Bird Guide

Russet-throated Puffbird vs Two-banded Puffbird

Russet-throated Puffbird (Hypnelus ruficollis)

Russet-throated Puffbird

Hypnelus ruficollis

Small50 gForest

The russet-throated puffbird is 20 to 22 cm (7.9 to 8.7 in) long and weighs 41 to 57 g (1.4 to 2.0 oz). The adult of the nominate subspecies has a dark brown crown with pale brown spots, a reddish spot just over the bill, a white patch around the eye and on the cheek, and a black patch below and behind the white one. The nape has a narrow buffy or white collar. The upperparts are dull brown with grayish mottling while the closed wing is dull brown with buffy "scales". The tail is long and dark brown with thin pale edges to the feathers. Voice: The russet-throated puffbird's song is "repeated rhythmic 'woduk' notes in crescendo for up to 20 seconds, then diminishing". It is usually sung at dawn and often by both members of a pair. They also make a "seeeeep" call.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Russet-throated Puffbird
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · Song · Sarare (near Gamelotal), Simón Planas, Lara, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Fernando Flores · CC BY 3.0
Two-banded Puffbird (Hypnelus bicinctus)

Two-banded Puffbird

Hypnelus bicinctus

Small50 gForest

The adult of the nominate subspecies of two-banded puffbird has a dark brown crown with pale brown spots, a buffy patch from the bill to the eye, a whitish patch on the cheek, and a black patch below and behind the white one. The nape has a narrow whitish collar. The upperparts are dull brown with whitish mottling while the closed wing is dull brown with whitish scallops. The tail is long and dark brown with thin pale edges to the feathers. The chin is whitish and the throat and upper breast reddish buff. Under them are two black bands across the chest. Voice: The two-banded puffbird's song is "a rhythmic repeated 'tak-ta-tóoo'" and its call "a croaking note, surpisingly loud" that is sometimes given in flight.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Two-banded Puffbird
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · Song · Sarare (near Gamelotal), Simón Planas, Lara, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Andrés Rodríguez · Public domain

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Russet-throated Puffbird and Two-banded Puffbird.