As I was finishing an intense cycling route of over 100 kilometers between Ibagué and Roncesvalles in Tolima, Colombia, fatigue was setting in and the darkness along the trail was nearly absolute. It was at that exact moment when a beautiful little bird crossed my path—a brief spark of wildlife that allowed me to marvel at its beauty and recharged my spirits in the middle of the journey.
This species belongs to the Momotidae family and is widely recognized across Latin America under various local names. In Colombia, it is commonly known as the barranquero or barranquillo coronado, while in Venezuela it is called pájaro león. In other regions, it goes by names such as relojero amazónico (Amazonian watchmaker, or Amazonian Momot) in Perú, burgo (in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay), or Jutu Jutu (in Mexico)—the latter named after the distinct warning sound it produces to signal danger.
Plumage and Striking Features
The Momotus momota is a medium-sized bird (measuring between 38 and 43 cm) that stands out for its vibrant coloration. Its head features a bold black crown ringed by a brilliant turquoise-blue band that shades into violet near the nape. It also boasts a dark mask across its eyes, a strong bill with slightly serrated edges, and lush green and olive tones throughout its body that offer excellent camouflage.
The Iconic "Pendulum" Tail
One of the most fascinating aspects of this bird is its long tail. The central feathers end in distinct racquet-like tips, created naturally as the central feather barbs fall off as they grow. While perched, the motmot frequently swings its tail side to side like a clock pendulum—a signature behavior used both for communication and to signal to potential predators that they have been spotted.
Habitat and Range
Its natural habitat ranges from tropical humid forests and jungles to forest edges, semi-open areas, and rural garden patches throughout South America. They are distributed from the lowlands east of the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela down into the Amazon basin across Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. They thrive in dense vegetation where they can perch quietly on low to mid-level branches.
Behavior, Diet, and Nesting
Despite its striking appearance, the motmot is a calm, territorial bird. It often sits motionless for long periods, scanning its surroundings before darting off to catch prey such as large insects, beetles, spiders, small lizards, or to gather fruit. True to its local Colombian name (barranquero), it digs long tunnel nests into earthen banks or cliffs to lay and protect its eggs.
The photographs above are still frames captured from the video I was recording during my night ride. Due to the dark conditions, their quality doesn't fully capture the stunning beauty of this bird. For that reason, I am sharing a high-resolution image below so you can appreciate its colors in all their glory, with full credit to marvinbla on Pixabay.
Have happy days ✌