Black-streaked Puffbird
Malacoptila fulvogularis
Elegant medium-sized bird found in the mid-story of humid montane forest. Has a large head and a chunky body, with a fluffy appearance. Dark brown, with extensive bold white streaking throughout the head and body, though its wings are only lightly streaked. Look also for its buffy tan throat and white facial crescent shown on some individuals. Found singly or in pairs, and will usually remain quite still as it is perched, occasionally sallying out to go after prey. Usually found on its own, but occasionally joins mixed-species flocks. Listen for a piercing, high, slightly descending whistle.
Identification
The black-streaked puffbird is 19 to 22 cm (7.5 to 8.7 in) long and weighs about 65 g (2.3 oz). Its head is blackish with thin white streaks and a white spot in front of the eye. Its upperparts are dark brown with thin white streaks on the shoulder becoming buffy triangles on the back. The wings are brown with buffy scallops on the coverts and the tail is solid brown. The throat and upper breast are ochraceous; the lower breast, upper belly, and flanks are striped black and white; and the center of the belly is unmarked dingy whitish. The bill is black, the eye carmine with a white ring around it, and the feet dark.
Taxonomy
The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) treats the black-streaked puffbird as monotypic. However, the Clements taxonomy and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) assign three subspecies, the nominate M. f. fulvogularis, M. f. huilae, and M. f. substriata.
- Scientific name
- Malacoptila fulvogularis
- Authority
- Sclater, PL, 1854
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Bucconidae
- Genus
- Malacoptila
Range and habitat
The black-streaked puffbird is resident on the east slope of the Andes from Colombia through Ecuador and Peru into northwestern Bolivia. "M. f. fulvogularis" occurs from Ecuador south. "M. f. huilae" occurs in the upper Magdalena river valley of south central Colombia. "M. f. substriata" occurs on the east slope of Colombia's Eastern Andes. The species inhabits the understory of several forest types including humid primary and montane forest and open woodland; in Bolivia it also occurs in dry and semi-deciduous forest. In elevation it ranges from 500 to 2,300 m (1,600 to 7,500 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The black-streaked puffbird hunts from a perch in the lower or middle strata of the forest; it makes sallies from there to capture its invertebrate prey from branches and leaves. It sometimes follows army ant swarms and joins mixed-species foraging flocks.<p>No information on the black-streaked puffbird's breeding phenology has been published.<p>The black-streaked puffbird's song is "a very high-pitched ascending whistle, lasting under 4 seconds."
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-throated Wren-Babbler
Turdinus atrigularis
Uncommon wren-babbler of Bornean lowland and foothill forests. Like most other wren-babblers, secretive and difficult to locate as it forages on the ground, usually in small groups. Best detected by its song, which takes two forms. “Short song” is a repetitive series of ten or so clear, hooting whistles, while “long song” can be up to three or four times the length and interspersed with more rising and falling notes. Duetting birds will often add an additional song element, a mellow rolling series of notes along the lines of “dee-dee-dee-da-doo-da-dih-doo.” If seen, note black throat, pale bluish-gray patch behind the eye, black-edged streaking with a “scaly” appearance, and chestnut wings.
Planalto Tapaculo
Scytalopus pachecoi
Small, nondescript bird that is usually very difficult to spot. Mostly dark gray with a cinnamon vent with dark bars. Females are browner. Occurs in primary forests and old second growth, including Araucaria forest with dense understory; especially fond of areas with terrestrial bromeliads. The song is a very long and monotonous repetition of a single note.
Large-tailed Nightjar
Caprimulgus macrurus
An intricately patterned nocturnal bird, usually found roosting on the ground or a low branch in open forest, secondary growth, and cultivated areas. Brownish gray overall, with a rich brown ear patch and chestnut-and-black dappled wings. Exposes bright white tail corners when flushed. Sometimes found in parks and gardens, where it hawks for insects below street lamps. Song a repeated, soft “tok tok tok,” somewhat recalling the sound of a car's locking sounds.
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