Photo: Kathy & sam from Beaverton OR, USA / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesson’s Motmot
Momotus lessonii
Lesson's Motmot (Momotus lessonii) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesson’s Motmot (Momotus lessonii) is a member of the Momotidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 115 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Momotidae Motmots
- Genus Momotus
- Species lessonii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 115 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Momotidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesson’s Motmot is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Lesson’s Motmot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lesson’s Motmot (Momotus lessonii) is a member of the Momotidae family, within the order Coraciiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA s Mexico to w Panama.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 115 g, with a wing length of about 13.8 cm and a tail of around 20.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 637,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesson’s Motmot?
The Lesson’s Motmot is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 115 g.
Where does the Lesson’s Motmot live?
The Lesson’s Motmot is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA s Mexico to w Panama, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Lesson’s Motmot belong to?
The Lesson’s Motmot (Momotus lessonii) belongs to the Momotidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Lesson’s Motmot eat?
The Lesson’s Motmot is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Lesson’s Motmot migrate?
The Lesson’s Motmot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lesson’s Motmot endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Lesson’s Motmot make?
1 real field recording of the Lesson’s Motmot — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Lesson’s Motmot's range?
The Lesson’s Motmot has a mapped global range of about 637,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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