Photo: Daniel van der Post / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-faced Nunbird
Hapaloptila castanea
White-faced Nunbird (Hapaloptila castanea) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of South America.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-faced Nunbird (Hapaloptila castanea) is a member of the Bucconidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 80.6 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 Hapaloptila
- Species castanea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 80.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Bucconidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-faced Nunbird 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-faced Nunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-faced Nunbird (Hapaloptila castanea) is a member of the Bucconidae family, within the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA w Colombia, c Ecuador and nw Peru.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 80.6 g, with a wing length of about 10.9 cm and a tail of around 9.2 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 32,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-faced Nunbird?
The White-faced Nunbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 80.6 g.
Where does the White-faced Nunbird live?
The White-faced Nunbird is found across South America with a range covering SA w Colombia, c Ecuador and nw Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-faced Nunbird belong to?
The White-faced Nunbird (Hapaloptila castanea) belongs to the Bucconidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the White-faced Nunbird eat?
The White-faced Nunbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-faced Nunbird migrate?
The White-faced Nunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-faced Nunbird 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-faced Nunbird make?
1 real field recording of the White-faced Nunbird — 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-faced Nunbird's range?
The White-faced Nunbird has a mapped global range of about 32,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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