Photo: Len Blumin / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-whiskered Puffbird
Malacoptila panamensis
White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Central America & Caribbean.
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 White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) is a member of the Bucconidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 42.6 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 Malacoptila
- Species panamensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 42.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Bucconidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-whiskered 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-whiskered Puffbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) is a member of the Bucconidae family, within the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA se Mexico to w Ecuador.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 42.6 g, with a wing length of about 8.7 cm and a tail of around 7.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 517,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-whiskered Puffbird?
The White-whiskered Puffbird is a small bird that weighs around 42.6 g.
Where does the White-whiskered Puffbird live?
The White-whiskered Puffbird is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA se Mexico to w Ecuador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-whiskered Puffbird belong to?
The White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) belongs to the Bucconidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the White-whiskered Puffbird eat?
The White-whiskered Puffbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-whiskered Puffbird migrate?
The White-whiskered Puffbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-whiskered 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-whiskered Puffbird make?
1 real field recording of the White-whiskered Puffbird — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-whiskered Puffbird's range?
The White-whiskered Puffbird has a mapped global range of about 517,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Bucconidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Woodpeckers & Toucans
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern