White-necked Puffbird Notharchus hyperrhynchus Scientific name definitions

The White-necked Puffbird is one of the largest, and most widespread members of the puffbird family, and frequents the forest canopy from southern Mexico south through Amazonia. Populations in the Guianan Shield region have recently been elevated to species rank and called Guianan Puffbird (Notharchus macrorhynchos), while birds found in the Atlantic forest of Brazil and Argentina are now also considered a separate species the Buff-bellied Puffbird (Notharchus swainsoni). In spite of its striking black and white plumage, the White-necked Puffbird is more frequently heard than seen. It has a habit of perching high in the tops of trees, where it often seeks out exposed dead branches, and is difficult to spot from the forest floor. It is seen most frequently from canopy towers or walkways. It also occurs in both gallery forest or more arid, such as in northwestern Costa Rica, where it is easier to see from the ground. With its massive bill, it feeds on large insects, frogs, and lizards. Unlikely to be confused with any other puffbird, except perhaps the Pied Puffbird (Notharchus tectus), which is also black and white, is found in the canopy, but is considerably smaller.

25 cm; 81–106 g. Plumage strongly pied . Compared to N. macrorhynchos  , with which formerly considered conspecific (see Taxonomy comments), present species differs most obviously in having much broader white forehead  , larger bill  , broader white hindcollar, much less extensive black patches on sides . Race <em>paraensis</em> similar, with bill  exceptionally long.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Occurs from ground level to canopy and in edge of humid to semi-arid formations, chiefly in second-growth woodland (often where Cecropia dominant) and edge habitats, open woodland and savanna, mixed woods of oak (Quercus) and pine (Pinus), clearings with scattered tall trees, abandoned plots and forest openings; also primary tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, terra firme forest, transitional forest, flooded and swampy forest with many dead trees, landward side of mangroves, river margins, and plantations. Proximity to running water may be important. Generally found from sea-level up to 1200 m.

Presumably resident.

Insects  , including Orthoptera  (Locustidae), Hymenoptera (Apidae, Xylopidae), Hemiptera, Homoptera (Fulgoridae), Coleoptera (Cetonidae) and Lepidoptera; also small vertebrates, some vegetable matter; one record of avian prey, a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) (2 Robinson, W.D. (2003). White-necked Puffbird captures Rufous-tailed Hummingbird. Wilson Bull.. 115(4): 486–487. Close ). Once noted taking the large green scarab Macraspis lucida when it was abundant in high tree crowns. Investigates swarms of army ants. Still-hunts from high bare perch , diving at prey  , which is beaten on perch before ingestion.

Song  quite different from N. macrorhynchos and considered to be similar to that of Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper (Dendrexetastes rufigula), but ends abruptly; described from Costa Rica as “a long bubbling trill, at a constant pitch or rising slightly, then falling”, from Iquitos, NE Peru, as “a long, nasal, frog-like trill, prrrrrr (up to 15–20 seconds)”, and from E Ecuador as “an evenly pitched monotonous trill that lasts 3–5 seconds, sometimes given by both members of a pair”. Calls  include a descending whistle “wheeew” and a quiet growl.

Mar–May in Costa Rica; Jan–Jul in Panama; May and Sept in Colombia; Mar in extreme SW Venezuela (3 Willard, D. E., M. S. Foster, G. F. Barrowclough, R. W. Dickerman, P. F. Cannell, S. L. Coats, J. L. Cracraft, and J. P. O’Neill (1991). The birds of Cerro de la Neblina, Territorio Federal Amazonas, Venezuela. Fieldiana Zoology (New Series) 65:1–80. Close ), May–Jun in N Venezuela (4 Verea, C., A. Solórzano, M. Díaz, L. Parra, M. A. Araujo, F. Antón, O. Navas, O. J. L. Ruiz, and A. Fernández-Badillo (2009). Registros de actividad reproductora y muda en algunas aves del norte de Venezuela. Ornitología Neotropical 20(2):181–201. Close ). Nest in cavity, excavated by both sexes, in large arboreal termitary, or hole in tree, usually 12–15 m up, but recorded to 18 m and as low as 3 m; hole in ground and earth bank reportedly also used. One nest in Ecuador contained two eggs in Aug; eggs white, 31·4 mm × 26·3 mm and 30·9 mm × 25·7 mm (5 Greeney, H.F. (2015). Nest and egg descriptions for two Ecuadorian puffbirds (Bucconidae). Cotinga. 37: 111–114. Close ). Incubation and fledging periods not documented.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Very to fairly uncommon in Mexico; now rare in El Salvador owing to clearance of lowland forest; uncommon in Honduras. In Costa Rica, occurs in Corcovado National Park and Santa Rosa National Park. Commonest puffbird in Canal Zone, Panama. Fairly common in Colombia, where occurs in Tayrona National Park. Rare to uncommon in Ecuador; present in Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park. Fairly common to common in Amazonia, perhaps less frequent in Bolivia (where judged rare at two study sites) and Peru, although sedentary habits thought to lead to underestimation of true numbers. In Peru, up to 2 pairs/km², although only 0·5 pairs/km² in Ficus/Cedrela transitional forest.