Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
"Praying the Gods"

The motmot bird is pretty common to spot during the rainy season in the Yucatan peninsula. They use the invite number of limestone caves to nest and reproduce at this time of the year, between may and November. This individual is one of the last to show up as the rainy season is almost over. They are just one of the most important symbol used by mayan people alongside with the jaguar. Many legends are mentioning the motmot bird as a magical bird, thanks to its amazing blue and brown feather and the very long tail, that makes them unique.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2022
Date Uploaded: 10.2022
Photo Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Copyright: © Thomas Peuvion