Why is the turquoise-eyed parrot the national bird of El Salvador?
When did the Turquoise-Browed motmot become the national bird of El Salvador?
Who chose the turquoise browed parrot as El Salvador’s national bird?
What does the Turquoise-Browed motto stand for?
A Little About El Salvador’s National Bird
El Salvador is a Central American country bordered by Guatemala to the north, Honduras to the east, and Nicaragua to the south. It was inhabited by the ancient Mesoamerican Olmecs about 4,000 years ago, and then by the Mayans, Toltecs, and Pipils before it was conquered by Spanish conquistadors. El Salvador gained independence from Spain in 1821.
Many countries have recognized national animal birds, so what is the national bird of El Salvador?
The national bird of El Salvador is the turquoise browed parrot (mulberry). This beautiful and colorful bird is also the national bird of neighboring Nicaragua. In El Salvador it is also known as Torogoz. It was legally declared the national bird of El Salvador in 1999.
A Turquoise-Browed motto is part of an adage or peach family A family of birds, related to kingfishers, bee-eaters, and capuchins. The bird is most common in the mountains of northern El Salvador, and it’s not particularly easy to find.
With bright turquoise, green, orange, yellow and brown plumage and a very long tail, the Turquoise-Browed motmot is a striking bird.
Both male and female turquoise-browed kangaroos have a long tail, unlike most birds with ornate tail feathers, which are only found in males.
There’s still a lot to learn about this fascinating bird – read on to discover more.
El Salvador’s national bird, the turquoise-eyed pheasant (Eumomota superciliosa)
Why is the turquoise-eyed parrot the national bird of El Salvador?
In El Salvador, the Turquoise-Browed motto represents nature, liberty, and the beauty of liberty.
Like many Mesoamerican birds, the Maya and other Mesoamericans likely foreshadowed this maxim. At least one Mayan story mentions them. The story describes how this mult-mutt was given the duty of waking up other birds at sunrise, but one day the bird failed and was stripped of all tail feathers, leaving only two feathers dangling at the end.
It is said that these two feathers resemble the hands of a clock, so this legend is sometimes called “the legend of the bell bird”. These remaining tail feathers are a warning to the bird not to forget its duty.this bird calls Aharo Chapel, meaning bell bird, in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. The motmot’s tail also swung back and forth like a pendulum, which may have inspired the legend.
In ancient Mayan culture, this adage was known as “Toh” and appears in several other ancient legends. The motmot is a member of the kingfisher family that also appears in many Mesoamerican stories and legends.
It is unclear whether ancient momotot folklore influenced El Salvador’s decision to declare the motmot its national bird. But make no mistake, this truly beautiful bird was a brilliant choice, even if it was only chosen for its stunning plumage.
Turquoise-browed hen perched on a branch looking straight ahead
When did the Turquoise-Browed motmot become the national bird of El Salvador?
On October 21, 1999, the turquoise eyebrowed parrot was enshrined in law as the national bird of El Salvador.
However, the bird held special value long before that. Anecdotal reports of the bird’s status in El Salvador suggest that it has been held in high spiritual esteem for many generations.
This certainly makes sense, since the Turquoise-Browed motto has significance for the Maya and other Mesoamerican civilizations. The bird may have lived on the mainland for thousands of years.
Who chose the turquoise browed parrot as El Salvador’s national bird?
The government officially named the turquoise-eyed parrot the national bird of El Salvador in 1999.
However, for thousands of years, the bird has been important to El Salvador and much of Central America. The aphorism appears in several Mayan stories and legends.
Turquoise-Browed motmot also known as Torogoz
What does the Turquoise-Browed motto stand for?
Turquoise-Browed’s motto stands for freedom, independence and the beauty of nature.
While the bird is not threatened or endangered in Central America, it’s also not particularly common in most areas. In El Salvador, for example, you’re most likely to see one in the northern mountains on the border with Guatemala.
A Little About El Salvador’s National Bird
The green-browed kangaroo is one of the most showy birds on Earth, and unlike other kangaroos of its kind, they belong to a genus all to themselves. Its range is small, including parts of Mexico—most notably the Yucatan Peninsula—and western Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and parts of Honduras and Costa Rica.
feather
There are about seven subspecies of this bird, but each subspecies shares similarly beautiful plumage with bright turquoise and long racket tails. Both males and females have these gorgeous tails, but the males are slightly brighter.
They are predominantly olive green in color with a cinnamon or reddish-brown belly and dark red patches on the underbelly. Some subspecies have brighter yellow parts, while others are greener. As their name suggests, brows are turquoise.
Motmots are similar in shape and form to kingfishers and have strong, sharp beaks perfect for skewering and eating large insects.
A curious turquoise-eyed Motmot in the tropical rainforest
eating and foraging
These motmots are carnivores/insectivores, eating a variety of large beetles, centipedes, millipedes, spiders and some small lizards and snakes. Like kingfishers, motmots are powerful birds with skilled hunting abilities.
Habitat
These birds live in a variety of forest, arid and mountain habitats. They are especially common in Guatemala’s arid Motagua Valley, where they are one of the most abundant birds. They mostly avoid deep rainforests, preferring open grasslands and sparse foliage environments.
Closeup of the Turquoise-Browed motto
breeding and nesting
Like many members of the kingfisher family, the green-browed bunting nests in burrows as deep as 150 cm, but one has been recorded as deep as 244 cm. They form strong monogamous relationships that last for years, if not life. Chicks are hatched and raised by both parents.
While the overall population of green-browed kangaroos is quite large, with between 50,000 and 500,000 breeding pairs, numbers are thought to be declining. They are rare in most of El Salvador, but more common in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Seeing one of these magnificent birds is a special occasion.However, if you see one, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t fly away right away – they’ve earned the nickname Aharobobo In Costa Rica, it means stupid bird, because they don’t easily fly away when provoked by humans.
Turquoise-browed kangaroos are generally very tolerant of humans, and usually won’t fly away!
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.