Moustached puffbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moustached puffbird |
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| In Manizales, Caldas, Colombia | |
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| Genus: |
Malacoptila
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| Species: |
mystacalis
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The moustached puffbird (Malacoptila mystacalis) is a unique bird known for the white "whiskers" on its face. It belongs to a group of birds called puffbirds, which also includes nunlets and nunbirds. This bird is one of seven types in its genus called Malacoptila. You can find it living in the South American countries of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
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About the Moustached Puffbird
Scientists study how living things are related to each other. The moustached puffbird is considered a single species, meaning all of them are the same type of bird. However, some birds in southwestern Colombia might look a little different. This puffbird is also closely related to the white-whiskered puffbird and the black-streaked puffbird.
What Does It Look Like?
The moustached puffbird is about 20 to 23 centimeters (8 to 9 inches) long. It weighs around 47 to 50 grams (1.7 to 1.8 ounces).
Unlike many other puffbirds, the male and female moustached puffbirds look a bit different. Both sexes have stiff feathers around their large bill. They also have white "whiskers," which are actually tufts of feathers.
- Males: Adult males are dull brown on their upper body. They have white or light brown spots on their back and wing feathers. Their tail is brown with small light brown marks. The area around their eyes is white. Their chin, throat, and chest are reddish-brown, with faint darker stripes on the chest. Their belly is white, and their sides are dull brown with whitish stripes. The bill is black, their eyes are red, and their feet are silvery blue.
- Females: Adult females are grayer on their upper body. They have more noticeable light brown markings and a paler chest with stronger stripes.
- Young Birds: Young moustached puffbirds are darker overall. Their light markings are less clear, and their chest is less reddish-brown.
Where It Lives
The moustached puffbird lives in the Andes mountains. You can find it in northern and northwestern Venezuela, throughout Colombia, and a little bit into northern Ecuador.
This bird mostly lives in the lower parts of humid and wet forests. It can also be found at the edges of forests and in open woodlands. It usually stays within 6 meters (20 feet) of the ground. These birds live at elevations from about 350 meters (1,150 feet) up to 2,100 meters (6,900 feet) above sea level.
Behavior
Feeding Habits
Not much is known about what the moustached puffbird eats or how it finds its food. Scientists are still studying this part of its life.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The moustached puffbird seems to lay its eggs and raise its young between May and August in Venezuela. In Colombia, this period is from February to September.
This bird builds its nest in a hole that it digs into an earth bank. However, other details about how it reproduces are not yet known.
Vocalization
The moustached puffbird's song is described as a "high, thin peeping" sound. This is similar to the songs of other puffbirds in its group.
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has evaluated the moustached puffbird. They have assessed it as being of "Least Concern." This means that the bird's population is not currently in danger.
Even though the exact number of moustached puffbirds is not known, scientists believe its population is stable. There are no immediate threats that have been identified for this species.
