White-necked Puffbird

The White-necked Puffbird, Notharchus hyperrhynchus, presents a striking figure with its glossy black plumage contrasted by a broad white forehead, throat, upper breast, and most of the belly. A black band separates the white regions, and a black stripe extends from the beak to the crown, intersecting a dark red eye. The nape is encircled by a continuation of the white throat. The lower flanks exhibit black and white barring, and the tail is black with white-tipped feathers. This bird is notable for its very large bill and black feet, with a body length of about 25 cm (9.8 in) and a weight ranging from 81 to 106 g (2.9 to 3.7 oz).

Identification Tips

To identify the White-necked Puffbird, look for the distinctive white and black coloration, the large bill, and the red eye. The two subspecies can be differentiated by bill length, with N. h. paraensis sporting an exceptionally long bill.

Habitat

The White-necked Puffbird is adaptable, inhabiting a range of environments from semi-open secondary forests and primary forest edges to open woodlands, savannas, clearings, and even plantations. It thrives from the forest floor to the canopy and is often found near mangroves and terra firme forests.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed, with the nominate subspecies found from southern Mexico through Central America to northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela, and in separate populations in southwestern Colombia, western Ecuador, central Colombia, eastern Ecuador and Peru, northern Bolivia, and eastern Venezuela into Amazonian Brazil. The subspecies N. h. paraensis is endemic to the Amazon River valley in the Brazilian state of Pará.

Behaviour

The White-necked Puffbird is a solitary hunter, often perching openly as it scans for prey. It dives to capture insects and other small invertebrates, sometimes investigating army ant swarms, and is known to consume some fruits. It has been observed beating its catch against a perch before consumption.

Song & calls

The bird's vocal repertoire includes a long bubbling trill of constant or slightly varying pitch, a descending whistle, and a quiet growl. These sounds can be heard echoing through its habitat, adding to the rich tapestry of the forest soundscape.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary by region but typically fall between March and September. Both sexes partake in excavating a nest, often in an arboreal termite nest or rotting tree, at varying heights. Documented clutches usually contain two eggs.

Similar Species

The White-necked Puffbird can be confused with the Buff-bellied Puffbird (N. swainsoni) and the Guianan Puffbird (N. macrorhynchus), but can be distinguished by its unique coloration and bill size.

Diet and Feeding

Its diet is primarily composed of insects, supplemented by small invertebrates and occasional fruits. There is a record of predation on a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl).

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the White-necked Puffbird as Least Concern, with a large range and a population estimated to be over 500,000 mature individuals, though there is a belief that the numbers are in decline.