White-fronted Nunbird
Monasa morphoeus
Fairly large gray bird with flat head and upright posture. Distinctive white forehead and chin and bright red bill. Sexes alike. Found in forested areas, often perched on an open branch at middle or upper levels; also can be seen at forest edges or clearings. Usually in pairs or small family groups. Often a flock leader; listen for its loud squawking and rollicking calls to find other flocking species.
Identification
The white-fronted nunbird is 21 to 29 cm (8.3 to 11 in) long. Birds in Central America weigh 90 to 101 g (3.2 to 3.6 oz), those in the eastern Amazon 77 to 87 g (2.7 to 3.1 oz), those in Venezuela 63 to 80 g (2.2 to 2.8 oz), and those in Bolivia 80 to 84 g (2.8 to 3.0 oz). The adult of the nominate subspecies is mostly dark grayish black, somewhat grayer on the underparts. Its forehead ("front") and chin are white. Its bill is orange-red, the eye brown, and the legs black. Immatures have a buffy-rufous face and their body feathers have a brownish tinge and edges.<p>The other subspecies of white-fronted nunbird differ in size, the darkness of their plumage, and the extent of white on the face. Northern birds are larger than southern ones. M. m. sclateri has a black chin, little contrast between the upper- and underparts, and paler wing coverts than the nominate. M. m. pallescens is similar to sclateri but paler overall with more contrast, and the white patch on the forehead is the largest of all subspecies. M. m. fidelis is like pallescens but slightly darker and with a whitish chin. M. m. grandior is slightly darker than fidelis and with little contrast. M. m. rikeri is slightly paler than the nominate and M. m. peruana even paler.
Taxonomy
The white-fronted nunbird is assigned these seven subspecies:<p>The first four subspecies were at one time treated as individual species. Other authors included rikeri in the nominate morpheous. Birds in northeastern Bolivia were suggested as a separate subspecies but remain included in peruana. The white-fronted nunbird, black-fronted nunbird (M. nigrifrons), and black nunbird (M. morphoeus) are generally treated as a superspecies.
- Scientific name
- Monasa morphoeus
- Authority
- (Hahn & Küster, 1823)
- Order
- Galbuliformes
- Family
- Bucconidae
- Genus
- Monasa
Range and habitat
The subspecies of white-fronted nunbird are distributed thus:<p>The white-fronted nunbird inhabits a variety of wooded landscapes including lowland terra firme, rainforest, and gallery and transitional forest. It also occurs in more open environments like partly deforested areas, shaded cacao plantations, and abandoned clearings with scattered trees. In most of its range it is found below 300 m (980 ft) but reaches 750 m (2,500 ft) in Panama, 1,050 m (3,400 ft) in Peru, and locally 1,350 m (4,400 ft) in Ecuador.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The white-fronted nunbird's diet is mostly insects and also includes other arthropods, small lizards and amphibians, and some fruits. It follows troops of primates, army ant swarms, and flocks of caciques and oropendolas to capture prey dislodged by them.<p>The white-fronted nunbird breeds between December and May in Costa Rica and February to May in Colombia; its nesting season in other parts of its range has not been defined. It nests in a leaf-lined chamber at the end of a tunnel excavated in level or sloping ground. The clutch of two or three eggs and the young are attended by up to six adults.<p>The white-fronted nunbird has a variety of vocalizations. Examples are "a blurred descending whistle with short rippling trill, 'peeeur-r-r-r-r'; also a loud, mournful 'how how how' and various rippling trills, churrs and rattles" and "group choruses of loud gobbling, barking notes".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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White-eared Bulbul
Pycnonotus leucotis
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Smooth-billed Ani
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Anis are bizarre, coal-black cuckoos with long floppy tails and unique, curiously tall, flattened bills. Smooth-billed occurs in a variety of open and semi-open habitats in tropical lowlands and foothills, typically staying low in shrubs and grasses. Gregarious and not particularly graceful; usually seen crashing around awkwardly in small groups. Flies with choppy wingbeats and long glides. Widespread and common throughout much of South America and the Caribbean, extending as far west as the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and north to Florida. Compare with the very similar Groove-billed Ani, which overlaps in some areas of Central and South America. Note especially the bill shape: Smooth-billed often (but not always) has a taller ridge on the top of the bill, and a sharper angle on the lower edge of the bill. The sides are typically smooth, rarely with weak grooves. Voice is also important: listen for a rising, hawklike whistle with an inflection at the end. Dark eye, size, and habitat help separate from Greater Ani in South America and Panama.
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