31 January 2010, El Valle, Cocle Province, Panama

Two distinct races occur in Panama. I think this is M. m. lessonii of
western Panama which reaches it's easternmost limit at El Valle. It has
its underparts light green cf. to M. m. conexus of the former Canal Zone
and eastward which has the underparts dull brown, lacking green tones. This
subtle color difference is hard to detect in the shade where these birds
live, but in this photo, I think the greenish cast is visible particularly
on the flanks and side.

The taxonomy of this species has been in flux with early authors
recognizing multiple species, Peters lumping them all, and now more recent
authors starting to split them. A recent study by Stile (Ornitología
Colombiana 8: 29-75, 2009) found vocal and plumage evidence for recognizing
at least five species: lessonii , momota, aequatorialis, bahamensis, and
subrufescens. Under this proposal, our bird would revert to the name
"Lesson's Motmot" while the browner birds in eastern Panama would become
"Columbian Motmot."

Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Leica Televid APO with zoom eyepiece
(borrowed from Canopy Lodge) | hand-held (no adapter)