PUFFBIRDS: Bucconidae

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Puffbirds are related to jacamars, but lack the iridescent (brilliant, shiny) colors of those birds. Puffbirds have a small- to medium-sized body, a large head, large eyes, short neck and a sturdy, flattened, slightly curved or hook-tipped bill (bills are more streamlined in some species). They have short and rounded wings, and a short and narrow tail, although some species have broader and longer tails. The swallow-winged puffbird has more tapered wings and a shorter bill than that of the other puffbird species.

Their mostly brown plumage (feathers) is soft and loose, and is not as colorful as jacamars' plumage. However, it has a very attractive pattern consisting of white, buff, rufous (reddish), brown, and black colors, especially with its sharp breast bands and streaked, barred, or spotted underparts. Their feet are small and zygodactylous (zye-guh-DACK-tuhl-us; two toes facing forward and two turned backward). Males and females look nearly the same, except for two species. Adults are 5.1 to 11.4 inches (13 to 29 centimeters) long and weigh between 0.5 and 3.7 ounces (14 and 106 grams).

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Puffbirds range from southern Mexico in Central America to northern Argentina and Paraguay in South America. They are not found on any islands off the coasts of these countries.

HABITAT

Puffbirds are found from dry to humid forests, lowlands, open woodlands, and wooded savannas (flat grasslands). They are not often found within the deep parts of the forest. The birds are usually found in areas below 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) in elevation, but some species are found in areas that rise up to 9,500 feet (2,900 meters). Puffbirds are found mainly in northern South America, particularly in the area surrounding the Amazon River. Most birds are found around the forest edges, in areas where trees have fallen, along streams and lakes, and inside clearings. They especially like locations where plenty of perches are available and many vines hang down from the trees.

DIET

Because puffbirds are difficult to locate, little is known about their eating habits. It is believed that they eat mostly insects. Most species also eat arthropods (invertebrate animals with jointed limbs), along with small frogs, lizards, and snakes. Some species eat small amounts of fruits, berries, and buds, but mostly only in species that live at high elevations. They hunt for food only within the trees, going up to 65 feet (20 meters) to catch prey.

BEHAVIOR AND REPRODUCTION

Puffbirds are arboreal birds, meaning that they live in trees. They perch motionless in trees for long periods waiting for prey to approach. When flying, puffbirds fly quickly and swiftly on whirl-sounding wings. They defend their territory throughout the year with sounds that tell outsiders they are close by and to stay away. They are generally solitary birds, although some species are found in small family groups. Vocal sounds are also used to attract mates. Their voice is thin and ring-like, and can range from weak to loud, rarely being pleasant. Puffbirds do not seem to be migratory birds, yet some species that live at high altitudes or at the southernmost edge of their geographic range do migrate in response to changes in seasons.

Puffbirds are monogamous (muh-NAH-guh-mus), meaning that they have only one mate. They breed at various times throughout their ranges, depending on the amount of rainfall. It is believed that nests are made from cavities that are dug out of former termite and ant beds and sometimes out of abandoned nests of other birds. Some nests are burrowed into sand or soil, while others are made in tree holes. Both members of the mating pair generally dig nests. Nest cavities vary in length from 20 to 60 inches (50 to 150 centimeters) with larger species digging longer cavities. Cavities end in a rounded chamber that is usually not lined with any materials but can be lined at times with leaves or grass. Some species place leaves around the entrance, probably to hide the opening.

Their small, white unmarked eggs can vary from dull to glossy and are usually laid in clutches (groups of eggs hatched together) of two to three, sometimes four. The incubation period (length of time needed to sit on eggs and warm them in order to hatch them) is unknown in most species. Both sexes incubate the eggs and only one brood (young birds that are born and raised together) is raised each year. Hatchlings (newly born birds) are born blind and naked, but are still able to crawl to the entrance on their first day of life in order to take food from their parents. The fledgling period (time it takes for feathers to develop in order to fly) is believed to be twenty to thirty days. Young birds remain in their birthing territory for about one year.

PUFFBIRDS AND PEOPLE

There is no significant relationship between people and puffbirds.

PUFFED UP PUFFBIRDS

Puffbirds were given their name because of their ability to "puff up" their feathers when alarmed. The combination of their large head, short tail, and often loose feathers also gives them a "puffy" look.

CONSERVATION STATUS

One species, the sooty-capped puffbird, is listed as Near Threatened, in danger of becoming threatened with extinction. Generally, all puffbird populations are declining throughout South and Central America mostly because their forested areas are growing smaller.

WHITE-NECKED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus macrorhynchos): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Physical characteristics: White-necked puffbirds look a little bit like kingfishers, being identified mainly by their white forehead and wide, glossy black breast band. They have glossy black-blue upperparts, a white collar, throat, sides of face, and belly. The bill is black, there is variable dark barring on the flanks, the tail is narrow with white tips and the feet are black. As one of the largest puffbirds, adults are about 11 inches (25 centimeters) long and weigh between 2.9 and 3.7 ounces (81 and 106 grams).

Geographic range: They range from Mexico in Central America to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and northern and western Brazil (to the Amazon River) in South America.

Habitat: White-necked puffbirds live in mostly humid to semi-arid (somewhat dry) secondary forests, mixed pine and oak woods, forest edges and clearings, and plantations; from sea level to 3,940 feet (1,200 meters).

Diet: Their diet consists of large insects and small vertebrates (animals with backbone), along with some vegetable materials. They hunt from the ground to the tops of the trees.

Behavior and reproduction: The mating pair defends their territory. They do not migrate. White-necked puffbirds spend much of their time perching without motion on high open branches. Female and male pairs dig nests in former termite nests built in trees usually 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 meters) off the ground, but can range from 10 to 60 feet (3 to 18 meters). Holes in the ground are also used as nests. Information about incubation and nestling periods and activities are not known.

White-necked puffbirds and people: There is no known significant relationship between people and white-necked puffbirds.

Conservation status: White-necked puffbirds are not threatened. There are few in Central America, but they are fairly numerous in South America. ∎

RUFOUS-CAPPED NUNLET (Nonnula ruficapilla): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Physical characteristics: Rufous-capped nunlets have a small body, slender bill, deep chestnut crown (top of head), a gray face, nape (back of neck), and sides of the breast. They have plain dull-brown upperparts, rufous (reddish) underparts, a whitish belly, and dark brownish gray feet. Adults are 5.3 to 5.5 inches (13.5 to 14.0 centimeters) long and weigh between 0.5 and 0.8 ounces (14 and 22 grams).

Geographic range: They range (east and west) from eastern Peru to western Brazil south of the Amazon River, and (north and south) from northern Brazil to northern Bolivia.

Habitat: Rufous-capped nunlets live in the mid-levels and undergrowth of humid forest edges, secondary forests, streamside forests, and the banks of the black waters (igapó) of the Amazon River area. They prefer areas that surround rivers and contain bamboo trees.

Diet: It is believed that they eat mostly insects.

Behavior and reproduction: Rufous-capped nunlets are usually found alone or in pairs. They are generally found sitting quietly in low vegetation where they search for food. The birds give out a long series of sharp, clear, short whistles sounding like "fwick!-fwick!" that are softer and lower in sound near the beginning and end. Little information is available about reproduction. It is known that nests are often made in holes in earthen banks or trees.

Rufous-capped nunlets and people: There is no known significant relationship between people and rufous-capped nunlets.

Conservation status: Rufous-capped nunlets are not threatened. They seem to be fairly common in most of their habitat. ∎

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Books:

del Hoyo, Josep, Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal, Jose Cabot, et al., eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, 1992.

Dickinson, Edward C., ed. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World, 3rd ed. Princeton, NJ and Oxford, U.K.: Princeton University Press, 2003.

Forshaw, Joseph, ed. Encyclopedia of Birds, 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1998.

Harrison, Colin James Oliver. Birds of the World. London and New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1993.

Perrins, Christopher M., and Alex L. A. Middleton, eds. The Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Facts on File, 1985.

Web sites:

Mangoverde World Bird Guide. "White-necked Puffbird Notharchus macrorhynchos." http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/spec/spec100-1.html (accessed on July 19, 2004).