- Malacoptila panamensis
Identification
18 cm. Bristles around the base of the large bill, and white “whiskers”, actually tufts of feathers. Pale brown upperparts and tail, cinnamon spotting on wings and crown, cinnamon-buff underparts, streaked darker, and becoming paler moving down the body to the almost white vent area. The female has a greyer brown back and darker streaks on the paler underparts. Young birds are like the female but have barring on the upperparts and narrower streaks on the underparts.
Distribution
Southeastern Mexico to central Ecuador.
Taxonomy
Four subspecies are recognized:[1] inornata (fuliginosa), panamensis, poliopis, and magdalenae
Habitat
Forests, shady plantations, especially of cocoa, and old second growth in lowlands and foothills.
Behaviour
- Breeding: It nests in a 15-55 cm long, 6 cm diameter burrow in, usually, gently sloping ground. The wider nesting chamber is lined with dried leaves. 2, rarely 3, glossy white eggs are laid; both sexes incubate the eggs and feed the young.
- Diet: Includes large insects, spiders, small frogs or lizards.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) White-whiskered Puffbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/White-whiskered_Puffbird
