Broad-billed Motmot

The Broad-billed Motmot is a mid-sized, richly colored motmot of the humid forest understorey, with a warm rufous wash over the face and chest that fades into green on the crown, back, and wings. A small black spot marks the center of the chest, and a black mask runs through the eye, adding contrast to the otherwise soft, blended coloring of the head.

As its name suggests, it has a notably broad, wide-based bill compared to some of its relatives, an adaptation suited to its insect-heavy diet. Like other motmots, it possesses a long tail tipped with bare-shafted rackets, though the tail is proportionally shorter than that of larger relatives such as the Rufous Motmot.

Key field marks

• Rufous face and chest fading to green on the crown, back, and wings
• Small black chest spot and black mask through the eye
• Broad, wide-based bill
• Long tail with bare-shafted racket tips, shorter than in larger motmots

Similar species

• Rufous Motmot is considerably larger with rufous coloring extending over the entire head and underparts, not just the face and chest.
• Blue-crowned Motmot shows a blue-and-black crown pattern rather than the green crown and rufous face of the Broad-billed Motmot.

Habitat

Inhabits humid lowland and foothill rainforest, favoring the shaded understorey.

Range

Found from Honduras south through Central America and into the western Amazon basin of South America.

Migration

Non-migratory and sedentary.

Behavior

Typically solitary or in pairs, perching quietly and motionless in the shaded understorey before sallying out to catch prey; often swings its tail slowly while perched.

Voice

A nasal, croaking call, along with softer contact notes between paired birds.

Feeding

Feeds on insects, small reptiles, and fruit, caught by sallying from a low perch.

Nesting

Excavates a nesting burrow in an earthen bank; lays 3-4 white eggs.