Sooty-capped Puffbird Bucco noanamae Scientific name definitions

The Sooty-capped Puffbird is endemic to the lowlands of the Pacific coast of northwestern Colombia; although the distribution of this species closely approaches the border with Panama, to date there are no records from that country. The entire upperparts are sooty (not just the cap); distinctive features include the white throat and white sides of the face, a very broad black band across the breast, and a white belly that is spotted or coarsely barred with black. The behavior of this species is similar to that of other species of Bucco: it perches quietly for long periods in the understory of humid forest, occasionally sallying out to capture prey from adjacent foliage. This species is locally common, in recent years it has been reported from only a small number of localities, and the population is in decline due in part to ongoing habitat loss. The IUCN Red List conservation status of the Sooty-capped Puffbird is assessed as Near-Threatened.

18 cm. Crown and nape blackish to greyish-black; long, prominent white supercilium becoming grey towrds rear, broad black line through and below eye and including ear-coverts; dark brown mantle ; tail rather short, strongly graduated, dusky, narrowly fringed buff; white chin, lower face and throat; very broad black pectoral band ; lower underparts buffy-white with black scalloping; bill all black; iris red, bare eyering dark grey; feet pale grey. Immature not described.

Coastal W Colombia from Gulf of Urabá S to R San Juan.

Inhabits humid and wet forest, second-growth woodland and adjacent non-forest areas (once an abandoned cocoa plantation), also scrub; keeps to lower parts of vegetation. Occurs in lowlands, up to 100 m.

Presumably resident.

Limited information available. Known to take insects . Perches for long periods on open branches, motionless and inconspicuous, before stooping on large insects in foliage of understorey.

Song is a long series of 20-40 whistles, starting almost at a trilling pace, then becoming more drawn-out and accentuated at about 4/s.    

Pair delivering food to nest in arboreal termitarium, late Aug. No further information.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near-threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Chocó EBA. Generally uncommon. Common in Los Katíos National Park, in Chocó. Although recent confirmed records from just 2 sites, only few of the c. 10 localities from where this species is known (specimens collected) have been investigated since 1966. Considerable deforestation caused by logging and by conversion of forest to banana and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations, along with human settlement, development, cattle ranching and other land-use changes, are all regarded as significant threats.