Nonnula rubecula
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet (Nonnula rubecula) is a charming, albeit elusive, small Neotropical bird belonging to the family Bucconidae, commonly known as puffbirds and nunlets. Measuring approximately 14-16 cm (5.5-6.3 in) in length and weighing 12-16 g (0.4-0.6 oz), this species is characterized by its rich rufous to rusty-orange underparts, which strikingly contrast with its olive-brown upperparts and grayish crown. A distinctive white loral spot, appearing as a small patch between the eye a...
Found primarily in humid lowland evergreen forests, often favoring areas near water, seasonally flooded (várzea) forests, or mature secondary growth. It typically inhabits the understory and lower to mid-canopy strata, from sea level up to approximately 1,100 meters.
Mainly insectivorous, consuming a variety of arthropods including beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas, butterflies, and wasps. Prey is captured primarily through aerial sallies or gleaned directly from vegetation.
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet is typically observed solitarily or in pairs, adopting a classic 'sit-and-wait' foraging strategy. It perches motionless for extended periods, often at 1-5 meters above the ground, diligently scanning for prey. Once an insect is spotted, it makes short, quick sallies to ...
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet has a wide distribution across the Amazon Basin and adjacent regions of South America. Its breeding range encompasses southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and northern Bolivia. It is also found extensively throughout Amazonian Brazil, and northwards into...
Least Concern
- Its common name "nunlet" refers to its somewhat plain, muted plumage, reminiscent of a nun's habit, distinguishing it from the more brightly colored puffbirds. - Despite its small size and often subdued coloration, its distinctive white loral spot (a patch between the eye and bill) is a key fie...