Lesson's motmot

Lesson's motmot (Momotus lessonii) or the blue-diademed motmot, is a colorful near-passerine bird found in forests and woodlands of southern Mexico to western Panama. This species and the blue-capped motmot, whooping motmot, Trinidad motmot, Amazonian motmot, and Andean motmot were all considered conspecific.

Lesson's motmot
M. l. lessonii Heredia, Costa Rica
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Momotidae
Genus:	Momotus
Species:	M. lessonii
Binomial name
Momotus lessonii Lesson, 1842
Subspecies
See text

M. l. lessonii
showing tail feathers

Description

The central crown is black and surrounded by a blue band. There is a black eyemask. The call is a low owl-like ooo-doot.

These birds often sit still, and in their dense forest habitat can be difficult to see, despite their size. They eat small prey such as insects and lizards, and will also regularly take fruit.

Like most of the Coraciiformes, motmots nest in tunnels in banks, laying about three or four white eggs.

Subspecies

The Lesson's motmot has three subspecies:

• M. l. goldmani Nelson, 1900 - southwestern Mexico to northern Guatemala
• M. l. exiguus Ridgway, 1912 - Campeche and Yucatán (southern Mexico)
• M. l. lessonii Lesson, R., 1842 - Chiapas (southern Mexico) to western Panama