<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='360465'>Rufous-capped Motmot
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En bref
- Scientific Name: Baryphthengus ruficapillus
- Spanish Name: Momoto capirrufo
- Family: Momotidae
- Known Nicknames: Rufous-capped Motmot, Red-headed Motmot
- Average Length: 38–44 cm / 15–17 in
- Average Weight: 130–180 g / 4.6–6.3 oz
- Envergure : N/A
- Key Feature: Rufous crown and nape, black face mask, long graduated tail with racquet-tipped feathers
- Primary Diet: Primarily Frugivore and Insectivore
- Range: Southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina
- Habitat: Lowland and montane Atlantic Forest, forest edges, and secondary growth
- Structure sociale : Solitaires ou en couples
- Nesting/Breeding: Burrows in earthen banks or termite mounds
- Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
- Évolution démographique : En baisse
The Rufous-capped Motmot (*Baryphthengus ruficapillus*) is a dazzling jewel of the South American rainforest, instantly recognizable by its vivid rufous crown and nape that contrast sharply with a rich green body and a striking black face mask. This medium-sized bird, reaching about 40 centimeters in length, is famed for its unique "racquet-tipped" tail—two long, central feathers with bare shafts ending in broad, blue-black tips that it often swings side to side in a pendulum-like motion. Beyond its appearance, the motmot possesses serrated bill edges, a rare adaptation that helps it grip slippery prey like large insects, frogs, and lizards. Its haunting, owl-like "hoot" call echoes through the understory, and it is known for the peculiar habit of perching motionless for long periods, then sallying out to snatch prey, making it a master of patient, ambush hunting.
Faits amusants
Despite its vibrant plumage, the rufous-capped motmot is notoriously lazy, often sitting motionless for hours on a perch, only twitching its distinctive, racket-tipped tail side to side like a pendulum. That tail isn’t just for show: the bird deliberately strips the barbs from the feather shafts near the tip, leaving a bare “racquet” that may help signal to mates or startle predators. It also has a peculiar feeding habit—it catches large prey like beetles or lizards, then beats them against a branch until they’re soft enough to swallow whole.
Habitats et répartition
The Rufous-capped Motmot is primarily found in the lowland and foothill forests of the southern Atlantic Forest region of South America. Its distribution spans from eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina (Misiones Province) into southeastern Brazil, including the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and south to Santa Catarina. It inhabits humid primary and secondary forests, often staying in the dense understory and mid-story near streams or forest edges, but it avoids heavily deforested or open areas.
Comportements & Reproduction
These birds are generally seen in pairs or small family groups, suggesting a monogamous social structure that persists beyond a single breeding season. Their courtship involves mutual preening and the male offering food to the female. Reproduction is unique for their reliance on self-excavated burrows in earth banks or termite mounds, where the female lays a clutch of 3-4 white eggs. Both parents share incubation duties and feed the chicks, and a notable strategy is the use of their long, racquet-tipped tails as tactile guides while backing out of the dark nest tunnel, preventing wing damage.
Alimentation
The Rufous-capped Motmot is primarily a frugivore, with fruit constituting a major portion of its diet, but it is also an opportunistic insectivore and carnivore. It actively forages in the mid-story and canopy of humid forests, plucking small fruits like berries and figs from trees and vines. Interestingly, it supplements its fruit intake with a wide variety of large insects, including beetles, cicadas, and butterflies, which it catches by sallying from a perch. Another notable aspect of its diet is the regular consumption of small vertebrates; it has been observed preying on lizards, frogs, and even small snakes, often beating larger prey against a branch to subdue it before swallowing. This dietary flexibility allows it to thrive in both primary and secondary forest habitats.
Couleurs
The Rufous-capped Motmot has a rich rufous crown and nape, contrasting with a green back, wings, and tail. Its face features a black mask, and the throat is blue-green, blending into a pale green chest. The long tail has distinctive racquet-tip feathers, with blue-green central rectrices and black tips. There are no specific camouflage adaptations; its vibrant colors likely serve for display and identification.
Distribution Map
Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.
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Featured places
- Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA)
- Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Estação Veracel
- Trilha dos Tucanos Day 2 PM
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