Nonnula frontalis
The Grey-cheeked Nunlet (Nonnula frontalis) is a diminutive, often inconspicuous member of the puffbird family (Bucconidae), characterized by its somewhat drab yet distinctive plumage. Measuring approximately 13-14 cm (5-5.5 inches) in length and weighing around 15-20 grams, this small bird exhibits a dark grey crown and contrasting grey cheeks, set against a pristine white throat patch. Its back is a muted olive-brown, while the underparts glow with a rich rufous, creating a subtle but appea...
Found in lowland humid forests, primarily terra firme and mature secondary growth, often near watercourses, typically at elevations below 1,000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of arthropods captured through aerial sallies from a perch or gleaning from foliage.
The Grey-cheeked Nunlet is an exceptionally sedentary and inconspicuous bird, often perching motionless for extended periods in the forest understory, making it notoriously difficult to detect. Its daily activity is primarily focused on foraging, employing a classic "sally-glean" or "sally-strike...
The Grey-cheeked Nunlet inhabits the lowland humid forests of the western Amazon basin, with its distribution spanning southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and western Amazonian Brazil. Primarily found in terra firme forest, it also occurs in mature secondary growth...
Least Concern
- The genus name "Nonnula" is derived from Latin, meaning "little nun," a fitting description for its quiet, often solitary, and rather demure demeanor. - Despite its name, the Grey-cheeked Nunlet is not related to true Old World 'Nun' birds but is part of the New World puffbird family (Bucconida...