask, this species is further distinguished by its rich, cinnamon-colored underparts. True to its name, this captivating bird is most famous for its deep, resonant "whoop-whoop" call, a rhythmic sound that echoes through the dry forests and woodlands of Central and South America.

Fun Facts

The Whooping Motmot is famous for its "wag-display," where it swings its long, racket-tipped tail back and forth like a pendulum to signal to predators that they have been spotted. Interestingly, those iconic bare-shafted feathers aren't grown that way; the bird has feathers with naturally weak barbs that fall off through preening or activity, leaving the distinctive spatulate tips. These birds are also skilled tunnel engineers, excavating burrows up to several meters deep in earth banks for nesting, and they have a peculiar habit of "whacking" large prey against branches to break bones or remove stingers before consumption.

Habitats & Distribution

This species is distributed across the humid lowlands of eastern Panama and northwestern South America, ranging through northern and western Colombia, western Ecuador, and into the extreme northwest of Peru. It is typically found at elevations from sea level up to 1,200 meters, though it is most prevalent in the lower tropical zones.

Its preferred habitats include the interior of humid primary forests, mature secondary growth, and shaded forest edges. It also adapts well to semi-open environments such as plantations and wooded gardens, provided there is dense foliage for cover. Within these ecosystems, it predominantly occupies the middle to lower canopy levels and relies on earthen banks or steep slopes for excavating its nesting burrows.

Behaviours & Reproduction

These birds typically live in monogamous pairs and maintain a social structure centered on shared territorial defense. A defining behavioral trait is their rhythmic tail-wagging; when they perceive a predator or interact with a mate, they swing their long, racket-tipped tail feathers from side to side like a pendulum. This "wag-display" is thought to signal to predators that the bird is aware of their presence or to communicate status within the pair. They are highly vocal, using deep, resonant "whoop" calls to reinforce pair bonds and advertise their territory to rivals.

Reproduction centers on the excavation of long, horizontal burrows in earthen banks, often along riverbeds or roadcuts. Both the male and female participate in digging these tunnels, which can extend several meters deep to protect the nest from predators. The female typically lays a clutch of three to four eggs in a chamber at the end of the burrow. Both parents share the responsibilities of incubation and provisioning the chicks, demonstrating a cooperative reproductive strategy that ensures the survival of the young until they are ready to fledge.

Diet

The Whooping Motmot maintains an omnivorous and opportunistic diet, primarily consisting of a diverse range of large insects such as beetles, cicadas, and dragonflies, alongside spiders and other invertebrates. Beyond its reliance on insects, this bird frequently consumes small vertebrates, including lizards, frogs, snakes, and even small birds or their nestlings. A significant portion of its nutritional intake also comes from various forest fruits, particularly those from the palm and nutmeg families. An interesting behavioral aspect of its feeding strategy is the sit-and-wait technique, where the motmot perches motionless for long periods before swooping down to snatch prey from the ground or foliage. To handle larger or more dangerous meals like venomous snakes or hard-shelled insects, the motmot is known to vigorously beat the prey against a branch to kill it or break it into more manageable pieces before swallowing it whole.

Colors

The Whooping Motmot displays vibrant green upperparts and warm cinnamon-rufous underparts. Its head is marked by a black crown encircled by a brilliant turquoise-blue diadem and a broad black facial mask. Distinctive red eyes and a long, greenish-blue tail with racquet-shaped tips provide striking visual accents, while the predominantly green plumage offers effective camouflage within tropical foliage.