[3] "Russet" refers to the reddish-brown colour of the bird's head and originates from the Latin russus meaning red.

[8] Motmots are a part of the order Coraciiformes which also includes bee-eaters, rollers, todies, and kingfishers.

castaneiceps is part of a very isolated population of russet-crowned motmots only found in central Guatemala and could be considered a separate species.

[4]The russet-crowned motmot produces a low "krrp", "krrup", or "kru, krr-up" which is strung together, making a longer call.

[4] Russet-crowned motmots are found along the western coast of Mexico and in an isolated population in central Guatemala.

castaneiceps is an isolated population only found in the Motagua Valley of central Guatemala until recently.

castaneiceps expanded to the Nentón valley in Huehuetenango which suggests that their range might be growing to western Guatemala.

[4][10][13][14] They have the typical feeding strategy of the Momotidae family known as "flycatching";[10] russet-crowned motmots perch on low branches and dart out to catch prey or bite fruit.

[4][10][13] They return to their perches to eat their catch and they hit their live prey against branches before swallowing it.

[3][7] They lay one small clutch of 4–5 eggs per breeding season, which is typical for tropical birds.

[3][7] Both males and females feed the hatchlings and fledglings leave the nest after a total of 30 to 42 days.

[7] Each mating pair digs a tunnel that is 88 to 170 cm deep in an earthen, roadside, or river bank.

[6][11] These tunnels are very dependent on the quality of the substrate because they can get flooded or collapse if they are not built in a suitable area.

[6][7] Loam-textured soils which contain sand, silt and clay are the best substrates for russet-crowned motmots to nest in because they have better drainage, they are easier to excavate, and they offer better ventilation.

[6][7][11] However, Richard E. Tashian reported seeing russet-crowned motmots in flocks of birds including golden-fronted woodpeckers, white-throated Magpie-jay, coloured thrush, streak-backed oriole and coppery-tailed trogon in Guatemala.

[11] When a male intruder holds a leaf, the mating pair get closer to chase or fight him.

The suitable nesting sites for russet-crowned motmots are steadily decreasing because of changing climate and human activity.