The Blue-,Crowned Motmot the Eight Motmot Species Are Clas (Momotus Momota) Sified in Six Genera, Comprising the Family Momotidae
and six of the eight species of motmots. The Blue-,crowned Motmot The eight motmot species are clas (Momotus momota) sified in six genera, comprising the family Momotidae. That so many byJosef H. Lindholm, III genera in so small a family are recog Founding &Ufe Member, International Softbill Society nized by ornithologists should imply Fallbrook, California that this family is ancient, and the o to birds now living are the genetically E ::3 isolated remnants ofwhat was once a o ~ much larger group. A similar conclu ~ ~ sion may be drawn from the order c W Coraciformes, the" roller-like birds;' g (f) to which this family belongs. This CD C W order's other families are wonder ~ .c fully distinct from each other: the 91 g o kingfishers, found world-wide; the .c Cl. five tiny todies, confined to the Caribbean; the 25 bee-eaters and 16 rollers, two graceful Old World fami lies; the peculiar Madagascar Cuckoo roller; the beautiful crested Common Hoopoe, its various subspecies found in Eurasia, Africa and Madagascar; the seven crestless African Wood hoopoes; and the 51 grotesque hom bills ofthe Old World Tropics. While the center of distribution and diversity of most tropical Ameri can families of birds is the South American continent, all eight mot The Blue-c1·ownedMotmothas adapted rema1·kably well to habitatdisturbance mot species occur in Central America and breeds inplantations, second-g1~owth,andeven the outski,·ts oftowns. It is the and only four of these extend their mostcommon ofthe nine species ofmotmots. It is also the only species ,·eproduced ranges to South America. On the successfully in captivity. The motmots comefrom Central andSouth America. other hand, six can be found in Mexico (Peterson & Chalif, 1973). My father (a dentist) does not now birds; the Racket-tailed Parrots The two smallest motmots, of the remember exactly why, but, when I (Prioniturus), the Little King and genera Aspatha and Hylomanes, was four or five, on two successive Magnificent Birds ofParadise, various have no rackets. The two central tail evenings, he read to me, by the light hummingbirds, Tyrant Flycatchers feathers of the other species initially from a ten-gallon fish tank in an and Drongos, the Queen Whydah, look fairly normal, if somewhat otherwise darkened room, the entire children's edition of Birds of the World, with Arthur Singer's wonder ful pictures. I don't imagine he fore saw the professional results. At any rate, the most vivid ofseveral graphic impressions from those two nights was my introduction to the motmot. One reason, of course, was the gloriously ridiculous name (which happens to mean "socks" in my mother's Cantonese). On the other hand, there was the Motmot's mar velous tail. Racket-shaped feathers are one of those attributes that give tropical birds so exotic an aura. TIley are pos sessed by no birds in Europe or North America. The African Standard winged Nightjar (Macrodipteryx longipennis) bears one on each wing. They sprout from the heads of the four Six-plumed Birds of Paradise of the genus Parotia. Otherwise, The motmotcomplexatEme1·ald Forest Bi1~d Gardens, especially designedfor rackets adorn the tails of certain tunnel-nesting birds.
48 October/ November 1991 broadened at the tips. The barbs along a lower portion of the shaft, ABOUT BIRDS Kathleen Szabo Harring however, are only weakly attached, ~ (815)648-4078 ~ domestic handraised babies and are soon lost. Though this is Po.~ J (305) 258-2373 usually stated in books to be the Roudybush Diets \'I result of "normal preening;' Handfed & imported birds LUVTHEM BIRDS, INC. Alexander Skutch (1983), in all his 11508 Rt. 173 HEBRON, IL 60034 P.Q Box 0285, Goulds, FL 33170 extensive observations of five mot mot species, never observed such Gamini Ratnavira behavior and thinks it just as likely a The Wright Roost result of wear and tear, or the barbs Wildlife Artist Jeri Wright '$ 850 Hillcrest Place (studio) (206) 838·9802 falling offby themselves. (619) 723-9256 NOW HAND-FEEDING The Emerald Forest Bird Gardens 300 N. Brandon (gallery) Hyacinths & other macaws, Cockatoos Suite 7, VictorianVillage Conures & Amazons received a Blue-crowned Motmot (619) 723-9256 Domestic, Close-Banded (Momotus momota) on May 2, Fallbrook, CA 92028 Roudybush Distributor 1991, which arrived with a damaged tail, due to shipping, both rackets having been broken off. I noticed, in the last week ofJuly, that new cen tral tail feathers had grown in. About three days later, one of the feathers had assumed its typical racket shape. I believe it is usual for one feather to assume its typical shape ahead of the other, briefly giving the tail an asym etrical appearance. The most wide-ranging of all the motmots is the Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota). Its 20 subspecies are distributed from the states of Nuevo Leon and Tamauli pas, in the northeastern corner of Mexico, to northwestern Argentina (Peters, 1945). These subspecies exhibit a great deal ofvariation, some so pronounced that they were con sidered separate species (Delacour, 1926). This "splitting" is perpet uated by L. Irby Davis (1972), who, in his Field Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Central America, recog nizes and provides illustrations of three ofthese" species:' The obvious They'll Practically Feed Themselves! differences are in the coloration of the crown, throat and underparts. As one might expect, the Blue • Health food. Cook ahead monthly, freeze, crowned Motmot, with its enormous microwaveable. Serve in seconds! range, has been the most extensively kept member of its family in collec • Broadens diet. Birds love warm foods. tions. I have not come across any • Economical. 3 bulk bags make 12 gallons. record of this bird in captivity before 1900. The earliest record I know of was brought to my attention by Ecstatjc response - dozens of letters. Marvin Jones, registrar at the San Diego Zoo, and zoo historian par excellence. It was a specimen of the 1 aoo BIRD VUM Central American subspecies (M. m. lessoni) exhibited at the Philadelphia We wholesale to breeders. Zoo in 1903. Jean Delacour (1926) had a Guyanese bird (M.m. momota) for four years when his aviaries at 13330 Bessemer St Villers-Bretonneux were destroyed in ALL TAME BIRDS 1918, in the last days ofWorld War I. Van Nuys, CA 91401 Delacour (1926) also mentions that go WILD for (818) 997-0598 FAX (818) 997-0566 his late friend Hubert Astley had one escape from his British aviaries after
afa WATCHBIRD 49 being in captivity for ten years. By Three days later, the birds began secretive in their movements" prior 1926, Delacour knew of three addi enlarging them, both using only their to their eggs hatching, so an incuba tional subspecies imported into beaks, the dirt tossed out between tion period was not recorded. On Europe or England; the Central Amer the feet at a "most remarkable rate:' April 13, both birds began carrying ican M.m. lessoni, Mm. subrufescens Digging was only observed in the food to the tunnel frequently, and from the Caribbean coast of South morning. Work appeared to be com chick vocalizations were first heard America, andM. m. bahamensisfrom pleted March 2, and no further male on April 23. From that date to the the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, courtship activities were noted. Not emergence of the first of the two which Delacour had collected on an until April 17 was any copulation chicks was "exactly 28 days;' the expedition to Trinidad. seen, but very shortly afterward, the second appearing two days later. Of the 205 species in the order female spent almost all its time in the Between the emergence of these Coraciformes, the very first to be burrow. The male regularly brought birds, their parents were again captive-bred in North America was food but never, at this time, entered observed copulating. The young, on the Blue-crowned Motmot - in July the burrow. leaving the nest, were the size of the 1951 at the Philadelphia Zoo - the On May 3, both adults were seen adults. It was noted they lacked the first motmot breeding in any collec carrying food to the tunnel, Hawkins "breast spot:' From my observations tion (Griswold, 1956). This breeding (1955) noting that the male made ten of the four birds at Emerald Forest took place in the Bird House's large trips to every one ofthe female. One Bird Gardens, this "spot" is actually open flight cage, which had a planted of the many interesting details composed of two very small black area where a burrow was dug. Roland Hawkins noted was that the feathers. Griswold (1956) identifies the birds male always left the burrow tail first, From the breeding records of the as the Andean subspecies (M. m. while the female always did so head International Zoo Yearbook, I aequatoriaiis). Marvin Jones took first, resulting in the loss of the latter found five Blue-crowned Motmots detailed notes from Philadelphia's bird's rackets because of her turning were reared in 1970 (Clive Roots, records, which indicated the breed around. When the two young birds 1970, noted that the parents had ing pair arrived there in 1942. first left their nest May 30, 1955, young in the nest a month after the The second captive breeding ofthe their tails already "showed the char first offspring had emerged). For Blue-crowned Motmot is the subject acteristic weakening ofthe barbule at reasons of its stockholders, the of the most extensively detailed arti the shaft:' It was also noted they Winged World closed before 1980. cle on motmot captive propatation I were "immaculately clean;' a sig From 1972 to 1976, however, 11 am aware of, by Roland Hawkins nificant observation in light of the more chicks were reared, the most in (1955), the first director of the Pitts motmot's notoriety for filthy nests one year being five, in 1975 (Zoologi burgh Conservatory-Aviary, where full offeces and food remains. Austin cal Society of London, 1972, 1974 this achievement occurred in the (1961) and Skutch (1983) both and 1976-78). famous free-flight hall (Hawkins, observed that motmots never clean The other zoos outside of the U.S. 1954), the site of many other impor out their nests. listed by the InternationalZoo Year tant breedings. The parents appeared Prior to 1970, only one further cap book as having bred Blue-crowned to have been of different subspecies, tive breeding appears to have taken Motmots are: Munster (Germany), the male was "several inches larger" place. Bates and Busenbark (1977) with one each raised in 1977, 1978, than the female, and "much darker~' make passing reference to a breeding and 1980; London, where two were For two years prior to the introduc at the San Diego Zoo - an incident raised in 1982, and one in 1983; Thet tion ofthe male, the female had lived never published and not listed by the ford, Britain, where two each were with another bird of the same sex. International Zoo Yearbook. I con successfully raised in 1985 and 1986, On February 1, 1955, the male was tacted K.C. Lint, Curator of Birds, and four in 1987 (the most recent placed in the exhibit and immedi Emeritus at San Diego, who informed year for IZY records); and Toronto, ately both females alternately me this breeding took place in the with three reared in 1987 (Zoological perched next to it, twitching their 1960s in the famous walk-through Society of London, 1979-80, 1982, tails like pendulums. The male and Rainforest Cage. One young bird left 1984-85 and 1988-90). female called continuously during the nest burrow and was noted by From 1972 to 1987, the breeding these moments. The next day, one of Jean Delacour. records of the International Zoo the females had to be removed, being The first Blue-crowned Motmot Yearbook list 13 U.S. zoos that bred attacked by the other with "relent breeding listed by the International this species (Zoological Society of less savagery~' Zoo Yearbook occurred in 1970 at London, 1974-90), resulting in a total Courtship activities intensified the famous, but long-since-closed of 101 fully raised. Beginning in with the attacked female's departure English bird park, the Winged World 1983, the IZYindicates second gen (Hawkins, 1955), the male continu at Morcambe, and is described by eration breedings, commencing with ously offering food, and an occa that collection's then director Clive Denver. The Riverbanks Zoo in sionalleaf or twig to its prospective Roots (1970). A pair, which had been Columbia, South Carolina followed mate. When the birds were perched housed in various indoor exhibits at in 1984 and the National Aquarium in together, both swung their tails the Winged World since 1966, nested Baltimore in 1986. Toronto's 1987 rhythmically, and called. Six days several times without success. That chicks are also indicated as haVing at after the male's arrival, both mot year, having by then been placed in a least one captive-bred parent (Zoolo mots commenced tunneling into a very large indoor aviary with many gical Society ofLondon, 1974-90). dirt bank. As this site was intended other birds, they commenced a bur The U.S. zoo population of Blue for replanting, Mr. Hawkins dug two row beneath a concrete pool. In this crowned Motmots appears to be foot-deep holes in another location. case, "the adults were extremely fairly stable. On December 31, 1982,
50 October/November 1991 Muller (1983) lists 15 American zoos holding the species, with a total of 37 specimens. I am indebted to Grenville Roles, who provided me AN N 0 U N C I N G with the December 31,1990 abstract of the International Species Inven tory System which lists 25 American 6\(\~ public collections with these birds, ~ee holding a total of 62 specimens, 72% indicated as captive-hatched. ISIS 6 ~0\ lists only three ofthese institutions as ~0~ ~v. having bred Blue-crowned Motmots in 1990; The Franklin Park Zoo in ~ ~o~ Boston, with three raised; Dallas Zoo ~e with one; and Providence, Rhode Island, where two were raised, but where none were inventoried for the end ofthe year. Unlike the Ross' Touraco, Violet Plantain-eater, Toco Toucan, Lilac breasted Roller, and Fairy Bluebird, I 00 fOR IJ/~ do not know of any attempt to estab lish a studbook for this bird. Of all ~O%O~ the zoos listed in the IZY breeding records, only the New York Zoologi cal Park identified their subspecies; the Central American (M.m. lessoni). Gail Worth of Aves International told SCENIC BIRD FOOD HAND FEEDING FORMULA me the birds she imported about is the easiest to use, just add water. 1980 came from Ecuador. Peters (1945) lists three subspecies for that country. I am not aware of any Then, wean your birds to SCENIC BIRD FOOD, the importations to the u.s. after 198B. first ALL NATURAL FLAVOR extrudedmorsels So far as I know, there are presently made from real RED APPLE, CHEESE, and CORN. very few Blue-crowned Motmots in private hands in this country, and I am aware of no private breeding. Since 1987, our scientific research and testing have &fore the 1972 Newcastle's Disease been presented to six prestigious Veterinarian and restrictions, and the export pro Nutrition Conferences and published hibitions of most Latin American countries, they appear to have been in prestigious Nutrition Journals. commercially imported with some regularity. SCENIC BIRD FOODS are manufactured in an FDA While plotting the sites of future APPROVED human food mill which guarantees enclosures at Emerald Forest Bird Gardens shortly after the transfer to cleanliness and safety for your birds. Our human grade Fallbrook in 1990 of the toucans and ingredients and manufacturing make a food your birds other birds from Woodland Hills, (and you) will love to eat! Jerry Jennings, the Garden's owner NORTHWEST OAKLAND LOS ANGELES/SAN DIEGO and director, noted an extensive dirt 503-496-0733 C.M. Vollunan Co. Our Feathered Friends bank, an ideal location for an aviary 800-273-2473 (CA) 619-280-5134 for earth-tunneling birds. Following 415-261-7780 Mr. Jenning's initial design, Sid Milne, CANADA PENNSYLVANIA OHIO VALLEY 800-363-9663 Sybil's Aviary Van Duyne's Aviary who has done much in-house con 717-442-4495 614-875-0888 struction here, planned and built a ST.LOUIS NORTHEAST MICHIGAN/WISCONSIN soaring, wood-framed aviary with a EI-Mel, Inc. 800-323-4267 Silvermoon Pet Supply foundation of stout railroad ties, con 800-243-5635 .517-790-9202 sisting of three compartments, each MIDWEST TEXAS FLORIDA/ATLANTIC COAST 800-878-2473 Avian Kingdom Supply Avian Specialties 12' wide by 18' tall and 24' long. This 800-256-4771 800-443-1441 complex was completed in mid-April 1991, and at once received its first VENTURA/SANTA BARBARA Santa Barbara Bird Farm inhabitants, a pair of Blue-crowned 805-969-1895 Motmots of uncertain geographical origin, obtained from a commercial MARION ZOOWGICAL INC. 113 N. FIRST P.O. BOX 212 MARION, KANSAS 66861 importer by Jerry Jennings in 1988, as well as a female Silver-eared Mesia
afa WATCHBIRD 51 TABLE 1 Blue-crowned Motmots (Momotus momota) Hatched in U.S. Public Institutions, 1972 - 1987 (Compiled from the breeding records of the International Zoo Yearbook)
Location Years Bred Number Hatched Number Fully Reared Pittsburgh Conservatory Aviary 1972 - 73 &1985 - 87 18 16 Houston Zoological Gardens 1974 3 3 Denver Zoological Gardens 1975 - 79 & 1981 - 86 16 12 Mesker Park Zoo (Evansville, Indiana) 1975 & 1978 2 2 New York Zoological Park (Bronx Zoo) 1976 -1978 3 2 Riverbanks Zoo (Columbia, South Carolina) 1980 - 82 & 1984 19 17 Stone Memorial Zoo (Stoneham, Massachu setts) 1982 - 84 & 1986 18 18 Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle) 1984 - 85 13 13 Franklin Park Zoo (Boston) 1985 5 4 Audubon Park Zoo (New Orleans) 1985 - 87 9 9 San Diego Zoo 1985 2 o National Aquarium in Baltimore 1985 1 1 Burnet Park Zoo (Syracuse, New York) 1987 4 4
(Leiothrix argentauris) and a pair aviaries, they frequently perch in crowned Motmot propagation will each of Silver-billed Tanagers (Ram that. The pair in the other cage does result in the permanent establish phocelus carbo), and Peruvian not spend time in the European Birch ment of this beautiful bird in Ameri (pope) Cardinals (Paroaria gularis). (Betula pendula) planted there. can public and private aviculture. A pair ofArgentine (Red-crested) Car Most ofthe day, our motmots sit still dinals (P. coronata) share the second and silently on their perches, a habit References compartment with a pair of Blue typical to the family, earning them Austin, O.L., 1961. Birds ofthe World, Golden crowned Motmots that both arrived the Latin American name "Bobo" Press, New York. May 2, 1991. The male, from Mickey fool (Austin, 1961). This is, of Bates, H.]. & R.L. Busenbark, 1977. Motmots Ollson's Wildlife World Zoo near IN Rutgers, A., K.A. Norris & C.H. Rogers, course, an excellent strategy for sud 1977, Encyclopedia ofAviculture, Vol. III, Phoenix, Arizona, was hatched at denly catching large insects and Blandford Press, Polles, Dorset. Denver Zoo. The female, received other small passerS-by. Every so Davis, L.I., 1972. A Field Guide to the Birds of from the Burnet Park Zoo, Syracuse, often, our birds twitch their tails Mexico andCe1ltral America, University of NewYork, was hatched at the Seattle (another native name translates as Texas Press, Austin and London. Delacour, J.T., 1926. Motmots. The Avicul Zoo in 1985. While the Denver bird "watch maker"), and utter a typical turalMagazine, Series IV, Vol. IV, 33". has a distinctive rusty wash across its call, a repeated "woop-woop-woop" Griswold, J.A., 1956. Breeding of Motmots in chest and underparts, the corre followed by a "chuck-chuck-chuck:' Captivity (correspondence). Ibid, LXII, 42. sponding areas on the female are a The name' 'motmot" is, according to Hawkins, R.W., 1954. A New Building for Bird noticeably clearer shade of green. and Plant Exhibition. Ibid, LX, 69-72. Austin (1961), "a crude English --,1955. First Breeding ofthe Common Mot The 1988 pair appears to be of a simulation" of this call. Of late, we mot (Momotus momota) in Captivity. Ibid, somewhat intermediate shade. As all have noticed pairs perched together, LXI, 230-233. four birds have green throats, and "wooping" in an excited fashion, Muller, K.A., 1983. Bird Breeding Programs, beautifully defined blue and black and flicking their tails more rapidly. 1982. Zoological Society ofSan Diego. Peters, J.L., 1945. Checklist ofBirds of the crowns, they otherwise basically We hope this will shortly be fol World, Vol. V, Harvard University Press, conform to the SUbspecies found lowed byvigorous tunnel-digging. Cambridge. thrOUghout most of Central America Blue-crowned Motmots have Peterson, R.T. & E.L. Chalif, 1973. A Field (M.m.lessoni). adapted remarkably well to dis Guide to Mexican Birds. Houghton Mifflin, The daily maintenance of these turbed, second-growth and agricul Boston. Roots, C., 1970. Breeding the Blue-crowned birds is simple: soaked, lOW-iron dog tural habitats in Central America Motmot at the Winged World (Momotus food; and chopped papaya and cante (Skutch, 1983), and are thus some momota). The Avicultural Magazine. loupe with halved grapes, replaced what less vulnerable to rain forest LXXVI, 188-189. daily. They spend most of the day destruction than other Central Skutch, A.F., 1983. Birds ofTropical America. perched on the straight branch that University ofTexas Press, Austin. American birds. The achievement of Zoological Society of London, 1972-1990. runs across the upper front of each establishing a self-sustaining captive InternationalZoo Yearbook. XII-XXVIII. flight, though, with the recent population of any bird stands on its "I am grateful to Steven P. Johnson, Ubrarian addition of a Purple Orchid Tree own merits. It is to be hoped that the of the New York Zoological Society, for (Bauhinia variegata) to one of the promising beginnings in Blue- providing me with a copy ofthis article.• 52 October/November 1991