Bucconidae – Puffbirds

The Bucconidae or Puffbirds and their relatives are a near passerine family of tropical tree-dwelling insectivorous birds that are found from South America up to Mexico. Together with their closest relatives, the Galbulidae (Jacamars), they form a divergent lineage from the Piciformes, in a separate order, the Galbuliformes.

Lacking the iridescent colours of the jacamars, puffbirds are mainly brown, rufous or grey, with large heads, large eyes, and flattened bills with a hooked tip. Some species sport profuse rictal bristles and loose, abundant plumage and short tails, which makes them look stout, dishevelled and puffy, giving rise to the English name of the family. Unlike the nightjars, the bristles around the face are probably more to protect the eyes from the stings of prey rather than to aid in catching them. Their large eyes help them forage well into the crepuscular hours in deep forest. The species range in size from the Rufous-capped Nunlet, at 13cm and 14g, to the White-necked Puffbird, at up to 29cm and 106g.

Spotted Puffbird Bucco tamatia	Black-breasted Puffbird Notharchus pectoralis
All photos in this text Dubi Shapiro

Puffbirds are found from tropical Mexico to southern Brazil, with the greatest variety of species found in the Amazon Basin. They live in forested or wooded habitats, including lowland, foothills, and open woodland. The White-faced Nunbird is the only member of this species known to live in highlands. The Swallow-winged Puffbird also lives in more open country. No species of puffbirds have been recorded of moving any significant distance beyond its home territory.

White-faced Nunbird Hapaloptila castanea

Due to their secretive nature, puffbirds vocalise very rarely, most often at dawn and dusk. The main vocalisations consist of repeated and high-pitched whistles. The nunbirds are the most vocal of the family; they have a wide repertoire of calls and often give very loud shouts. They are by nature arboreal. Mostly secretive, they are found singly or in small family groups. Species of the genus Monasa, known as nunbirds, are more gregarious and found in flocks.

Black Nunbird Monasa atra

Puffbirds are sit-and-wait hunters, perching unmoving for long periods, while watching for insect prey. As well as arthropods, they may eat small lizards and plant material. Arthropod exoskeletons are regurgitated as pellets. The Swallow-winged Puffbird is the only member in the family that is known to capture insects from open perches.

White-whiskered Puffbird Malacoptila panamensis

The breeding behaviour of puffbirds is not well known. Nests are burrows in dirt, rotten wood or termite mounds. They are known to lay small clutches of two or three eggs. The eggs are round, small, and white. The incubation period is around 15 days, and performed by both parents. Born blind and naked, the young can crawl to the entrance of the nest burrow at one or two days of age. There, their mother feeds them partly chewed insects. They fledge at around 20 to 21 days.

Semicollared Puffbird Malacoptila semicincta