Puffbird
Encyclopedia
The puffbirds and their relatives in the near passerine
family Bucconidae are tropical birds breeding from South America
up to Mexico
.
They are related to the jacamar
s, but lack the iridescent colours of that family. They are mainly brown, rufous or grey, with large heads and flattened bills with a hooked tip. The loose abundant plumage and short tails makes them look stout and puffy, giving rise to the English
name of the family. They feed on insects and small vertebrate
s caught by a watch and wait technique. The species range in size from the Rufous-capped Nunlet
, at 13 cm (5.1 in) and 14 grams (0.5 oz), to the White-necked Puffbird
, at up to 29 cm (11.5 in) and 106 grams (3.7 oz).
Like most of their relatives, this group are hole nesters, laying 2–3 glossy white eggs in a hole in the ground or a termite
mound.
Genus: Bucco
Genus: Nystalus
White-eared Puffbird
, Nystalus chacuru
Striolated Puffbird
, Nystalus striolatus
Spot-backed Puffbird
, Nystalus maculatus
Genus: Hypnelus
Genus: Malacoptila
Semicollared Puffbird
, Malacoptila semicincta
Crescent-chested Puffbird
, Malacoptila striata
Black-streaked Puffbird
, Malacoptila fulvogularis
Rufous-necked Puffbird
, Malacoptila rufa
White-whiskered Puffbird
, Malacoptila panamensis
Moustached Puffbird
, Malacoptila mystacalis
Genus: Micromonacha
Genus: Nonnula – the nunlets
Rusty-breasted Nunlet
, Nonnula rubecula
Brown Nunlet
, Nonnula brunnea
Grey-cheeked Nunlet
, Nonnula frontalis
Rufous-capped Nunlet
, Nonnula ruficapilla
Chestnut-headed Nunlet
, Nonnula amaurocephala
Genus Hapaloptila
Genus: Monasa
– the nunbirds
Black-fronted Nunbird
, Monasa nigrifrons
White-fronted Nunbird
, Monasa morphoeus
Yellow-billed Nunbird
, Monasa flavirostris
Genus: Chelidoptera
Near passerine
Near passerine or higher land-bird assemblage are terms often given to arboreal birds or those most often believed to be related to the true passerines due to ecological similarities; the group corresponds to some extent with the Anomalogonatae of Garrod All near passerines are land birds...
family Bucconidae are tropical birds breeding from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
up to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
They are related to the jacamar
Jacamar
The jacamars are a family, Galbulidae, of near passerine birds from tropical South and Central America, extending up to Mexico. The order contains five genera and 18 species...
s, but lack the iridescent colours of that family. They are mainly brown, rufous or grey, with large heads and flattened bills with a hooked tip. The loose abundant plumage and short tails makes them look stout and puffy, giving rise to the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
name of the family. They feed on insects and small vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
s caught by a watch and wait technique. The species range in size from the Rufous-capped Nunlet
Rufous-capped Nunlet
The Rufous-capped Nunlet is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, at 13 cm (5.1 in) and 14 grams (0.5 oz), to the White-necked Puffbird
White-necked Puffbird
The White-necked Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in forest and woodland from southern Mexico, through Central America, to the Chocó, northern Colombia , northern Venezuela, and the western and southern Amazon Basin.It was formerly considered a subspecies of N...
, at up to 29 cm (11.5 in) and 106 grams (3.7 oz).
Like most of their relatives, this group are hole nesters, laying 2–3 glossy white eggs in a hole in the ground or a termite
Termite
Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea...
mound.
Species
FAMILY: BUCCONIDAE- Genus: NotharchusNotharchusNotharchus is a genus of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It contains the following species:* White-necked Puffbird * Guianan Puffbird * Brown-banded Puffbird...
- Guianan PuffbirdGuianan PuffbirdThe Guianan Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family. It is found in forest and woodland in north-eastern South America, , in far eastern Venezuela, north-eastern Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It formerly included N...
,
- Guianan Puffbird
- White-necked PuffbirdWhite-necked PuffbirdThe White-necked Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in forest and woodland from southern Mexico, through Central America, to the Chocó, northern Colombia , northern Venezuela, and the western and southern Amazon Basin.It was formerly considered a subspecies of N...
, Notharchus hyperrynchus - Black-breasted PuffbirdBlack-breasted PuffbirdThe Black-breasted Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24...
, Notharchus pectoralis - Brown-banded PuffbirdBrown-banded PuffbirdThe Brown-banded Puffbird is a species of bird in the Bucconidae family, the puffbirds. It is one of six species in the genus Notharchus.-Overview:...
, Notharchus ordii - Pied PuffbirdPied PuffbirdThe Pied Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela....
, Notharchus tectus - Buff-bellied PuffbirdBuff-bellied PuffbirdThe Buff-bellied Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* BirdLife International 2006. . Downloaded on 24...
, Notharchus swainsoni
Bucco
Bucco is a genus of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It contains the following species:* Collared Puffbird * Chestnut-capped Puffbird * Sooty-capped Puffbird...
- Chestnut-capped PuffbirdChestnut-capped PuffbirdThe Chestnut-capped Puffbird is a species of bird in the Bucconidae family, the puffbirds.-Overview:It is found in northwestern South America in the western Amazon Basin of Brazil, and Amazonian Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and northern Bolivia; also the eastern Orinoco River Basin of...
, Bucco macrodactylus - Spotted PuffbirdSpotted PuffbirdThe Spotted Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela....
, Bucco tamatia - Sooty-capped PuffbirdSooty-capped PuffbirdThe Sooty-capped Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is endemic to Colombia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and arable land.It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Bucco noanamae - Collared PuffbirdCollared PuffbirdThe Collared Puffbird is a sit-and-wait hunting bird found across the northern region of South America in the Amazon Basin, southern Colombia and Venezuela, and the Guianas....
, Bucco capensis
Nystalus
Nystalus is a genus of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It contains the following species:* White-eared Puffbird * Spot-backed Puffbird ** Caatinga Puffbird...
- Barred PuffbirdBarred PuffbirdThe Barred Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family. It occurs in forests in the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena of Panama, Colombia and Ecuador.-References:...
,
White-eared Puffbird
The White-eared Puffbird is a species of bird in the Bucconidae family, the puffbirds.It is found in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina; also Peru....
, Nystalus chacuru
Striolated Puffbird
The Striolated Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Brazil in the southwestern Amazon Basin and the bordering countries of Peru and Bolivia. A disjunct population lives to the west in a narrow region in central Ecuador and northwestern Peru...
, Nystalus striolatus
Spot-backed Puffbird
The Spot-backed Puffbird is a species of bird in the Bucconidae family, the puffbirds. It is found in eastern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay and northern Argentina. It is found in various open to semi-open habitats, ranging from arid Caatinga to semi-humid woodland along the lower Amazon River...
, Nystalus maculatus
- Russet-throated PuffbirdRusset-throated PuffbirdThe Russet-throated Puffbird is a near-passerine bird which breeds in tropical South America in northeastern Colombia and much of Venezuela, It is commonly named in Colombia as Bobito,Utta, Tol and Coludo....
, Hypnelus ruficollis
Malacoptila
Malacoptila is a genus of puffbird in the Bucconidae family, one of ten genera.It contains the following species:* Black-streaked Puffbird * White-chested Puffbird...
- White-chested PuffbirdWhite-chested PuffbirdThe White-chested Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela....
,
Semicollared Puffbird
The Semicollared Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Malacoptila semicincta
Crescent-chested Puffbird
The Crescent-chested Puffbird is a species of bird in the Bucconidae family, the puffbirds. It is endemic to Brazil....
, Malacoptila striata
Black-streaked Puffbird
The Black-streaked Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-References:...
, Malacoptila fulvogularis
Rufous-necked Puffbird
The Rufous-necked Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Malacoptila rufa
White-whiskered Puffbird
The White-whiskered Puffbird is a bird which is a resident breeding species from southeastern Mexico to central Ecuador. It is sometimes known as White-whiskered Softwing....
, Malacoptila panamensis
Moustached Puffbird
The Moustached Puffbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Colombia and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and heavily degraded former...
, Malacoptila mystacalis
- Lanceolated MonkletLanceolated MonkletThe Lanceolated Monklet is a species of bird in the Bucconidae family, the puffbirds. It is the only member of the genus Micromonacha.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru...
, Micromonacha lanceolata
- Fulvous-chinned NunletFulvous-chinned NunletThe Fulvous-chinned Nunlet is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
,
Rusty-breasted Nunlet
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in two major ranges, regions of the central Amazon Basin with parts of the Guianas; the second is in southeastern Brazil, with Paraguay and Argentina, including in the interior, the cerrado.It is found in...
, Nonnula rubecula
Brown Nunlet
The Brown Nunlet is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in the countries of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru in a contiguous range at the eastern slopes of the Andes and the headwaters of the Amazon Basin....
, Nonnula brunnea
Grey-cheeked Nunlet
The Grey-cheeked Nunlet is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Colombia and Panama.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.-References:...
, Nonnula frontalis
Rufous-capped Nunlet
The Rufous-capped Nunlet is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Nonnula ruficapilla
Chestnut-headed Nunlet
The Chestnut-headed Nunlet is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family. It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical swamps.-References:...
, Nonnula amaurocephala
- White-faced NunbirdWhite-faced NunbirdThe White-faced Nunbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family. Its genus Hapaloptila is monotypic....
, Hapaloptila castanea
Monasa
Monasa is a genus of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It contains the following species:* Black Nunbird * Yellow-billed Nunbird * White-fronted Nunbird...
– the nunbirds
- Black NunbirdBlack NunbirdThe Black Nunbird is a species of bird in the Bucconidae family, the puffbirds.It is found in north-central South America in the Guianas of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana including the Guiana Shield; also eastern and southeastern Venezuela in the eastern Orinoco River Basin, and the Amazon...
,
Black-fronted Nunbird
The Black-fronted Nunbird is a species of bird in the Bucconidae family, the puffbirds.-Overview:It is found in Amazonian Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; also regions of eastern and southeastern Brazil....
, Monasa nigrifrons
White-fronted Nunbird
The White-fronted Nunbird is a species of near passerine bird in the puffbird family . It is found in the tropical Americas....
, Monasa morphoeus
Yellow-billed Nunbird
The Yellow-billed Nunbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru....
, Monasa flavirostris
- Swallow-winged Puffbird, Chelidoptera tenebrosa
External links
- Puffbird videos on the Internet Bird Collection