Buff-bellied puffbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buff-bellied puffbird |
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Notharchus
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swainsoni
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The buff-bellied puffbird (Notharchus swainsoni) is a special kind of bird. It belongs to a family called Bucconidae, which includes puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. You can find this bird living in parts of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
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About the Buff-bellied Puffbird
Its Scientific Name and Family
For a long time, scientists thought the buff-bellied puffbird was the same as two other types of puffbirds. These were the white-necked puffbird and the Guianan puffbird. But now, after more study, they know it's a unique species all on its own. This means it's the only bird of its kind.
What Does It Look Like?
The buff-bellied puffbird is about 23.5 centimeters (9.3 inches) long. It weighs around 72 to 75.6 grams (2.5 to 2.7 ounces).
Here are some of its features:
- Its head and back are black. They have a shiny green look and soft, buff-colored edges on the feathers.
- It has a thin white stripe on its forehead.
- Its throat and upper chest are also white.
- The sides of its face and a thin band around its neck are grayish-white.
- A wide black band separates its white upper chest from its belly.
- Its belly is a pretty buff or light reddish-brown color.
- The sides of its body are gray.
- Its eyes can be straw-colored, brown, or even red!
Where Does It Live?
You can find the buff-bellied puffbird in several places. It lives in eastern Paraguay and a small part of northeastern Argentina. In Brazil, it lives in the southeastern areas, from Bahia and Espírito Santo states all the way south to Santa Catarina.
This bird usually stays in the same area all year in Argentina. However, it might move to São Paulo state in Brazil during the southern summer. It likes to live in warm, wet forests. These can be old, untouched forests or newer forests that have grown back.
How the Buff-bellied Puffbird Behaves
What Does It Eat?
The buff-bellied puffbird is a clever hunter. It often sits high up on a bare branch. From there, it quickly flies out to catch its food. It mostly eats insects, but sometimes it also catches small animals. It even enjoys some fruits! These birds are also known to follow army ant swarms. They look for insects that are trying to escape the ants.
How Does It Make a Home?
In the southern parts of its home range, the buff-bellied puffbird builds its nest in September and October. We don't know much about its breeding season in other areas. It digs a nest hole inside a termitarium (a termite nest) that is built in a tree. Most of what we know about their nesting comes from one research paper.
What Does Its Song Sound Like?
The buff-bellied puffbird has a special song. It's a series of whistles that go down in pitch. The rhythm can change, but it often sounds like "ui-ui---dibule-dibule..."
Its Status in the Wild
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the buff-bellied puffbird. They have decided it is a species of "Least Concern." This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.
The bird lives across a fairly large area. Even though we don't know exactly how many there are, scientists believe its population is stable. This bird has even seemed to spread its range in Brazil since the year 2000. It also lives in several protected areas, which helps keep it safe.
