Western Striolated Puffbird
Nystalus obamai
The eastern striolated puffbird is 19.8 to 21 cm (7.8 to 8.3 in) long and weighs 43 to 47 g (1.5 to 1.7 oz). Its crown is dark brown with rufous spots and bars, blackish toward the rear. Its hindneck has a broad buffy collar. Below that is a blackish band and the rest of the upperparts are dark brown with reddish buff spots and (at the rear) bars. The tail is narrow and blackish brown with thin rufous bars. The face has a white spot in front of the eye; the rest of the face is buffy with fine dusky streaks. Voice: The western striolated puffbird's song is "a soft, sad whistle, whip, whi-wheeu, wheeeeeuu, with distinctive cadence, first rising, then falling after short pause." The song is typically given shortly after dawn or just before dusk. Often the male sings first and is quickly followed by the female at a slightly lower pitch.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
White-eared Puffbird
Nystalus chacuru
Like some other puffbirds, the white-eared puffbird is a round, plump bird with a very narrow tail. The head is relatively large, with a dark brown barred crown, and an orange, black-tipped bill. The sit-and-wait feeding strategy, for insects or opportunistic prey, may explain this body shape. The bird has a medium-brown back and wings, with dark rufous speckles and bars; white and black flecked on the breast. The upper breast is white, extending to a narrow-to-medium white collar around the neck.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Western Striolated Puffbird and White-eared Puffbird.