Systematics

Four subspecies of Malacoptila panamensis are recognized:

Malacoptila panamensis inornata: Described by DuBus in 1847, with a type locality of Guatemala. Occurs on the Atlantic slope from southern Mexico south to western Panama. Similar to nominate panamensis, but the crown of the male is tinged with gray, and the underparts are paler; the female differs by being less heavily streaked below.

Malacoptila panamensis panamensis: Described by Lafresnaye in 1847, with a type locality of Panama. Occurs on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and Panama, and on the Pacific coast of Colombia in Chocó; and on the Atlantic slope of Panama from northern Coclé to eastern San Blas, and in northwestern Colombia.

Malacoptila panamensis magdalenae: Described by Todd in 1943, with a type locality of El Tambor, Santander, Colombia. Restricted to the Magdalena valley, Colombia. Similar to nominate panamensis, but more strongly streaked below in both sexes; male also darker above and on ear coverts.

Malacoptila panamensis poliopis: Described by Sclater in 1862, with a type locality of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. Occurs in southwestern Colombia (Valle and Nariño) and western Ecuador. Males have a darker, more cinnamon-colored breast than males of nominate panamensis, and are more heavily streaked below. Female is darker gray above than female nominate, with a more rufous breast and more heavily streaked underparts.

There is little data about the systematics of the genus Malacoptila. Rasmussen and Collar (2002) suggested that the White-whiskered Puffbird may form a superspecies with the Moustached Puffbird (Malacoptila mystacalis) and the Black-streaked Puffbird (Malacoptila fulvogularis).