196
PUFFBIRDS (BUCCONIDAE; 5 SPECIES) Neotropical family of forest and forest
edge birds. Ages/sexes similar or slightly different; attain adult appearance in 1st year. Nest in
burrows in ground and termitaries. Often perch quietly for long periods; overlooked easily
unless vocal.
WHITE-WHISKERED PUFFBIRD Malacoptila panamensis 19–20cm. Incon
spicuous, small plump puffbird of humid forest and edge. Singles or pairs perch
quietly at low to mid-levels in shady understory where can be quite confiding,
seeming almost sleepy at times. No similar species in Costa Rica. Male rusty
overall, female colder brown; extent of streaking below and pale spotting above
highly variable. SOUNDS: Song a very high, penetrating, slightly descending
reedy whistle, tsssiiiiiir, about 1 sec, every 5–10 secs. Calls include very high,
short, downslurred whistles and burry clucks. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly
common on both slopes, to 1200m. (Mexico to w. Ecuador.)
*LESSER PIED PUFFBIRD Notharchus [tectus] subtectus 14–15.5cm. Attrac
tive small puffbird of humid lowland forest and edge, adjacent clearings and
second growth with taller trees. In pairs or small groups, usually in canopy where
heard far more easily than seen. Perches upright and sometimes dips tail; sallies
for insects. No similar species in Costa Rica. Juv. browner above with buffy-
white wing edgings, buff wash to face. SOUNDS: Song a rather complex series of
high piping whistles, 8–12 secs duration; initial notes may suggest Rufous-tailed
Jacamar but higher, thinner. Typically a series of ascending notes interspersed
with 2–3-syllable phrases, whieh whieh...whieh’didit whieeeh whie’di-di dieh
dieh...ch-dieh ch-dieh, intensifying and then slowing to end with slightly lower, often disyllabic notes.
STATUS: Uncommon on Caribbean slope, to 1000m. (Nicaragua to w. Ecuador.)
LANCEOLATED MONKLET Micromonacha lanceolata 13–13.5cm. Very small,
cute puffbird of humid foothill forest and edge, adjacent second growth. Feeds
and calls low to high, from roadside shrubs to forest canopy. Easily overlooked
unless vocal, but can be quite confiding. Singly or in pairs, at times associated
loosely with mixed flocks. No similar species in Costa Rica: note white
spectacles, bold black droplet streaks on whitish underparts. SOUNDS: Song a
slightly ascending series of (usually 4–15 or so) upslurred, high penetrating
whistles, easily imitated, sssiiih, sssiiih..., 7–9 secs; increases in tempo and
volume, with notes becoming shorter; repeated every few secs. STATUS: Scarce
on Caribbean slope, 400–1500m. (Costa Rica to S America.)
WHITE-NECKED PUFFBIRD Notharchus hyperrhynchus 24–25.5cm. Dis
tinctive, big-billed inhabitant of lowland forest canopy, from dry forest and
gallery forest to rainforest, plantations; nests in arboreal termitaries. Seen
mainly from edges or overlooks of canopy, as singles or pairs perched on high
and often rather exposed branches of large, emergent trees. Sits still and often
quietly for long periods. No similar species in Costa Rica. SOUNDS: Song a high,
slightly bubbling, slow trill wui-wui..., 3–8 secs; suggests flight song of Great
Black Hawk; at times ends with a few inflected nasal whistles, k’wik k’wik…or
wíki wíki.…STATUS: Uncommon on both slopes, locally to 800m. (Mexico to
S America.)
WHITE-FRONTED NUNBIRD Monasa morphoeus 28–30.5cm. Distinctive
large puffbird of humid lowland forest canopy and edge, adjacent clearings with
trees. Usually in small groups, often associating with mixed flocks that include
caciques, woodcreepers; at times follows groups of monkeys, hoping for prey to
be flushed. Can be loud and conspicuous, at other times perches quietly more
like classic puffbird and overlooked easily. Nothing similar in Costa Rica: note
large size, long tail, bright pinkish-red bill, and bushy white face. SOUNDS: Loud
mellow and rolled whistles, at times in rhythmic duets and ‘gobbling’ choruses
that can go on for minutes. STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon locally on
Caribbean slope, to 800m. (Honduras to S America.)
