Fauna
Bird

Broad-billed Motmot

Electron platyrhynchum

Broad-billed motmots perch motionless in the humid forest midstory for extensive periods, waiting to sally out after large insects or small reptiles. Their warm rufous plumage contrasts with deep greenish wings and an iconic racket-tipped tail, which they slowly swing side to side like a pendulum when alert. Pairs nest in self-excavated earthen tunnels burrowed deep into riverbanks or roadside cuttings, safely raising their brood out of reach of most ground predators.

TropicalInsectivoreForest Dweller
Broad-billed Motmot reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyKatydids, Tree frogs, Anoles
Predators
  • Forest falcons
  • Tree snakes
  • Arboreal mammals
ThreatsTropical deforestation and forest fragmentation
HabitatsHumid lowland rainforest, foothills, and mature secondary forest
Life span8–12 years
Classification
  1. FamilyMomotidae
  2. SpeciesElectron platyrhynchum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Spotting: Scan shaded horizontal limbs in the midstory where they sit motionless waiting for prey.
  • Listening: Listen for a resonant, nasal 'kwank' or honking call that carries through the dense understory.
  • Behavior: Watch for a side-to-side pendulum swing of the tail, signaling the bird is alert to your presence.
Related species
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