The Guianan puffbird is a species of bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the white-necked puffbird and the buff-bellied puffbird with the English name "white-necked puffbird".
Region
Guiana Shield and northern Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs from eastern Venezuela through Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana into northern Brazil. It inhabits humid lowland evergreen forest, terra firme, and tall secondary forest, often along rivers and forest edges. The species favors high exposed perches in the mid- to upper canopy and clearings with scattered tall trees. It tolerates light disturbance but avoids open savannas and heavily deforested landscapes.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This large-billed puffbird perches motionless high in the canopy, then dashes out to snatch prey in quick sallies. It was split from the former “white-necked puffbird” complex, with identification hinging on range and subtle plumage and bill details. Like several puffbirds, it often excavates nests in arboreal termite mounds or rotting tree cavities.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between high perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen alone or in pairs, sitting quietly for long periods before making rapid sallies. Pairs maintain territories year-round and cooperate in nesting. Nests are typically excavated in arboreal termite nests or rotting wood cavities, with both sexes sharing incubation and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives clear, far-carrying whistles, often a descending series or paired notes. Calls are resonant and penetrating, delivered from high exposed perches, especially at dawn.
Plumage
Glossy black upperparts with a crisp white collar and clean white underparts; tail often shows pale tips. Feathers appear smooth and sleek, giving a sharp contrast between dark back and white throat and belly.
Diet
Feeds mainly on large arthropods such as beetles, grasshoppers, mantids, and spiders. It also occasionally takes small vertebrates like lizards or frogs. Prey is captured by sallying from an elevated perch, followed by a brief return to the same or a nearby lookout.
Preferred Environment
Most often hunts from mid- to upper-canopy perches at forest edges, along rivers, and in light gaps. Will also work along tall snags in secondary forests and selectively logged areas with retained emergent trees.
