White-fronted Nunbird
Monasa morphoeus
The White-fronted Nunbird (Monasa morphoeus) is a uncommon puffbird found in 10 countries, weighing about 88 g. The white-fronted nunbird is a species of near-passerine bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds.
About the White-fronted Nunbird
The white-fronted nunbird is a species of near-passerine bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The white-fronted nunbird is 21 to 29 cm (8.3 to 11 in) long. Birds in Central America weigh 90 to 101 g (3.2 to 3.6 oz), those in the eastern Amazon 77 to 87 g (2.7 to 3.1 oz), those in Venezuela 63 to 80 g (2.2 to 2.8 oz), and those in Bolivia 80 to 84 g (2.8 to 3.0 oz). The adult of the nominate subspecies is mostly dark grayish black, somewhat grayer on the underparts. Its forehead ("front") and chin are white. Its bill is orange-red, the eye brown, and the legs black. Immatures have a buffy-rufous face and their body feathers have a brownish tinge and edges. Voice: The white-fronted nunbird has a variety of vocalizations. Examples are "a blurred descending whistle with short rippling trill, 'peeeur-r-r-r-r'; also a loud, mournful 'how how how' and various rippling trills, churrs and rattles" and "group choruses of loud gobbling, barking notes".
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Venezuela.
When to see it
The White-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 White-fronted Nunbird?
- The white-fronted nunbird is 21 to 29 cm (8.3 to 11 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-fronted Nunbird?
- The White-fronted Nunbird is a medium sized bird weighing about 88 g.
- Where can you see a White-fronted Nunbird?
- The White-fronted Nunbird occurs in 10 countries, including Peru, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Colombia.
- What birds look similar to a White-fronted Nunbird?
- The White-fronted Nunbird is most easily confused with the Black Nunbird, the Yellow-billed Nunbird and the Black-fronted Nunbird.
- Is the White-fronted Nunbird endangered?
- The White-fronted Nunbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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