Whooping motmot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whooping motmot |
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| Genus: |
Momotus
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| Species: |
subrufescens
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The whooping motmot (Momotus subrufescens) is a beautiful and colorful bird that belongs to the Momotidae family. You can find this bird in countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
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About the Whooping Motmot's Family
The whooping motmot is part of a group of birds that were once thought to be the same species. These included the blue-capped motmot, Trinidad motmot, Amazonian motmot, Lesson's motmot, and Andean motmot. However, scientists studied them closely and found they were different enough to be their own species. This change happened after a detailed study was published in 2009.
The whooping motmot itself has four different types, called subspecies. These are:
- Momotus subrufescens subrufescens (the main type)
- M. s. spatha
- M. s. osgoodi
- M. s. agenticinctus
What Does the Whooping Motmot Look Like?
The whooping motmot has an olive-green back and wings. Its belly and chest are a dull brown color. It has a long, green or blue tail with special feathers that look like little tennis racquets at the ends. These racquet tips are blue with black edges.
On its head, it has a black crown (the top part) surrounded by a blue band. It also has a black mask around its eyes, which is outlined with a bright turquoise color. These birds are not very heavy; they usually weigh between 75 and 124 grams (about 2.6 to 4.4 ounces).
Where Do Whooping Motmots Live?
Whooping motmots live in two separate areas. The main type, Momotus subrufescens subrufescens, lives from eastern Panama down into northern and western Colombia.
Other types are found in different places:
- M. s. spatha lives only on the Guajira Peninsula in northern Colombia.
- M. s. osgoodi can be found from eastern Colombia into northwestern Venezuela.
- M. s. agenticinctus lives separately in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru.
These birds like to live in different kinds of forests. They can be found in lowland evergreen forests, forests that lose their leaves, and even in the edges of forests or forests that are growing back after being cut down.
Whooping Motmot Behavior
What Do Whooping Motmots Eat?
Scientists don't know a lot about what whooping motmots eat every day. They probably mostly eat large arthropods, which are creatures like insects and spiders. But people have also seen them eating berries and small lizards.
Reproduction and Nests
Like many birds in their group, whooping motmots build their nests in long tunnels. They dig these tunnels into earth banks, which are like small cliffs or hillsides made of dirt.
What Does the Whooping Motmot Sound Like?
The song of the whooping motmot is quite unique. It sounds like a "whoooop" or a shorter "whoop". You can even listen to their calls online!
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the whooping motmot's population. They have decided that this bird is of "Least Concern." This means that its numbers are stable, and it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
