The collared puffbird is a species of bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
Amazon Basin and the Guianas
Typical Environment
Occupies lowland evergreen and seasonally flooded (várzea) forests across northern South America, including the Guianas and much of the Amazon Basin. Uses primary forest as well as mature secondary growth, edges, and riparian corridors. Typically forages in the shaded midstory and lower canopy, avoiding very open habitats. Local presence can be patchy but it is widespread where suitable forest remains.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Collared puffbirds are sit-and-wait predators that perch motionless for long periods in the forest midstory before sallying to snatch prey. They often go unnoticed despite their size, but their mellow, whistled calls carry far through the forest. Pairs may nest in arboreal termite nests or cavities, excavating their own tunnels.
Temperament
solitary and sedentary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief direct flights
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, often remaining perched quietly for long periods. Territorial duets may be given by pairs, especially at dawn. Nests are typically excavated in arboreal termite nests or cavities, where both parents participate in incubation and care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives mellow, clear whistles, often in a slow series that carries through dense forest. Calls can sound plaintive or fluty and are most frequent at dawn and dusk.
Plumage
Warm rufous-brown upperparts with a contrasting white throat and a bold black collar across the upper breast; underparts buffy to cinnamon. Wings and tail show fine dark barring. Feathers appear smooth and plush, giving a chunky, big-headed look typical of puffbirds.
Diet
Primarily hunts large insects such as orthopterans, beetles, and caterpillars, taken in quick sallies from a perch. Also consumes spiders and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards or frogs. Prey is often struck against a perch before being swallowed.
Preferred Environment
Forages from shaded midstory perches inside primary and mature secondary forest, along edges, and near streams. Often hunts from the same perch for several minutes before moving to a new vantage point.
