Rufous-capped Motmot

Baryphthengus ruficapillus - Motmot oranroux

Motmot oranroux
adult
Systematics
  • Order 
    :

    Coraciiformes

  • Family
    :

    Momotidés

  • Genus
    :

    Baryphthengus

  • Species
    :

    ruficapillus

Descriptor

Vieillot, 1818

Biometrics
  • Size
    : 42 cm
  • Wingspan
    : -
  • Weight
    : -
Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

Motmot oranroux
adult

Baryphthengus ruficapillus, the scientific name of the Rufous-capped Motmot, can be translated as deep voiced motmot with a rufous head. The identification of our Rufous-capped Motmot was catalogued in 1818 and is attributed to the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot (1748-1831) who located it in Peru! In fact, two explorers, naturalists, and ornithologists are to be credited with the discovery of the Rufous-capped Motmot; Félix Manuel de Azara, Spanish explorer (1746-1821) explored in Brazil from 1781 to 1801 and discovered Baryphthengus ruficapillus, followed by François Levaillant, French ornithologist (1753-1824) who reworked the findings of his Spanish colleague to cite and give the French name. The Rufous-capped Motmot is a close cousin of the Rufous Motmot, with which it forms the genus Baryphthengus, large in size, 42 cm, with a long, black beak slightly serrated and extended by a thick, black loral stripe that completely surrounds the eye with an amber iris. The bird, like all motmots, appears masked; a thin blue-turquoise eyebrow outlines the mask, the forehead and the cap are a magnificent rufous which gives its name to the Rufous-capped Motmot, the nape and mantle are olive-green while the back and coverings are green tending to khaki. The primary remiges are blue-turquoise. The chin is slightly tinged with rufous while the throat and chest are olive-green, two black points mark the chest and are a remarkable element of the Rufous-capped Motmot like all motmots. A wide light rufous band marks the ventral part under the chest, the abdomen turning again to blue-green, the outer rectrices are grayish while the central rectrices retain a blue-to-blue-green hue, it should be noted that the Rufous-capped Motmot does not have racket tips at the end of the tail. There is no dimorphism, juveniles, rarely observed, are duller than their parents.

Subspecific information monotypic species

Foreign names

  • Motmot oranroux,
  • Momoto yeruvá oriental,
  • juruva-verde,
  • Rotkopfmotmot,
  • rozsdás motmot,
  • Roodkopmotmot,
  • Motmot caporossiccio,
  • rosthuvad motmot,
  • Brunkronemotmot,
  • momot hrdzavohlavý,
  • momot rezavohlavý,
  • Rustbåndet Motmot,
  • punamomotti,
  • motmot de coroneta rogenca,
  • piłodziób rdzawogłowy,
  • rjasti motmot,
  • Красноголовый момот,
  • オオハチクイモドキ,
  • 棕顶翠鴗,
  • 褐頂翠鴗,

Voice song and cries

Motmot oranroux
adult

At dawn and dusk, he sings a very fast hoo-oo-oo-oo-oo repeated five to six times every twenty seconds. This song sometimes resembles an owl's hoot.

Habitat

Motmot oranroux
adult

Like most Motmots, the Rufous-capped Motmot prefers dense, humid forest where it stands on the lower canopy. It is often seen along rivers and near ponds or lakes. It is not a high-altitude bird and does not go higher than 1,200 m.

Behaviour character trait

The Rufous-capped Motmot is a sedentary species.

Dietfeeding habits

Motmot oranroux
adult

This formidable predator, primarily an insectivore, will feed on insects and their larvae, as well as amphibians, small reptiles, molluscs and all kinds of small mammals such as opossums. Like the Rufous-capped Motmot, it follows armies of ants in order to snatch their prey! From time to time, it will vary its diet with some fruits.

Reproduction nesting

The Rufous-capped Motmot digs its nest, or rather its burrow, approximately one meter in length, in soft embankments from January to April, often after heavy rains of the Brazilian summer. The incubation of 2 to 3 eggs probably takes place in September-October, parents have been observed feeding their brood in November and juveniles flying around nests in December.

Geographic range

Motmot oranroux
adult

Mainly in Brazil, especially in the second Brazilian forest, the Mata Atlantica, from the state of Bahia to the Rio Grande do Sul, also more in the central state of Goias. It is also observed in eastern Paraguay and in northeast Argentina.

Threats - protection

Motmot oranroux
adult
IUCN conservation status
Extinct
Threatened
Least
concern
Extinc
in the Wild
Near
threatened
Not
evaluated
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

The Rufous-capped Motmot, LC, is not yet considered endangered by Birdlife, but deforestation has been decreasing its population by decreasing its range and fragmenting its territory; national parks, like the Iguazu National Park in Argentina, remain its favoured refuges.

Sources of information

Other sources of interest

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Translation by AI Oiseaux.net
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