COVER STORY: SOFTBILLS
THE 14 species of Neotropical motmots are typical examples of large, colourful, insectivorous tropical softbills. They are among a star line-up of bird families which grace one of the most fascinating orders of birds: the Coraciiformes. Viewed alongside their close relations – the bee-eaters, rollers, kingfishers and todies – motmots possess the salient features of all four, especially the head and beak of a roller, but they are most closely related to the todies (Todidae).
Most motmot species look quite similar. However, the tody motmot (.), which is the smallest species (16 cm), exhibits the tody family connection and lacks the long spatulate-ended tail that is a distinctive feature in 10 motmot species. The distinctive tail shape is produced by the brittle vanes near the end of two of the tail feathers, which break
