Andean motmot
The Andean motmot or highland motmot is a colorful near-passerine bird found from northern Colombia to western Bolivia.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Andean motmot and the blue-capped, whooping, Trinidad, Lesson's, and Amazonian motmots were all at one time considered conspecific. The Andean motmot has two recognized subspecies, the nominate Momotus aequatorialis aequatorialis and M. a. chlorolaemus.Appearance
The Andean motmot is in general typical of its family: It is a large bird with a stout black bill and a long tail with a "racquet" tip. It is long and weighs. Its back, wings, throat, breast, and belly are green. The crown is black, bordered on the sides and rear with a "diadem" of various shades of blue. It has a black "mask" bordered with blue and a black spot or streak in the center of the breast. The racquets are dark blue.Distribution and habitat
The Andean motmot is resident in the Andes from Colombia through Ecuador and Peru to La Paz Department in northwestern Bolivia. In Colombia, it occurs in all three major cordilleras, but in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia it is found only along the eastern side of the Andes. In Colombia it ranges in elevation from, in Ecuador from, in Peru from, and in Bolivia from.The Andean motmot primarily inhabits humid montane forest, often near steams. It can also be found along forest edges and in secondary forest.