Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-chested Puffbird
Malacoptila fusca
White-chested Puffbird (Malacoptila fusca) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-chested Puffbird (Malacoptila fusca) is a member of the Bucconidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 45.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Bucconidae Puffbirds
- Genus Malacoptila
- Species fusca
Quick facts
- Weight
- 45.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Bucconidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-chested Puffbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-chested Puffbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-chested Puffbird (Malacoptila fusca) belongs to the Bucconidae family of the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA n, nw Amazonia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 45.4 g, with a wing length of about 8.7 cm and a tail of around 5.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-chested Puffbird?
The White-chested Puffbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 45.4 g.
Where does the White-chested Puffbird live?
The White-chested Puffbird is found across South America with a range covering SA n, nw Amazonia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-chested Puffbird belong to?
The White-chested Puffbird (Malacoptila fusca) belongs to the Bucconidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the White-chested Puffbird eat?
The White-chested Puffbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-chested Puffbird migrate?
The White-chested Puffbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-chested Puffbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-chested Puffbird make?
1 real field recording of the White-chested Puffbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-chested Puffbird's range?
The White-chested Puffbird has a mapped global range of about 1.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Bucconidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Woodpeckers & Toucans
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern