Order
Galbuliformes
Family
Bucconidae
Genus
Malacoptila
 
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Version 1.0

This is a historic version of this account.  Current version

SPECIES

White-whiskered Puffbird Malacoptila panamensis

Kathryn L. Stone
Version: 1.0 — Published July 19, 2010

Behavior

Introduction

Frequently described as "stupid" and "lethargic", the White-whiskered Puffbird often remains motionless on a perch for long periods of time, feathers fluffed, demonstrating the nature of its name. This assertion of stupidity is most frequently made by collectors, who noted the reluctance of the species to flee when approached, making it an easy target. The puffbird is a sit-and-wait predator, scanning the ground from a perch, usually not high above the ground. When prey is spotted, the puffbird sallies out, captures prey with bill, and generally returns to the same perch (Skutch 1948). With large prey, such as lizards and snakes, the animal is struck once or twice on the perch before being consumed (Stiles and Skutch 1989).

Territoriality

Thought to be quite territorial in pairs. Will follow army ants in order to prey on other insects flushed by their movements, but will not venture beyond the boundaries of their territories in pursuit (Willis 1982).

Sexual Behavior

Very little information. Often encountered in pairs, so presumably is monogamous.

Social and interspecific behavior

Typically solitary or paired, and almost never seen in conspecific groups of more than three. Occasionally associates with mixed species flocks (Skutch 1958, Stiles and Skutch 1989, Hilty and Brown 1986).

Predation

Not well documented, though Skutch (1958), in his observations made of the bird, expressed concern over the possibility of snake predation on chicks in the burrows.

Recommended Citation

Stone, K. L. (2010). White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis), version 1.0. In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/nb.whwpuf1.01