Difference between revisions of "Russet-crowned motmot"
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Revision as of 14:28, November 26, 2015
| Russet-crowned motmot | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Coraciiformes |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Momotidae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Motmotus |
| Species Information | |
| Species | M. mexicanus |
| Population statistics | |
| Population | 500,000+ (2008) |
| Conservation status | Least concern[1] |
The russet-crowned motmot (Momotus mexicanus) is a coraciiform bird of the family Momotidae, and found in the dry areas of Mexico and Guatemala.
Description
The russet-crowned motmot is small, just over 12 inches in total length. The wings are short and rounded, while the blue tail is long; like other motmots the two center feathers are longer than the remaining tail feathers, with the dark ends bearing racketed tips. It is a blue-green above and light to pale green below, with a single long black chest spot, a black triangular face patch edged in blue, and a russet-brown cap from which the bird gets its name. The bill is rather large and has a slight downward curve with serrated edges.
Subspecies
Some authorities recognize three subspecies, with the fourth (M. m. castaneiceps) being proposed as a distinctive species.[2]
- Momotus mexicanus castaneiceps; Guatemala: Zacapa Plains and Motagua Valley.
- Momotus mexicanus mexicanus; North-central and central Mexico.
- Momotus mexicanus saturatus; Southwest Mexico: Oaxaca and Chiapas.
- Momotus mexicanus vanrossemi; Northwest Mexico: south Sonora to Chihuahua and Sinaloa.
Range and habitat
Russet-crowned motmots are found in western and southern Mexico, south to Guatemala. It inhabits forested land, from dry arid to semi-arid woodlands, in addition to open, partially-wooded country with hedges, up to 6,000 feet in the mountains. These birds will sit on a perch and still-hunt, taking insects and small vertebrates such as mice or lizards. They nest in difficult-to-find holes dug into river banks or the forest floor during the wet season (April-June), with the entrance pipe some distance as well as curved before it ends at the nest. Up to four white eggs are laid, with an incubation period of 21-22 days.