Black-fronted Nunbird
Monasa nigrifrons
The Black-fronted Nunbird (Monasa nigrifrons) is a uncommon puffbird found in 6 countries, weighing about 81 g. The black-fronted nunbird is a species of near-passerine bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds.










About the Black-fronted Nunbird
The black-fronted nunbird is a species of near-passerine bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-fronted nunbird is 26 to 29 cm (10 to 11 in) long and weighs 68 to 98 g (2.4 to 3.5 oz). The adult of the nominate subspecies is mostly sooty black that is darkest around the bill (the "front"). The rear part of the body is blue-gray and the tail blue-black. The bill is red, the eye dark, and the legs black. M. n. canescens is slightly paler and grayer than the nominate. The juvenile of both is a dirty slate gray with irregular reddish marks. Voice: The black-fronted nunbird's song is " a rapid series of melodious upslurred 'clerry' or 'curry' whistles, broken by occasional downslurred 'turra turra' trill". It is often sung as a chorus by several birds.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Venezuela.
When to see it
The Black-fronted Nunbird can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-fronted Nunbird?
- The black-fronted nunbird is 26 to 29 cm (10 to 11 in) long and weighs 68 to 98 g (2.4 to 3.5 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-fronted Nunbird?
- The Black-fronted Nunbird is a medium sized bird weighing about 81 g.
- Where can you see a Black-fronted Nunbird?
- The Black-fronted Nunbird occurs in 6 countries, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia.
- What birds look similar to a Black-fronted Nunbird?
- The Black-fronted Nunbird is most easily confused with the White-fronted Nunbird, the Black Nunbird and the Yellow-billed Nunbird.
- Is the Black-fronted Nunbird endangered?
- The Black-fronted Nunbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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