Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis Scientific name definitions

Blue-throated Motmot is a unique motmot in the monotypic genus Aspatha that ranges from southern Mexico east to El Salvador.  It is largely green with a small blue throat, small black chest and face patches, and a long tail that lacks a racket.  Within its mid and high elevation distribution, it favors evergreen and pine-oak cloud forest where it hunts small vertebrates.  Though it has been suggested that Blue-throated Motmot is a habitat sensitive species restricted to primary cloud forest, the species is reported to spend time in secondary forest as well.

25·5–28 cm; 56–67·3 g (1 Binford, L. C. (1989). A Distributional Survey of the Birds of the Mexican State of Oaxaca. Ornithological Monographs 43. American Ornithologists’ Union. Washington, DC, USA. Close ). Tail feathers markedly graduated throughout, no racquet tips; bill with low, well-spaced serrations along middle part of cutting edges of both mandibles, culmen ridged only towards base. Both sexes have side of head ochre-coloured, with black auricular spot; mainly green above , paler green below; tail all dark green, bluer towards tip; throat extensively blue, bordered below by black chest-spot(s); bill blackish, frequently pale straw-coloured below; legs and feet range from straw-coloured to brownish. ­Differs from other members of Momotidae in ­distinctive head pattern, no black eye-mask, pale leg colour. Juvenile has duller-coloured head and upperparts, washed olive.

S Mexico (from E Oaxaca and Chiapas) through Guatemala and extreme N El Salvador to Honduras.

Humid to semi-humid high montane evergreen and pine forest; 1300–3000 m in Mexico (2 Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. Close ), but not found below 1800 m in Honduras (3 Monroe, B. L., Jr. (1968). A Distributional Survey of the Birds of Honduras. Ornithological Monographs 7. American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, DC, USA. Close ).

None recorded; almost certainly very sedentary, as adults attached to burrows (excavating, breeding, roosting in non-breeding season) throughout year. Possibly some altitudinal movement.

Mainly insects , especially beetles; some fruit taken, and presumed also fed to young in small quantities, as seeds found among insect fragments in occupied nest-chamber. Insects seized from vegetation in flight sallies.

Calls usually given from exposed perch high above ground (2 Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. Close ). Gives single, far-carrying "hoot" or "huuk" notes, which are usually repeated after a few seconds, but also a yodelling series of (usually) 10–20 hoots, thus "hoodloodloodloodl..." or "uut-a-uudauudauuda...", which may possess a slightly burry quality and is sometimes given as a duet (2 Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, USA. Close ).

Lays in Apr in Guatemala; fledgling collected in second half of May in S Mexico. Nest in burrow excavated in earth bank; burrow often tortuous, with turns of 90º or more, widening at end into oval nest-chamber with low vaulted roof; four burrows 1·4–1·8 m in total length. Three eggs; incubation 21–22 days; nestling, uniquely in family, develops covering of long soft down feathers; fledging 29–31 days.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in North Central American Highlands EBA. Probably much more abundant than suggested by casual diurnal observations, as species is inconspicuous, and vocal only at dawn; seven pairs recorded occupying burrows along 1·6 km of winding mountain road in Guatemala. Considered rare in Honduras (3 Monroe, B. L., Jr. (1968). A Distributional Survey of the Birds of Honduras. Ornithological Monographs 7. American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, DC, USA. Close ). Only low numbers found in upper cloudforest in El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, in Chiapas, Mexico, where recorded markedly less often in summer, with even fewer in autumn.