The King of the Woods
Faraaz Abdool,
birder and photographer, tells us about the elusive bird that hides in
Trinidad, but is seen everywhere in Tobago. He shares some of the
Trinidad Motmot's fearless but quirky habits. (All photos by Faraaz Abdool)
Four years ago, the iconic Blue-crowned Motmot
of the neotropics ceased to exist (taxonomically speaking). Prior to 2016,
there was a significant problem with Blue-crowned Motmots found throughout
Central America, much of South America as well as Trinidad and Tobago. Keen
observers began noticing that all Blue-crowned Motmots weren’t created equal.
What may have been subtle differences when the species was first described
eventually became defining characteristics of six separate species of motmots.
In Tobago and Trinidad, we have been blessed
with a very special gift due to the split in the Blue-crowned Motmot complex:
our very own motmot is found nowhere else on the planet. Momotus bahamensis, the Trinidad Motmot became the second endemic
bird species that can be found within our twin-island republic.
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| Adult (R) and immature (L) Trinidad Motmot. Note absence of black chest patch on the juvenile. |
The trouble with the Trinidad Motmot is that on
its namesake island, it is a shy, retiring resident of inland, undisturbed
forest – whereas on Tobago it can be seen in the rainforest, in the mangrove,
along the highway, even at the coast! It is almost impossible not to see a
Trinidad Motmot while on Tobago; a fact that has led some to suggest that a
more apt name for this bird may have been Tobago Motmot!
Nomenclature aside, the Trinidad Motmot is truly
a remarkable bird. It starts its life deep in a burrow, only emerging when it
is completely fledged, i.e. it is the same size as an adult bird and has its
adult plumage – differences between adults and juveniles are very subtle.
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| Close-up view of a Trinidad Motmot, showing serrated beak |
Spectacularly plumaged, a Trinidad Motmot is a
sight to behold. Still sporting the signature blue crown, a jet black mask
surrounds crimson eyes leading to a strong, serrated black bill. Its front and
underparts are brownish rufous, with a couple blue-edged black feathers in the
middle of the bird’s chest. The back of the bird is generally greenish, with a
mild variable brown wash to its nape, and neon blue edging to its flight
feathers. Its exceptionally long tail is green at the base and eventually fades
into blue at the tip.
If this excessive colour combination isn’t
enough, the central tail feathers of the Trinidad Motmot have another trick.
Part way from the end of the feather, the barbs are substantially weaker than
the rest and eventually fall off – leading to the unique racquet shape that is
one of this species’ most familiar features.
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| Immature Trinidad Motmot with tail not fully formed. |
As previously mentioned, it takes a trained eye
to spot a young Trinidad Motmot. Most conspicuously, they lack the
racquet-shaped tail as the required feathers may still be growing. Although
this feature is an indicator of a juvenile bird, adult Trinidad Motmots
periodically experience a moult, where they shed old feathers and grow new
ones. This tends to happen after the breeding season, with both parents
regularly in and out of an earthen burrow, feathers can become rather ragged.
A close look at the face of a Trinidad Motmot
can indicate the bird’s age. The jet black mask of adult birds is mixed in with
a few white feathers on young birds, giving the appearance of a sooty mask. The
most reliable field mark for identifying a juvenile Trinidad Motmot however, is
the absence of the black chest patch.
The reason these subtleties come into play for
identification of juvenile birds is that their behaviour is not much different
from that of adults. We’re accustomed to young birds being needy, awkward creatures
consistently petitioning their parents for edible handouts. Once a Trinidad
Motmot emerges for the first time, it is ready to begin foraging on its own and
does not beg its parent.
Trinidad Motmots do forge long-lasting bonds,
however. Male and female pairs tend to stick together all year and have been
known to select a preferred nest months before the breeding season begins.
Courtship is an advanced procedure and involves special vocalizations, tail
movements and, most importantly, gifts.
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| Trinidad Motmot, adult with tail feathers now regrowing after moult. |
Trinidad Motmots are omnivores, feeding on a
wide variety of fruits, invertebrates as well as small vertebrates. Intelligent
birds, they are one of the few tool-using species: an individual observed in
Charlotteville in 2013 was seen using a specific stone to crack open snail
shells. Many other preferred stones have been discovered with the shattered
remains of snails, beetles and crabs littering the surroundings. They are
fearless creatures; there is a riveting account by one of my mentors who was
leading a birding trip to Tobago in 2007 of an overambitious Trinidad Motmot
that lunged at the tail of a Red-tailed Boa. Sadly, only the snake made it out
of that scrimmage alive. Too small to make a meal out of the chance encounter,
the reptile left the lifeless body of its vividly coloured assailant for human
examination.
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| Trinidad Motmot, adult with characteristic plumage. |
Always on the lookout for an opportunity,
Trinidad Motmots usually perch motionless beneath the canopy, uttering a soft
“whoop” occasionally. Frogs, lizards, small snakes, even smaller birds are on
the menu. They have even been known to target adult hummingbirds. Most often
their prey consists of beetles, spiders and other arthropods. Much
like antbirds and some woodcreepers, they have been known to follow swarms of
army ants in the forest, picking up anything that moves to avoid the marauding
ants.
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| Trinidad Motmot with beetle prey. |
Overall, the aptly named King of the Woods has
an imposing, omniscient presence especially across Tobago. Even while hiking up
Little Tobago to catch a glimpse of Red-billed Tropicbirds, one may be
surprised by the sudden movement of a Trinidad Motmot gliding across the trail.
Their bright greens and earthy browns allow them to sit undetected by the
casual observer, hiding in plain sight. Only the tick-tock of their pendulous
tail may betray their position, if they allow it.
It is fair to say that every citizen of Trinidad
and Tobago has seen a Trinidad Motmot before, its presence on our $5 bill
indicates its significance. To truly appreciate its otherworldly beauty one
needs to experience it in real life though, and not in print.
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| Trinidad Motmot, Main Ridge Forest Reserve, Photos courtesy Faraaz Abdool |
REFERENCES
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