About the Spot-backed Puffbird
The spot-backed puffbird is a species of bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found in South America from northeastern Brazil to northwestern Argentina. The spot-backed puffbird has sometimes been split into two species, the Caatinga puffbird and the Chaco puffbird.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The spot-backed puffbird is 18 to 19 cm (7.1 to 7.5 in) long and weighs 32 to 38 g (1.1 to 1.3 oz). It has a dark brown crown with bold buffy spangles and a pale rufous collar on the hindneck. Its upperparts and wing coverts are dark brown with buffy spangles and bars. The long, narrow, tail has broad black and narrow buffy bars. The face is mostly off-white with dusky streaks that are darker to the rear; it has a buffy supercilium. The chin is white and the throat, upper breast, and sides of the neck are orange-red.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Spot-backed Puffbird sounds like
Where the Spot-backed Puffbird lives
When to see the Spot-backed Puffbird
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
White-eared PuffbirdNystalus chacuruLike some other puffbirds, the white-eared puffbird is a round, plump bird with a very narrow tail.
Barred PuffbirdNystalus radiatusThe barred puffbird is about 22 cm (8.7 in) long and weighs about 63 g (2.2 oz).
Western Striolated PuffbirdNystalus obamaiThe 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).
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