Lesson's Motmot

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Lesson's Motmot in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

Possible. About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Lesson's Motmot sighting in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve on a given day, based on 214 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 47th most-seen of the 271 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Lesson's Motmot in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

July. In that month about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Lesson's Motmot in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve on a given day, against about 10% in November, the lowest month.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Lesson's Motmot?

Between 9 am and noon. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Lesson's Motmot sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Calakmul Biosphere Reserve the best place to see a Lesson's Motmot?

13th of 38. Of the 38 parks where we can rate Lesson's Motmot sightings, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve ranks 13th at about 30%. The best odds are in Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park (Honduras, about 60%), Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Costa Rica, about 60%) and El Triunfo (Mexico, about 50%). All parks ranked.

Q: Which relatives of the Lesson's Motmot live in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

Same family: Momotidae. The closest relatives of the Lesson's Motmot that you can see in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (family Momotidae, Motmots) are Turquoise-browed Motmot (about 10%) and Tody Motmot (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Q: Where does the Lesson's Motmot sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Lesson's Motmot is recorded against all the birds logged in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (214 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Momotus lessonii

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
FamilyMomotidae (Motmots)
GenusMomotus (Blue-crowned and Russet-crowned Motmots)
SpeciesMomotus lessonii (Lesson's Motmot)

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%

214 Verified sightings at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve From 2019 to 2026

22,688 In all 38 parks

July Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Challenge Cloud Forest Birds Central AmericaMedium

About the Lesson's Motmot

Lesson's motmot (Momotus lessonii) or the blue-diademed motmot, is a colorful near-passerine bird found in forests and woodlands of southern Mexico to western Panama. This species and the blue-capped motmot, whooping motmot, Trinidad motmot, Amazonian motmot, and Andean motmot were all considered conspecific.

The central crown is black and surrounded by a blue band. There is a black eyemask. The call is a low owl-like ooo-doot. These birds often sit still, and in their dense forest habitat can be difficult to see, despite their size. They eat small prey such as insects and lizards, and will also regularly take fruit.

Like most of the Coraciiformes, motmots nest in tunnels in banks, laying about three or four white eggs. Wikipedia →

Sounds

Song0:18

Costa Rica · 2024

Song0:37

Mexico · 2024

Song0:25

Costa Rica · 2015

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 4 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~60%
2	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~60%
3	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	~50%
4	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
5	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~50%
6	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~40%
7	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~40%
8	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
9	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	~30%
10	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~30%
11	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
12	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
13	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
14	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
15	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
16	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~20%
17	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
18	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~20%
19	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
20	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
21	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~20%
22	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
23	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	~10%
24	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
25	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
26	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
27	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
28	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
29	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
30	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
31	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
32	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
33	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
34	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
35	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
36	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
37	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
38	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	San José	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
2	San Salvador	🇸🇻 El Salvador	~30%
3	Guatemala City	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~20%
4	San Pedro Sula	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
5	Tegucigalpa	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
6	Managua	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Berlin Zoological Garden	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
2	Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	In captivity
3	Universeum	🇸🇪 Sweden	In captivity
4	Aquarium Berlin	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity

Closest Relatives at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

Eumomota superciliosa

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Hylomanes momotula

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Megaceryle torquata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Megaceryle alcyon

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Psilorhinus morio

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Ramphastos sulfuratus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Setophaga magnolia

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Trogon melanocephalus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Myiozetetes similis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Melanerpes aurifrons

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Rupornis magnirostris

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Vireo griseus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Lesson's Motmot in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Lesson's Motmot sighting in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve on a given day, based on 214 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 47th most-seen of the 271 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Lesson's Motmot in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

July

In that month about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Lesson's Motmot in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve on a given day, against about 10% in November, the lowest month.

What time of day is best to see a Lesson's Motmot?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Lesson's Motmot sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Calakmul Biosphere Reserve the best place to see a Lesson's Motmot?

13th of 38

Of the 38 parks where we can rate Lesson's Motmot sightings, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve ranks 13th at about 30%. The best odds are in Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park (Honduras, about 60%), Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Costa Rica, about 60%) and El Triunfo (Mexico, about 50%). All parks ranked.

Which relatives of the Lesson's Motmot live in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

Same family: Momotidae

The closest relatives of the Lesson's Motmot that you can see in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (family Momotidae, Motmots) are Turquoise-browed Motmot (about 10%) and Tody Motmot (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Lesson's Motmot sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Lesson's Motmot is recorded against all the birds logged in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (214 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

Lesson's Motmot

About the Lesson's Motmot

Sounds

Recent sightings of Lesson's Motmot in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

Turquoise-browed Motmot

Tody Motmot

Ringed Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Brown Jay

Keel-billed Toucan

Magnolia Warbler

Black-headed Trogon

Social Flycatcher

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Roadside Hawk

White-eyed Vireo

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Lesson's Motmot in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

When is the best time to see a Lesson's Motmot in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

What time of day is best to see a Lesson's Motmot?

Is Calakmul Biosphere Reserve the best place to see a Lesson's Motmot?

Which relatives of the Lesson's Motmot live in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

Where does the Lesson's Motmot sighting chance come from?