Electron (bird)

Genus of birds

Electron
Broad-billed motmot (Electron platyrhynchum)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Momotidae
Genus: Electron
Gistel, 1848
Type species
Momotus platyrhynchus[1]
Leadbeater, 1829
Species

E. carinatum
E. platyrhynchum

Electron is a genus of the motmots, a family of Neotropical near passerine birds. The genus has two species:

Image Scientific name Common Name Distribution
Electron carinatum Keel-billed motmot Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico
Electron platyrhynchum Broad-billed motmot Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru.

Both inhabit humid evergreen tropical forest. Both occur in Central America, and the broad-billed motmot occurs in a large region of South America as well.

They are distinguished from other motmots by their much wider bills. The rackets on their tails are less dramatic than those of many other motmot species and may be absent. The species are very similar except in adult plumage (but the adult keel-billed resembles the juvenile broad-billed). A mixed pair apparently courting has been observed (Howell and Webb 1995).

The name Electron is a Latinization of the Ancient Greek word for amber, and can mean "bright" in scientific names (Jaeger 1978). The name was given 46 years before an elementary particle was named electron.

References

  1. ^ "Momotidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  • Howell, Steve N. G.; Webb, Sophie (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press. pp. 439, 790–791. ISBN 0-19-854012-4.
  • Jaeger, Edmund C. (1955). A Source-Book of Biological Names and Terms. Charles C. Thomas. pp. 90. ISBN 0-398-00916-3. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
  • Peterson, Alan P. (Editor). 1999. Zoological Nomenclature Resource (Zoonomen). Accessed 2007-08-17.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Genera of trogons, hornbills, kingfishers, woodpeckers and their extinct allies
Leptosomiformes
Leptosomidae
Eucavitaves
Trogoniformes
Trogonidae
Picocoraciae
Bucerotiformes
    • See below ↓
Picodynastornithes
Coraciiformes
    • See below ↓
Piciformes
    • See below ↓
Pharomachrus antisianus
Laurillardiidae
  • Laurillardia
Messelirrisoridae
Upupi
Phoeniculidae
Upupidae
Buceroti
Bucorvidae
Bucerotidae
​​Penelopides manillae
incertae sedis
  • Cryptornis
  • Paracoracias
  • Quasisyndactylus
Eocoraciidae
Geranopteridae
Primobucconidae
Brachypteraciidae
Coraciidae
Meropidae
Alcedines
Alcedinidae
Alcedininae
Cerylinae
Halcyoninae
Momotidae
Todidae
​​Septencoracias morsensis Ceyx cyanopectus
incertae sedis
Gracilitarsidae
Sylphornithidae
Galbuli
  • Jacamatia
Bucconidae
Galbulidae
Pici
incertae sedis
Miopiconidae
  • Miopico
Picavidae
Ramphastides
Capitonidae
Lybiidae
Megalaimidae
Ramphastidae
Semnornithidae
Picides
Indicatoridae
Picidae
    • See below ↓
Galbula hylochoreutes

Psilopogon faber&Psilopogon nuchalis

Ramphastos sulfuratus
incertae sedis
  • Bitumenpicus
  • Breacopus
  • Palaeonerpes
  • Palaeopicus
  • Piculoides
Jynginae
Picumninae
  • Picumnus
Sasiinae
Picinae
  • Australopicus
  • Palaeonerpes
  • Pliopicus
Nesoctitini
Hemicircini
Picini
Campephilini
Melanerpini
Campephilus principalis
Taxon identifiers
Electron


Stub icon

This Coraciiformes-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e