Nystalus striolatus
The Eastern Striolated Puffbird, *Nystalus striolatus*, is a captivating member of the Bucconidae family, known for its cryptic plumage and "sit-and-wait" predatory style. This medium-sized bird typically measures 19-21 cm (7.5-8.3 inches) in length, exhibiting a plump body, a large head, and a relatively short tail. Its distinctive coloration includes dark brown upperparts heavily streaked with buff or rufous, contrasting with paler, whitish to buff underparts that are also densely streaked ...
Found in humid lowland tropical and subtropical forests, preferring forest edges, secondary growth, open woodlands, and várzea forests. Typically inhabits elevations up to 1,200 meters (3,900 feet).
Primarily consumes insects such as grasshoppers, cicadas, beetles, and moths, along with other arthropods. Occasionally takes small vertebrates like lizards, caught by sallying from a perch.
The Eastern Striolated Puffbird is a diurnal species, spending much of its active hours in a solitary or paired state, often perching motionless for extended periods. Its primary foraging strategy is that of a "sit-and-wait" insectivore, where it observes its surroundings from a favored perch on ...
The Eastern Striolated Puffbird is a resident species primarily found throughout the eastern Amazon Basin in South America. Its extensive breeding range encompasses a significant portion of Brazil, stretching from the states of Maranhão and Pará westward across Amazonas and Rondônia. The species ...
Least Concern
- Its intricately streaked plumage provides exceptional camouflage, allowing it to blend seamlessly with tree bark and dead branches. - Puffbirds, despite their name, are not related to true 'puffins' but are instead part of the order Piciformes, which includes woodpeckers and jacamars. - They ar...