Electron (bird)


Electron is a genus of the motmots, a family of Neotropical near passerine birds. The genus has two species:
ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Electron carinatumKeel-billed motmotBelize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico
Electron platyrhynchumBroad-billed motmotBolivia, 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. A mixed pair apparently courting has been observed.
The name Electron is a Latinization of the Ancient Greek word for amber, and can mean "bright" in scientific names. The name was given 46 years before an elementary particle was named electron.