Keel-billed Motmot

The Keel-billed Motmot (Electron carinatum) is one of the more challenging Costa Rican motmots. These birds are very particular about their habitat and require hilly terrain and streams in primary rainforest.

This habitat has been destroyed over the last 100 years, and because of that, the numbers of these birds are estimated to be no more than 7,000 in the entire world.

Tapir Valley and Heliconias Rainforest Lodge are excellent places to see these birds, but keep in mind that they are tricky and not consistently found. Like all motmots, they're sedentary and well-camouflaged in the forest so a healthy dose of luck is required to find them.

Photos by Mike Melton