The Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyrhynchum) is a stunning bird that inhabits the tropical rainforests of Central America, with Panama being one of its key locations. Its vibrant green plumage, accentuated by blue highlights and a distinctive, broad bill, makes it one of the most recognizable bird species in the region. The motmot's most striking feature is its tail, which ends in a unique, paddle-like shape, further enhancing its visual appeal.

A skilled hunter, the Broad-billed Motmot primarily preys on insects and small vertebrates, using its perch-and-wait strategy to snatch prey with precise and sudden movements. Its diet is varied, and it plays a crucial role in controlling insect populations within its ecosystem. Nesting typically occurs in burrows dug into the earth of banks, offering protection and stability for its eggs and chicks.

Though the Broad-billed Motmot thrives in the dense rainforests, it faces ongoing threats from habitat loss due to deforestation. Despite these challenges, it remains an iconic species for birdwatchers, symbolizing the biodiversity of Panama’s forests and its ongoing need for conservation efforts.

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Sources:

• Howell, S. N. G., & Webb, S. (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Panama (2nd ed.). Princeton University.

• BirdLife International. (2016). Electron platyrhynchum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22682986A92971505. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22682986A92971505.en

• Snow, D., & Kirwan, G. M. (2017). Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyrhynchum). In del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D. A., & de Juana, E. (Eds.), Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

• Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyrhynchum), Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; retrieved from https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/brbmot1