The Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii) is a beautiful bird of Central and South American lowland rainforests. The Rufous Motmot has a rufous body, a turquoise-blue crown, and a black facial mask that covers its upper breast. The bird’s long, racquet-tipped tail feathers make it stand out. These tail feathers, with bare shafts and large, flattened tips, are employed in displays.

The Rufous Motmot enjoys deep, damp woodlands near rivers and streams. It may adapt to changing surroundings because it grows in secondary growth and forest edges. 

The bird sits silently for lengthy periods before swooping on insects, tiny reptiles, and other prey. It carefully chooses fruits from trees for its food. The Rufous Motmot is hard to notice in the wild due to its cryptic colors and ability to stay still.

Rufous Motmots make a succession of low, hooting cries. These cries help partners communicate and establish territory. The female lays two to three white eggs in burrows dug into earthen banks or tree roots. Egg incubation and chick feeding are shared by both parents. Despite its elusiveness, the Rufous Motmot fascinates bird observers and academics, revealing tropical environments’ tremendous richness.