White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis)

Identification & Behavior: ~18.7 cm (7.4 in). The White-whiskered puffbird has brown upperparts spotted with buff. The head is rufous brown with a fulvous throat and bib. It shows white poorly defined streaks on the malar area (whiskers). The rest of the underparts are whitish streaked with black. The immature bird is a dull version of the adult. It forages in semi-humid and humid forests in the upper understory. It is distinguished from the Barred Puffbird by streaked underparts, fulvous throat and breast, and white whiskers.

Status: The White-whiskered Puffbirds is rare and restricted to the semi-humid deciduous forest of northwest Peru in the Department of Tumbes. They forage in the forest understory. The White-whiskered Puffbird also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Buco de Bigote Blanco.

Sub-species: White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis poliopis) Sclater, PL, 1862.

Meaning of Name: Malacoptila: Gr. malakos= soft and ptilon= plumage, feather. panamensis: originating from the country of Panama..

See more of the Family Bucconidae