Photo: Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous Motmot
Baryphthengus martii
Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
See what's near you right nowThe Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii) is a member of the Momotidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 165 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 Baryphthengus
- Species martii
Where it lives
Eastern Honduras to southwestern Ecuador and western Amazonia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 165 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Momotidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous 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 Rufous Motmot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii) belongs to the Momotidae family of the order Coraciiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA e Honduras to sw Ecuador and w Amazonia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 165 g, with a wing length of about 15.1 cm and a tail of around 25.1 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 3.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Motmot?
The Rufous Motmot is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 165 g.
Where does the Rufous Motmot live?
The Rufous Motmot is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA e Honduras to sw Ecuador and w Amazonia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous Motmot belong to?
The Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii) belongs to the Momotidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Rufous Motmot eat?
The Rufous Motmot is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Rufous Motmot migrate?
The Rufous Motmot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous 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 Rufous Motmot make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous 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 Rufous Motmot's range?
The Rufous Motmot has a mapped global range of about 3.2 million 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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