Sooty-capped Puffbird
Bucco noanamae
Handsome puffbird endemic to the lowlands of northwestern Colombia. Note the sizeable bill and wide black breast band. Brown back and dark spots on the chest separate it from other similar puffbirds in range. Inhabits humid forest and mangroves, occasionally venturing into lighter woodland, and perches at low to medium heights. Song is a long series that starts out very fast and then slows down to a steady cadence: “do-wit, do-wit, do-wit…”
Identification
The sooty-capped puffbird is about 18 cm (7.1 in) long. Its crown and nape are blackish to grayish black. It has a bold white supercilium that grays to the rear and a wide black line through and below the eye. Its upperparts and rather short tail are dark brown. It has a white chin, a wide black band across the chest, and a buffy white belly and vent with black scallops. The bill is black, the eye red, and the feet pale gray.
Taxonomy
Some authors placed the sooty-capped puffbird in genus Nystactes during the first half of the 20th century, but it was returned to Bucco by most classifications after that. The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) and the Clements taxonomy retain it there. However, BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World placed it back into Nystactes. To further complicate matters, a 2020 publication proposed that genus Tamatia has precedence over Nystactes. The sooty-capped puffbird and the spotted puffbird (B. tamatia) are closely related and may form a superspecies. The sooty-capped puffbird is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Bucco noanamae
- Authority
- Hellmayr, 1909
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Bucconidae
- Genus
- Bucco
Range and habitat
The sooty-capped puffbird is found only along the coast of Colombia from the Gulf of Urabá south to the San Juan River. It inhabits humid and wet primary and secondary forest and nearby unforested areas. It also occurs in scrublands. In all areas it tends to stay low in the vegetation. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 100 m (330 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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