Motmots (Momotidae)

Rufous-capped Motmot (Baryphthengus ruficapillus) - HBW 6, p. 281

French: Motmot oranroux German: Rotkopfmotmot Spanish: Momoto Yeruvá Oriental

Taxonomy: Baryphonus ruficapillus Vieillot, 1818, Lima, Peru; error = south-east Brazil.
May form a superspecies with B. martii, and often regarded as conspecific. Despite structural similarities, however, considerable plumage differences and reported difference in voice now generally considered sufficient to warrant treatment as separate species. Proposed Brazilian races aeruginosus (Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro), septentrionalis (São Paulo) and abreui (Paraná) shown in recent study all to be based on individual variation, without geographical significance; berlai (Goiás) regarded as an invalid name. Monotypic.

Distribution: E & S Brazil (Bahia and C Goiás S to N Rio Grande do Sul), E Paraguay and NE Argentina (Misiones).