Lesson's Motmot Momotus lessonii Scientific name definitions

Taxonomic note: Split. This account was originally published under a single species in HBW Alive, but in Birds of the World it covers multiple species. We present that original content here, with the goal of developing a more refined species account for this taxon moving forward. Please consider contributing your expertise to update this account.

Lesson's Motmot is one of the most common and widespread species of motmot in Central America, with a distribution that extends from southern Mexico south to central Panama. Its distribution is sandwiched in between two similar, closely related species. To the north, in northeastern Mexico, Lesson's is replaced by Blue-capped Motmot (Momotus coeruliceps), which has a completely turquoise blue crown. Very little is known about the region where these two species replace each other; some apparent hybrids have been reported, but the incidence of hybridization has not been documented. At the other end of its range, Lesson's Motmot is replaced in central Panama by Whooping Motmot (M. subrufescens). In this region, the two species can be distinguished by the color of the underparts (greener in Lesson's, more tawny in Whooping) and by song (double noted in Lesson's, and single noted in Whooping). Like other species of motmots, birds often perch on a favored branch, where they cock their long tail back and forth like a clock pendulum and occasionally sally after a flying insect. The natural history of Lesson's Motmot is similar in many respects to several other allopatric species of motmots in the "Blue-crowned Motmot" complex (Blue-capped, Lesson's, Whooping, Trinidad M. bahamensis, Amazonian M. momota, and Andean M. aequatorialis), all of which formerly were classified as a single, highly variable species.

38–43 cm; 77–102 g (exiguus), 97–148 g (lessonii). Mid-sized to large motmot with blue on crown, tail long and racquet-tipped; bill slightly decurved, both mandibles with coarse serrations along most of length of cutting edges. Juvenile resembles adult, but has entire crown suffused greenish blue and indistinct borders, smaller and sootier-coloured black mask, lacks any breast-spots and tail racquets, and iris is dark brown. Differs from M. coeruliceps, whose range is allopatric, by crown pattern (black centre with blue diadem and lack of greenish forehead), smaller black breast markings and less rufous contrasts on breast and mantle, while very narrowly allopatric M. subrufescens is smaller than present species, has uneven-width diadem, breast greener than abdomen and clay colour admixed within silvery-turquoise medial anterior diadem; range of M. subrufescens conexus and that of present species almost meet in C Panama (Coclé) (1 Campos Cedeño, E., and A. C. Vallely (2014). Some records of birds from Panama with remarks on the distribution of Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota. Cotinga 36:111–113. Close ). Races vary only slightly with nominate having mostly pale olive-green underparts , exiguus similar but smaller, and <em>goldmani</em> paler. Smaller Eumomota superciliosa has very long bare tail shafts and larger tips to racquets, as well as bright turquoise-blue flight feathers, shaggy black throat stripe and rufous patch on back, while Electron carinatum has very broad bill, turquoise supercilium, rufous forehead, larger black chest-spots and less well-developed racquet tips.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

• Blue-capped x Lesson's Motmot (hybrid) Momotus coeruliceps x lessonii

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Found in many different wooded habitats , although may show some local restrictions (see Status and Conservation), including tropical rainforest, drier woodland (occasionally pine forest in Belize), wooded ravines, taller second growth, hedgerows, well-wooded gardens and shade-coffee plantations. Recorded to 2150 m in S Costa Rica , 1825 m in W Panama, 1800 m in Honduras, and to 1600 m in E Mexico and Guatemala.

Insects  and many other invertebrates, including snails, centipedes and earthworms; also small reptiles and mammals (e.g., a shrew Cryptotis sp. (4 Sandoval, L., E. Biamonte, and A. Solano-Ugalde (2008) Previously unknown food items in the diet of six Neotropical bird species. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120: 214–216. Close ), a long-tongued bat, either a Glossophaga sp., or Hylonycteris underwoodi (5 Chacón-Madrigal, E. and Barrantes, G. (2004). Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) predation on a long-tongued bat (Glossophaginae). Wilson Bull.. 116(1): 108–110. Close ), and Alfaro’s rice rat Handleyomys alfaroi) (6 Reid, J.L. and Sánchez-Gutiérrez, A. (2010). Observaciones de dos presas nuevas de vertebrados para el momoto común (Momotus momota). Zeledonia. 14(2): 68–72. Close ), occasionally small birds, e.g. Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula) (7 García-C., J.M. and Zahawi, R.A. (2006). Predation by a Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) on a hummingbird. Wilson J. Orn.. 118(2): 261–263. Close ) and Variable Seedeater (Sporophila americana) (6 Reid, J.L. and Sánchez-Gutiérrez, A. (2010). Observaciones de dos presas nuevas de vertebrados para el momoto común (Momotus momota). Zeledonia. 14(2): 68–72. Close ), and nestlings , which may even be fed to young; also regularly fruit , e.g. Cymbopetalum mayanum (8 Foster, M. S. (2007) The potential of fruit trees to enhance converted habitats for migrating birds in southern Mexico. Bird Conservation International 17: 45–61. Close ). Study in Yucatán found that species was primarily insectivorous throughout the year in this region. Prey taken in sallies to vegetation, also regularly from ground, where bill used to probe into soft earth or brush away leaf litter. Fruits plucked in aerial sallies. Often follows army ants, taking invertebrates disturbed by them, and has been observed taking moths at night around an electric streetlight (9 Solano-Ugalde, A. and Arcos-Torres, A. (2008). Nocturnal foraging observations of the Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) in San José, Costa Rica. Wilson J. Orn.. 120(3): 653–654. Close ).

Often vocalises from fairly open perches in canopy: a distinctive low double-hooting sound, “oot-oot” or “hoop-hoop”, which is frequently heard before dawn (thus may recall an owl) but also at other times of day (especially during overcast conditions), occasionally given as single hoot or several hoots in series, especially if two or three birds calling together; also gives a hard, hollow clucking sound “kluk-kluk-kluk...” or “klok-klok-klok...” in alarm, or a slightly bouncing-ball “wuuh wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh” that can recall voice of Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata).

Lays in Apr–Jun in S Mexico, and Mar–May in Costa Rica (although nest excavation can occur as early as Aug–Oct, during the local wet season), perhaps as early as Feb–Mar in W Panama. Unlined nest-burrow is excavated usually in earth bank (e.g. beside road or stream), very variable in length, from 1·5 m to c. 4 m, not always straight, entrance often well concealed; also in side of pit or hollow in ground, locally in archaeological ruins. Same site may be used in consecutive seasons, and even shared with other birds, nesting at different times of year. Clutch 3–5 white eggs in Yucatán, 3–4 in Costa Rica; incubation c. 21 days; fledging 29–32 days, once 38 days (Costa Rica).

Not globally threatened. Common to fairly common in Mexico; common in much of Costa Rican range (except dry NW of country, where species is restricted to gallery forest, is uncommon to rare at lower middle elevations on N slope of Central Cordillera and absent from most of the Caribbean lowlands), and reasonably or at least locally common in rest of Central American range. Adapts to somewhat degraded habitats, apparently persisting in small tracts of trees provided some undergrowth remains. Occurs in numerous protected areas, e.g. Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve (S Mexico).