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Momotus coeruliceps

Blue-capped Motmot


Momotus coeruliceps

(Gould, J, 1836)

Family: Momotidae
Order: Coraciiformes
Class: Aves
Phylum / Division: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia

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Synonyms: Prionites coeruliceps.





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Records from Bahia drake

Conservation status according to BirdLife International: Least Concern


Description


The blue-capped motmot (Momotus coeruliceps) or blue-crowned motmot, is a colorful near-passerine bird found in forests and woodlands of eastern Mexico. This species and the Lesson´s Motmot, Whooping Motmot, Trinidad Motmot, Amazonian Motmot, and Andean Motmot were all considered conspecific. The IUCN uses blue-crowned as their identifier for this species; however, it was also the name used for the prior species complex.

It is the only species in the former complex where the central crown is blue. There is a black eyemask. The call is a low owl-like ooo-doot. Blue-crowned motmots have a body length ranging from . 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.

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

Source: Wikipedia, article Momotus coeruliceps. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 17/07/2026.





Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Last published photographs

Foto
Photography ID: 330108
  Adult

Bahia drake
Puntarenas
Costa Rica
02/09/2019
Lucas Pisana



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 Detail of places sorted by number of records








Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
91709609/02/2019Costa RicaPuntarenasBahia drakeLucas Pisana
Page 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Blue-capped Motmot (Momotus coeruliceps) – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 23/09/2026.