23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Blue Crown: Stillness in the Andean jungle.

Captured during a morning in the subtropical Andean forests of the Coffee Region, this image is an intimate encounter with the Andean Motmot (Momotus aequatorialis). The bird, locally known as the "Barranquero" and recognized by its distinctive turquoise blue crown and unique "racquet" tail movement, rested quietly amidst a tangle of lichen- and moss-covered branches.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Pereira, Colombia
Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T5i
Copyright: © Maria Clara Neira Henao