Blue-crowned Motmot
Oil on Canvas, 40x60 cm
Artist: Fernando Berg
This is the Blue-crowned Motmot, scientifically known as *Momotus momota*. This bird can be found in three of our biomes: the Amazon, the Cerrado, and the Atlantic Forest. It measures between 41 and 46 centimeters in length, and both males and females share the same vibrant colors. The species is currently listed as vulnerable and at risk of extinction.
An indigenous legend explains the unique gap in its tail feathers:
"One night, while flying through the forest, the Blue-crowned Motmot encountered the Mother of Fire, who was crying. The bird asked why she was so sad, and she explained that she had neglected her duties, and the flames that ignite the sun had gone out.
The Motmot told her that he knew of a shaman who kept an eternal fire and offered to seek his help. Upon finding the shaman, the Motmot relayed the Mother of Fire's plight. The shaman, being very old, said he could not carry the fire himself. The Motmot then volunteered to carry the fire in its tail, even though it would burn him.
The bird successfully transported the fire, allowing the Mother of Fire to reignite the sun. As a result, the Blue-crowned Motmot now carries a distinctive gap in its tail feathers."
In the artwork, the teardrop represents the sorrow of the Mother of Fire in the dark forest, while the sun on the opposite side (to the east, from our perspective) signifies the dawn, with the Blue-crowned Motmot facing the sunrise after delivering the fire. Below, the house represents the shaman and the eternal fire during the night, where the Motmot sought help.
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