White-necked Puffbird (Notharchus macrorhynchus)

White-necked Puffbird (Notharchus macrorhynchus)

Guajará-Mirim, Rondônia, , Brazil
March 2003

Puffbirds are a tropical New World family of birds looking superficially a bit like kingfishers. They perch quietly for long periods between feeding.

This characteristic is reflected in its scientific genus name of Notharchus derived from the Greek nothes meaning sluggish and arkhos meaning chief or prince. Interestingly, this is partly reflected in its Brazilian name "Capitão do Mato" or "Commander of the Forest" - a more elegant name than the Spanish name for the same bird of "Juan Bobo" or "Silly John"

The White-necked Puffbird is one of the largest at 25 cms (10") and is noted for its white forehead and its broad black breast band.

It is found in forest borders and secondary growth from southern Mexico to southern Brazil. The extensive white on the forehead of the bird in this photo shows it to be a member of the sub-species N. m. hyperrhynchus.

There are illustrations in HBW, Volume 7, Pages 106 and 124; and in Hilty & Brown, Plate 19.

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