Copyright: monacoeye • Rio Azul Lodge, Brazil, Sep 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Swallow Winged Puffbird
Latin: Chelidoptera tenebrosa
Other: Swallow-wing • Urubuzinho (Br) • Buco golondrina (Es), chacurú golondrina, monjita culiblanca, aguantasol
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds
Range: Amazonia: Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Guyanas; E Brazil
Similar:

There were a good number of Swallow-winged Puffbirds near the cabins at Rio Azul Lodge, in Para, Brazil, mostly visible around midday, often on telephone wires. This Amazonian bird burrows in the ground and can be seen throwing sand out of its burrow (photo below). Not too shy at midday.

Swallow-winged Puffbirds are often referred to by the name Swallow-wings. They are mostly blackish, with a red patch on the lower belly and white vent and underwings. The Brazilian name is Urubuzinho, which means little vulture.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Anaconda Island, March • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Fronted Nunbird
Latin: Monasa nigrifrons
Other: Monja frentinegra (Es) • Chora-chuva-preto (Br)
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds, Nunbirds
Range: Amazonian Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru. And E Brazil.
Similar:

Small groups of calm Black-fronted Nunbirds were quite easy to observe on disembarkation on Anaconda Island, in the Upper Napo region, and then again near the raised habitations. They have bright orange bills and black plumage. In Ecuador they live in the Amazonian Oriente region.More photos...

Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Ecuador, October 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Pied Puffbird
Latin: Notharchus tectus
Other: Buco Pinto (Es) • Macuru-pintado (Br)
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador through Amazonia to Brazil
Similar:

Many thanks to Tom for the great photo above of a Pied Puffbird, in Ecuador. With white spotting to crown, and larger black band.

In Panama, the Pied Puffbird has a narrow black collar and white-tipped tail, differentiating it from other Notarchus Puffirds. More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Semaphore Hill, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Breasted Puffbird
Latin: Notharchus pectoralis
Other:
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds
Range: Panama, Colmbia, NW Ecuador

This Black-breasted Puffbird was seen here on Semaphore Hill, the approach road to the Canopy Tower, sitting patiently on a bough overlooking the road. He was still there when I left.

Black-breasted Puffbirds have a broad black band across the chest which connects up to the eye, and white throat, differentiating them from other similar Puffbirds.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pipeline Rd, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Whiskered Puffbird
Latin: Malacoptila panamensis
Other: Buco bigotiblanco (Es)
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds
Range: SE Mexico through to Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, W Ecuador
Similar:

We saw a couple of White-whiskered Puffbirds while in Panama. They don’t move around much so are relatively easy to photograph.

These were on Semaphore Hill, near Canopy Tower, and Pipeline Road in the canal zone of central Panama.

They have conspicuous white whiskers around the bill, red irises, and a streaked underparts and tawny chest. The lower half of the bill is light yellowish green.

See comments below for an individual in Silanche, NW Ecuador.More photos...

101 Bucconidae • Puffbirds - IOC 2.5 2010

The jacamars (Galbulidae), and puffbirds, (Bucconidae), are sister taxa in Piciformes, rather than Galbuliformes

Notharchus hyperrhynchus - White-necked Puffbird - El Salvador to NE Argentina - split from N. macrorhynchos
Notharchus macrorhynchos - Guianan Puffbird - Guianas, N Brazil - new name
Notharchus swainsoni - Buff-bellied Puffbird - SE South America
Notharchus pectoralis - Black-breasted Puffbird - Panama to NW Ecuador
Notharchus ordii - Brown-banded Puffbird - N, W, SW Amazonia
Notharchus tectus - Pied Puffbird - Costa Rica through Amazonia

Bucco macrodactylus - Chestnut-capped Puffbird - W, C Amazonia
Bucco tamatia - Spotted Puffbird - Amazonia
Bucco noanamae - Sooty-capped Puffbird - W Colombia
Bucco capensis - Collared Puffbird - Amazonia

Nystalus radiatus - Barred Puffbird - Panama to W Ecuador
Nystalus chacuru - White-eared Puffbird - C, E South America
Nystalus striolatus - Striolated Puffbird - W, SW, E Amazonia
Nystalus maculatus - Caatinga Puffbird - NE, C Brazil
Nystalus striatipectus - Chaco Puffbird - SC South America - N. maculatus in Brasil; possible Spot-backed Puffbird

Hypnelus ruficollis - Russet-throated Puffbird - NE Colombia, Venezuela - includes ssp bicinctus

Malacoptila striata - Crescent-chested Puffbird - NE & SE Brazil
Malacoptila fusca - White-chested Puffbird - N, NW Amazonia
Malacoptila semicincta - Semicollared Puffbird - W Amazonia
Malacoptila fulvogularis - Black-streaked Puffbird - C Colombia to NW Bolivia
Malacoptila rufa - Rufous-necked Puffbird - S, C Amazonia
Malacoptila panamensis - White-whiskered Puffbird - SE Mexico to W Ecuador
Malacoptila mystacalis - Moustached Puffbird - Colombia, Venezuela

Micromonacha lanceolata - Lanceolated Monklet - Costa Rica to N Bolivia

Nonnula rubecula - Rusty-breasted Nunlet - Amazonia, SE Brazil
Nonnula sclateri - Fulvous-chinned Nunlet - W Amazonia
Nonnula brunnea - Brown Nunlet - NW Amazonia
Nonnula frontalis - Grey-cheeked Nunlet - Panama, Colombia
Nonnula ruficapilla - Rufous-capped Nunlet - W, S Amazonia
Nonnula amaurocephala - Chestnut-headed Nunlet - NW Brazil

Hapaloptila castanea - White-faced Nunbird - W Colombia, C Ecuador, NW Peru

Monasa atra - Black Nunbird - N Amazonia
Monasa nigrifrons - Black-fronted Nunbird - S, W Amazonia, C South America
Monasa morphoeus - White-fronted Nunbird - Honduras to Amazonia, SE Brazil
Monasa flavirostris - Yellow-billed Nunbird - W Amazonia

Chelidoptera tenebrosa - Swallow-winged Puffbird - Amazonia, E Brazil