The fulvous-chinned nunlet is a species of near-passerine bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
Region
Southwestern Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland evergreen forests of southwestern Amazonia, including terra firme and seasonally flooded (várzea) habitats. Favors dense, shaded understory along forest edges, river margins, and bamboo thickets. Typically perches 1–5 m above ground on horizontal branches, making short sallies to capture prey. It is found patchily across northern Bolivia, western Brazil (Acre, Amazonas), and southeastern Peru.
Altitude Range
100–800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small puffbird of the Amazonian understory, the fulvous-chinned nunlet sits motionless on low perches and darts out to snatch insects. Its distinctive buffy (fulvous) chin contrasts with otherwise warm brown plumage. It often keeps to dense thickets, including bamboo, making it easy to overlook despite being fairly widespread in parts of Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
Temperament
solitary and quiet
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, maintaining small territories in dense understory. Nests are believed to be burrows excavated in earthen banks or termitaria, with both parents participating. They spend long periods perched motionless, punctuated by short foraging sallies.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, whistled series delivered from low perches, often a gentle descending sequence. Calls include thin, piping notes and soft trills that carry poorly through dense foliage.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with rufescent underparts and a contrasting buff (fulvous) chin and throat. Crown and face are dusky brown, with subtle paler edging on the throat and breast. Feathers appear smooth and compact, giving a neat, rounded look typical of puffbirds.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small arthropods such as beetles, orthopterans, ants, and spiders. Captures prey by sallying from low perches and by hover-gleaning from leaves and vines. Occasionally takes small berries, but animal prey dominates.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the shaded understory of terra firme and river-edge forests, often near clearings, trails, or bamboo stands. Prefers areas with abundant perches and dense cover where it can remain concealed.
