The puffbirds and their relatives in the near passerine

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: Notharchus
  Notharchus
  Notharchus is a genus of puffbird in the Bucconidae family.It contains the following species:* White-necked Puffbird * Guianan Puffbird * Brown-banded Puffbird...
  
  
  • Guianan Puffbird
    Guianan Puffbird
    The 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...
    
    , Notharchus macrorhynchos
  • 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...
    
    , Notharchus hyperrynchus
  • Black-breasted Puffbird
    Black-breasted Puffbird
    The 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 Puffbird
    Brown-banded Puffbird
    The 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 Puffbird
    Pied Puffbird
    The 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 Puffbird
    Buff-bellied Puffbird
    The 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
• Genus: Bucco
  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 Puffbird
    Chestnut-capped Puffbird
    The 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 Puffbird
    Spotted Puffbird
    The 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 Puffbird
    Sooty-capped Puffbird
    The 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 Puffbird
    Collared Puffbird
    The 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
• Genus: Nystalus
  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 Puffbird
    Barred Puffbird
    The 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:...
    
    , Nystalus radiatus
  • White-eared Puffbird
    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
    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
    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
• Genus: Hypnelus
  • Russet-throated Puffbird
    Russet-throated Puffbird
    The 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
• Genus: Malacoptila
  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 Puffbird
    White-chested Puffbird
    The 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....
    
    , Malacoptila fusca
  • Semicollared Puffbird
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
• Genus: Micromonacha
  • Lanceolated Monklet
    Lanceolated Monklet
    The 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
• Genus: Nonnula – the nunlets
  • Fulvous-chinned Nunlet
    Fulvous-chinned Nunlet
    The 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:...
    
    , Nonnula sclateri
  • Rusty-breasted Nunlet
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
• Genus Hapaloptila
  • White-faced Nunbird
    White-faced Nunbird
    The White-faced Nunbird is a species of puffbird in the Bucconidae family. Its genus Hapaloptila is monotypic....
    
    , Hapaloptila castanea
• Genus: Monasa
  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 Nunbird
    Black Nunbird
    The 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...
    
    , Monasa atra
  • Black-fronted Nunbird
    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
    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
    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
• Genus: Chelidoptera
  • Swallow-winged Puffbird, Chelidoptera tenebrosa

External links

• Puffbird videos on the Internet Bird Collection