Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-capped Motmot
Baryphthengus ruficapillus
Rufous-capped Motmot (Baryphthengus ruficapillus) — Kingfishers & Rollers of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-capped Motmot (Baryphthengus ruficapillus) is a member of the Momotidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 142 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 ruficapillus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 142 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Momotidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-capped Motmot is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rufous-capped Motmot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-capped Motmot (Baryphthengus ruficapillus) belongs to the Momotidae family of the order Coraciiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA se Brazil, e Paraguay and ne Argentina.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 142 g, with a wing length of about 14.1 cm and a tail of around 22.8 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 1.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-capped Motmot?
The Rufous-capped Motmot is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 142 g.
Where does the Rufous-capped Motmot live?
The Rufous-capped Motmot is found across South America with a range covering SA se Brazil, e Paraguay and ne Argentina, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous-capped Motmot belong to?
The Rufous-capped Motmot (Baryphthengus ruficapillus) belongs to the Momotidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Rufous-capped Motmot eat?
The Rufous-capped Motmot is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous-capped Motmot migrate?
The Rufous-capped Motmot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-capped 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-capped Motmot make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-capped 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-capped Motmot's range?
The Rufous-capped Motmot has a mapped global range of about 1.6 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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