Brown-banded Puffbird
NameBrown-banded Puffbird
Common NameBrown-banded Puffbird
Scientific NameNotharchus ordii
FamilyBucconidae
Wingspan (cm)32
Length (cm)19
Weight (g)45
Plumage DetailsBlack crown and eye-mask, contrasting with a broad white collar and throat. Upperparts are glossy black with distinct white spots on the wing coverts. A prominent broad black band crosses the chest, below which the flanks are rufous-brown and the belly is white with dark mottling.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations are generally soft, consisting of whistles and trills, often described as a soft, descending 'peee-ew' or a series of soft, high-pitched notes.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the Amazon basin, including parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas. It prefers humid lowland forests.
Identifying Featuresblack crown and eye-mask, broad white collar and throat, glossy black upperparts with white wing spots, prominent broad black chest band, rufous-brown flanks
Description
This medium-sized puffbird has a striking black and white head pattern, a broad black chest band, and dark upperparts with white spots. It is a sit-and-wait predator, often perching motionless for long periods to ambush insects in the forest understory.
