Photo: William Swainson (1789-1855) / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Rusty-breasted Nunlet
Nonnula rubecula
Rusty-breasted Nunlet (Nonnula rubecula) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of South America.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
See what's near you right nowThe Rusty-breasted Nunlet (Nonnula rubecula) is a member of the Bucconidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 18.4 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 Nonnula
- Species rubecula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 18.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Bucconidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet 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 Rusty-breasted Nunlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet (Nonnula rubecula) is a species of bird in the Bucconidae family, part of the order Piciformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Amazonia and se Brazil.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 18.4 g, with a wing length of about 6.6 cm and a tail of around 5.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rusty-breasted Nunlet?
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet is a small bird that weighs around 18.4 g.
Where does the Rusty-breasted Nunlet live?
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet is found across South America with a range covering SA Amazonia and se Brazil, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rusty-breasted Nunlet belong to?
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet (Nonnula rubecula) belongs to the Bucconidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Rusty-breasted Nunlet eat?
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rusty-breasted Nunlet migrate?
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rusty-breasted Nunlet 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 Rusty-breasted Nunlet make?
1 real field recording of the Rusty-breasted Nunlet — 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 Rusty-breasted Nunlet's range?
The Rusty-breasted Nunlet has a mapped global range of about 5.4 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.
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