Birds & Birding in Costa Rica: – Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded in Costa Rica, there is certainly lots to enjoy! With 12 of the world’s 18 life zones, its diverse landscapes, including tropical rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, and savannas, provide habitat for a wide range of iconic birds A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT – (Species Account Blog #105)
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Coraciiformes – kingfishers, todies, motmots, bee-eaters, rollers, hoopoes, and hornbills,
- FAMILY: Momotidae – Motmots,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Electron platyrhynchum
Fairly common throughout its range, Broad-billed Motmot inhabits humid forest in foothills and lowlands. This species generally stays in the mid levels of primary forests, often in relatively open areas. Head and breast rufous-orange with black mask and breast spot. Green back and belly; long tail. (from Birds of the World)
SIMILAR SPECIES
Compared to Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii), a morphologically similar species which occurs in many of the same areas, Broad-billed Motmots may be distinguished by their smaller size, blue-green chins, and larger central chest spots. Overall, they appear chunky and large-headed.
GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION
PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
In Costa Rica we observed several Broad-billed Motmots in various Caribbean-side low to mid elevation locations from Rancho Naturalista to Arenal area.
PHOTO GALLERY
RECENT BLOG POSTS
View the five most recent Birds & Birding in Costa Rica series blog posts below.
- A Streak-headed Woodcreeper Feeds its Offspring Near the Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica
- PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- HOFFMANN’S WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
Reflections of the Natural World 
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