Nonnula brunnea
The Brown Nunlet (*Nonnula brunnea*) is a charmingly unobtrusive member of the Bucconidae family, commonly known as puffbirds. This diminutive species, measuring approximately 14-15 cm (5.5-6 inches) in length and weighing around 16-21 grams, is characterized by its predominantly plain brown upperparts and creamy-white underparts, often with a faint buff wash across the breast. Its most distinctive field mark is a prominent white loral streak extending above the eye, contrasting sharply with ...
Found in the understory of humid lowland primary forests, the Brown Nunlet typically inhabits areas with dense vegetation and minimal disturbance, generally occurring at elevations below 1,000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, the Brown Nunlet feeds on a variety of arthropods, including beetles, grasshoppers, and butterflies, typically captured by sallying from a perch.
Brown Nunlets are largely diurnal, exhibiting a solitary or pair-based existence, often remaining motionless on a low perch for long periods, characteristic of their sit-and-wait foraging strategy. They sally out swiftly to catch flying insects or glean prey from foliage, returning to their perch...
The Brown Nunlet is a resident species found across the western Amazon Basin of South America. Its breeding range extends from eastern Colombia, through eastern Ecuador and northeastern Peru, into western Brazil (south of the Amazon River) and northern Bolivia. There are no significant migratory ...
Least Concern
- Despite being related to the flamboyant toucans and busy woodpeckers (both in the order Piciformes), the Brown Nunlet is remarkably cryptic and often observed sitting still for extended periods. - Its scientific name *Nonnula brunnea* literally translates to "little nun brown," referring to its...