Nystalus chacuru
The White-eared Puffbird (Nystalus chacuru) is a captivating Neotropical species, instantly recognizable by its striking white 'ear' patches contrasting with its otherwise subtly patterned plumage. Measuring approximately 18-21 cm (7.1-8.3 inches) in length and weighing 32-48 grams (1.1-1.7 oz), this medium-sized bird features a white throat and belly, brown to grayish-brown upperparts, and a prominent rufous or buffy breast band that can vary in intensity. Its most distinctive field marks ar...
Found in open woodlands, cerrado, gallery forests, savannas, secondary growth, and forest edges, typically at low to mid-elevations up to 1,500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide array of insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, cicadas, butterflies, and moths. Occasionally consumes small vertebrates like lizards, all caught via sallying from a perch.
White-eared Puffbirds are largely diurnal, often observed solitary or in pairs, perching motionless for extended periods, characteristic of their 'lazybird' moniker. They employ a classic 'sit-and-wait' foraging strategy, sallying out from a favored perch to snatch flying insects or glean prey fr...
The White-eared Puffbird is a widespread resident species found across a significant portion of central and eastern South America. Its breeding range extends from northern Bolivia and west-central Brazil eastward through eastern Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and south into northern Argentina. Th...
Least Concern
- The species name 'chacuru' is onomatopoeic, derived directly from its characteristic vocalization. - Unlike many birds, they nest in burrows dug into earth banks or arboreal termitaria, a behavior shared with some kingfishers. - Puffbirds are sometimes called 'lazybirds' due to their prolonged ...