Eumomota superciliosa is a brightly colored medium-size bird that goes by many names. they are the national bird of el salvador, where they are known as torogoz, as well as being the national bird of nicaragua, where they are known as guardabarranco. they are also known as the turquoise-browed motmot. they inhabit central america, with their range spanning from mexico to costa rica. unlike most other motmots, they are not very reclusive and can be spotted perched on wires and fences. they often dwell in fairly open habitat like forest edge. their diet is mostly made up of small prey like insects and reptiles, which are often spotted by the bird while they survey the area from a perch. these birds have a gray-blue body with a rufous back and belly. there is a bright turquoise strip above the eye (giving them the moniker ‘turquoise-browed motmot’) and a blue-bordered black patch on the throat. they also have a uniquely shaped tail, where the longest feathers have a ‘racketed’ shape. both males and females share this unique feature & the bright coloration that makes this species easily recognizable. however, usage of the bird’s unique tail varies by sex. males’ tails are important to reproductive success, with males who have longer tails having the most success. both sexes use their tails for a ‘wag’ display, which is not related to mating but is used to communicate the presence of a predator. motmots’ nests are not true ‘nests’, but are burrows formed by the birds digging into the sides of banks (similar to many species of kingfisher). they lay clutches of 3-6 eggs at a time. the turquoise-browed motmot is considered to be of least concern by the IUCN as of 2026.
images sourced through the Macaulay Library
