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AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER  Chloroceryle aenea 13–14cm. Tiny dart­

ing sprite of lowland fresh and brackish habitats, from forest pools and streams

to small channels in mangroves; usually in wooded and forested areas, where

overlooked easily. Hunts from shady perches low over water; at times catches

insects. Distinctive, with very small size, buffy neck sides, rusty underparts.

Larger Green Kingfisher has bright white neck sides. SOUNDS: Dry ticking notes

and short rattles, slightly higher and often softer than Green Kingfisher; high,

slightly metallic burry zzrieh; downslurred, slightly squeaky to shrill short

chatters. STATUS: Uncommon on both slopes, to 600m. (Mexico to S America.)

GREEN-AND-RUFOUS KINGFISHER  Chloroceryle inda 22–24cm. Medium-

size kingfisher of quiet shady streams, channels, and pools in swampy lowland

forest. Typically hunts from low branches over water, in shady cover, where

difficult to see well. Flies low and quickly over water and darts back into cover.

Distinctive, with overall dark appearance, medium size, and habits; plumage

resembles much smaller American Pygmy Kingfisher. Larger than Green

Kingfisher, which has bright white neck sides. SOUNDS: Hard dry clicks, lower

and more gravelly than Green Kingfisher; short buzzy rasps and squeaky

chatters similar to Amazon Kingfisher. STATUS: Uncommon to scarce and local

on Caribbean slope, to 600m. (Honduras to S America.)

MOTMOTS (MOMOTIDAE; 6 SPECIES) Small neotropical family of large-headed,

long-tailed forest birds, presumed of Central American origin. Colorful plumage cryptic within

shady forest. Ages differ slightly; juvs. duller overall but soon resemble adults; sexes similar.

Newly molted tails are fully feathered but larger species have intrinsically weakened sections

soon removed by preening to produce ‘racket tips.’ Nest in burrows in banks.

TODY MOTMOT  Hylomanes momotula 16.5–18cm. Small, unobtrusive mot­

mot of humid foothill forest, especially shady gullies. Perches quietly at low

to mid-levels, and flushes with low whirr of wings. Slowly flicks tail up and

down, not side-to-side like larger motmots. Distinctive, no similar species in

range. SOUNDS: Song mainly in early morning, often before first light, a nasal,

slightly rising or overslurred hoot, wah or woah, usually in prolonged series,

10 notes/10–12 secs; can suggest Gartered Trogon but more nasal, usually

slower-paced. Excited birds give faster series of burrier notes, 10/2.5–6 secs,

at times in pulsating duets, wah’awah’awah.…STATUS: Uncommon and local

on n. Pacific slope, spilling over locally to adjacent Caribbean foothills; mainly 500–1000m. (Mexico to

nw. Colombia.)

TURQUOISE-BROWED MOTMOT  Eumomota superciliosa 33–38cm. Very

fancy, medium-size motmot of lowland dry forest and edge, semi-open areas

with larger trees, hedgerows, gardens; favors more open areas than Lesson’s

Motmot, but the two species occur alongside each other in places. Perches low

to high, at times on roadside wires; switches tail side-to-side like a jerky

pendulum. Distinctive, with silvery-turquoise brow, rusty back, contrasting

turquoise-blue wings and tail, very long naked tail shafts, and big racket tips to

tail. Juv. duller, with reduced blue brow and throat markings, little or no rusty

on back; soon like adult. SOUNDS: Song a hollow, slightly nasal or crowing owhh

every 2–6 secs. Calls include slightly hoarse, excited clucks and duets, including a rhythmic k-wok’

k-wok’…and k’wok t’k’wok t’k’wok.…STATUS: Fairly common to common on n. Pacific slope, mainly below

900m. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)