Barranquero Colimocho
Tody Motmot
Hylomanes momotula
Song
Tody Motmot
Appearance: The Tody Motmot is a small bird and a vibrant species with a distinctive appearance. It has a predominantly green plumage with a colorful mask of blues, purples, and turquoises around its eyes. It also has a broad black band across its chest and a distinctive blue tail with a pronounced racquet tip.
Habitat: In Colombia, the Tody Motmot primarily inhabits humid montane forests and cloud forests at higher elevations. They are typically found in dense vegetation near streams, ravines, or shaded areas with a rich diversity of plant species.
Behavior: Tody Motmots are known for their unique perching behavior where they tend to sit still for extended periods in the mid-story or lower canopy of the forest, scanning for small insects and other prey. They may also sally forth to catch flying insects or other small prey items.
Breeding:
Tody Motmots usually form monogamous pairs during the breeding season. They nest in tunnels dug into earth banks, often near water sources. The female lays a small clutch of eggs, and both parents participate in incubation and raising the young.
Conservation Status: The Tody Motmot is considered Near Threatened according to the IUCN Red List.
Distribution
Andean Region: The Andean region of Colombia, which includes the Eastern, Central, and Western ranges of the Andes, is a key habitat for the Tody Motmot. They are often found in humid montane forests and cloud forests at higher elevations along these mountain ranges.
Northern Andes: Within the Northern Andes of Colombia, the Tody Motmot can be found in various areas with suitable habitat conditions. This region includes departments such as Antioquia, Santander, Norte de Santander, and Boyacá, among others.
Taxonomy
The Tody Motmot (Hylomanes momotula)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Coraciiformes
- Family: Momotidae
- Genus: Hylomanes
- Species: Hylomanes momotula
Vocalization
Call:
The Tody Motmot's call is a distinctive sound that is often described as a soft, whistled "pwit" or "pwit-pwit." This call is typically melodious and repetitive, with variations in pitch and duration. The sound is known to carry well through the forest understory and can serve as a means of maintaining contact with mates or signaling presence to neighboring individuals.
Song: The Tody Motmot's song is a series of melodious notes that may include trills, whistles, and warbles. The song is typically delivered from a prominent perching location within the forest canopy or mid-story. The complexity and duration of the song may vary depending on factors such as breeding season, territory defense, or interactions with other individuals.
Alarm Calls:
In addition to its regular call and song, the Tody Motmot is known to produce distinct alarm calls in response to potential threats or disturbances. These alarm calls are often sharper and more urgent in nature, serving to alert nearby individuals of perceived dangers in the environment.
Duetting: During courtship and pair bonding, Tody Motmot pairs may engage in duets where male and female individuals vocalize in coordination. These duets often involve complementary calls and songs that play a role in strengthening the pair bond and signaling reproductive readiness.
