Whooping motmot (Momotus subrufescens)

Quebrada Frejolillo, Piura, Peru. Feb 4, 2023

comments (6)

Thibaud Aronson

Lion

This was the bird that marked the turning point of the morning! The first two hours along the river bed had been quite depressing, with very very dry forest, very few birds, and steadily rising heat.
But then we heard the characteristic low "whoop" that gives the species its name. We crept ever so slowly closer, constantly fooled by the ventriloqual quality of the song, until we finally realized it was standing directly above us! We followed it though a few perches until it brought us to a massive Ficus tree, branches covered with fruit, where every bird in the area had converged! Six guans, two motmots, four trogons, a couple of Guayaquil woodpeckers, every target bird of the area, along with a horde of smaller species!
Thank you motmot, had we not heard you, we might have given up and turned around and missed out on everything. Posted 2 years ago
1. NattyOne
  
  Lion
  
  Brilliant love it, In the words of Chief Dan George (Lone Watie) from "The Outlaw Josie Wales" "You must endeavour to persevere to overcome!", I think - Anyway success! Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. Thibaud Aronson
    
    Lion
    
    Very true! Posted 2 years ago
3. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  I wonder if this was a situation similar to that one bird in Africa (forgot the name) where the human is led to a honey bee nest, extracts the honey, and is then expected to leave some honey for the bird.
  
  If so, "thank you motmot" might not be enough, just saying ;) Posted 2 years ago
4. 1. Thibaud Aronson
    
    Lion
    
    Honeyguides! Well the motmot seemed happy enough eating the Ficus trees :) Posted 2 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Thanks for that name :) Posted 2 years ago