 There are 35 species in this family. They are found from Mexico to South America.
Puffbirds are tropical birds, but they are not brightly colored. They are usually brown or gray. They get their name because their loosely packed feathers make them look puffy.
Puffbirds have large heads and flattened bills with a hooked tip. They eat insects and small invertebrates. they range in size from 5-11.5 inches.
Puffbirds lay their eggs in a hole in the ground.
 Bucconidae Photo Gallery
World Status Key
 Least Concern  Near Threatened  Vulnerable  Endangered  Critically Endangered  Extinct in Wild  Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.
US Status Key
 Threatened in US  Threatened in NH  Endangered in US  Endangered in NH  Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game
Additional Information
Key:  Profile  Photos  Video  Audio
Barred Puffbird - Nystalus radiatus  
The barred puffbird is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-breasted Puffbird - Notharchus pectoralis
The black-breasted puffbird is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black Nunbird - Monasa atra
The black nunbird is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black Nunbird - Monasa atra
The black nunbird is black with white to gray edges on its wings.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-fronted Nunbird - Monasa nigrifrons
The black-fronted nunbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-fronted Nunbird - Monasa nigrifrons
The black-fronted nunbird is the largest member of the puffbird family.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-streaked Puffbird - Malacoptila fulvogularis
The black-streaked puffbird is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Brown-banded Puffbird - Notharchus ordii
The brown-banded puffbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Brown-banded Puffbird - Notharchus ordii
The brown-banded puffbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.
Source: South American Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Brown Nunlet - Nonnula brunnea
The brown nunlet is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Buff-bellied Puffbird - Notharchus swainsoni
The buff-bellied puffbird has a rusty-red breast, a black cap and a white throat.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Buff-bellied Puffbird - Notharchus swainsoni
The buff-bellied puffbird is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Source: South American Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Chestnut-capped Puffbird - Bucco macrodactylus
The chestnut-capped puffbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Chestnut-capped Puffbird - Bucco macrodactylus
The chestnut-capped puffbird has an reddish-orange cap and a white eye-stripe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Collared Puffbird - Bucco capensis
The collared puffbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Collared Puffbird - Bucco capensis
The collared puffbird has a bright orange bill and orange feet and eyes.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Crescent-chested Puffbird - Malacoptila striata
The crescent-chested puffbird is found in Brazil and Colombia .
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Crescent-chested Puffbird - Malacoptila striata
The crescent-chested puffbird is found in the interior of humid forests.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Gray-cheeked Nunlet - Nonnula frontalis
The gray-cheeked nunlet is found in Colombia and Panama.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Lanceolated Monklet - Micromonacha lanceolata
The lanceolated monklet is native to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Lanceolated Monklet - Micromonacha lanceolata
The lanceolated monklet is found in subtropical and tropical forests.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Moustached Puffbird - Malacoptila mystacalis
The moustached puffbird is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Pied Puffbird - Notharchus tectus
The pied puffbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Pied Puffbird - Notharchus tectus
At only six inches in length, the pied puffbird is one of the smaller puffbirds.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Rusty-breasted Nunlet - Nonnula rubecula
The rusty-breasted nunlet is found in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Rufous-capped Nunlet - Nonnula ruficapilla
The rufous-capped nunlet is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Rufous-necked Puffbird - Malacoptila rufa
The rufous-necked puffbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Russet-throated Puffbird - Hypnelus ruficollis
The russet-throated puffbird is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Rusty-breasted Nunlet - Nonnula rubecula
The rusty-breasted nunlet is found in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Semicollared Puffbird - Malacoptila semicincta
The semicollared puffbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Spot-backed Puffbird - Nystalus maculatus
The spot-backer puffbird is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Spot-backed Puffbird - Nystalus maculatus
The spot-backed puffbird builds its nest either by excavating in a bank or on flat ground.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Spotted Puffbird - Bucco tamatia
The spotted puffbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Spotted Puffbird - Bucco tamatia
The spotted puffbird has a black bill, red eyes, and an orange forehead, throat and upper chest.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Striolated Puffbird - Nystalus striolatus
The striolated puffbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Striolated Puffbird - Nystalus striolatus
The striolated puffbird is found in forest edges.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Swallow-winged Puffbird - Chelidoptera tenebrosa
The swallow-winged puffbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Swallow-winged Puffbird - Chelidoptera tenebrosa
The swallow-winged puffbird is usually seen perched on trees by rivers and lakes waiting to capture insects.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-chested Puffbird - Malacoptila fusca
The white-chested puffbird is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-eared Puffbird - Nystalus chacuru
The white-eared puffbird is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-eared Puffbird - Nystalus chacuru
The white-eared puffbird has a bright orange-red bill and white patches over its ears.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-faced Nunbird - Hapaloptila castanea
The white-faced nunbird is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-fronted Nunbird - Monasa morphoeus
The white-fronted nunbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-fronted Nunbird - Monasa morphoeus
The white-fronted nunbird is gray to black with a white forehead and chin.
Source: Birds of South America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-necked Puffbird - Notharchus hyperrhynchus
The white-necked puffbird is found in Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-necked Puffbird - Notharchus hyperrhynchus
The white-necked puffbird has a white forehead and a broad black breast band.
Source: South American Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-whiskered Puffbird - Malacoptila panamensis
The white-whiskered puffbird is found in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Yellow-billed Nunbird - Monasa flavirostris
The yellow-billed nunbird is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
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There are 35 species in this family. They are found from Mexico to South America.
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NH Species