Selva Verde – Costa Rica Eco-Lodge Updates

The rufous motmot is the largest of six motmot species in Costa Rica. Motmots typically have short broad beaks and striking plumage coloration. All motmots in Costa Rica have two elongated central tail feathers; racket-tipped because the loosely-attached barbs of the upshaft fall off, leaving much of the shaft itself bare.

These are mainly solitary birds, sometimes occurring in pairs, which usually perch inconspicuously in shade, with the tail swinging frequently like a pendulum.

The rufous motmot is an important seed-disperser. Studies confirm the fruit-digestion process is so rapid that fruit seeds are excreted intact and scattered on the forest floor, often far from the parent fruit trees. Forest regeneration thereby ensues.

Motmots sometimes eat poison dart frogs, seemingly immune to their deadly toxins; one poison dart from carries enough lethal toxin to kill ten humans. Researchers have documented that pair members sometimes capture poison dart frogs and feed them to each other.