COSTA RICA BIRDS: MOTMOTS

If you are interested to check them out on your Costa Rica vacation, you're going to find seven of the world's 10 species here, most characterized by racket tails.

Ticos call these lovely birds "pajaro bobo" (clown bird) but it hardly seems fair. Around San José, the most common is the blue-crowned motmot, often seen in large gardens or wooded areas.

It likes worms, insects, lizards, small snakes and even ripe bananas and has been observed raiding nests of other birds to eat their hatchlings.

Even small rats aren't safe from a hungry motmot.

Listen for its owl-like double hoot (which is the source of its name).

Should your Costa Rica vacation travel take you to the dry forests around Guanacaste you're likely to see the turquoise-browed motmot.

Motmots are found throughout Central America and as far south as central South America and though they can be up to 19 inches long (most of which is tail!), they tend to sit very still in the branches of trees, making them difficult to see.

These birds nest in burrows, digging tunnels up to 14 feet long, ending in a nesting area of about a foot. Interestingly, they dig the nests during the rainy season (August -October), then leave until breeding the following spring.

Whether it's motmots, toucans or any of the 894 different species seen in this tiny country, birdwatching is a popular part of Costa Rica tourism.

So. . . bring your camera!

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