Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith, Jonathan Newman, Marcelo Bombaci, Matt Denton and Arne Lesterhuis and is used with their permission.
CAATINGA PUFFBIRD Nystalus striatipectus
This podgy little fellow is the widespread puffbird in the Chaco. Don´t be fooled by his relatively benign appearance, he´s an efficient hunter, dropping down to the ground to take small lizards and insects which he tenderises by beating them against a hard surface. Oddly enough this is one of the few bird species that has been known to enter a state of torpor (not quite hibernation, but not far off!), resulting in the Spanish name "Durmili" (Sleepy One").
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE2551PH) Adult ventral view, Cuenca Upper Yacaré Sur, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Marcelo Bombaci October 2007).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE2552PH) Adult dorsal view, Cuenca Upper Yacaré Sur, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE2553PH) Adult lateral view, Cuenca Upper Yacaré Sur, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Matt Denton October 2010).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE2554PH) Adult ventral view, Campo Maria Private Nature Reserve, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Jonathan Newman October 2009).
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE2555PH) Adult dorsal view, Laguna Capitán,  Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 6 - (FPAVE2556PH) Adult ventral view, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
FIGURE 7 - (FPAVE4027PH) Pair, near Concepción,  Departamento Concepción (Paul Smith June 2013).
FIGURE 8 - (FPAVE2557PH) Juvenile, PN Teniente Enciso,  Departamento Boquerón  (Paul Smith July 2006).
FIGURE 9 - (FPAVE2558PH) Nest, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
VIDEO - (FPAVE2559VI) Adult, Cuenca Upper Yacaré Sur (Paul Smith October 2007).
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Nystalus striatipectus
1 (FPAVE2687RE) Song , PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith October 2008).
Click the links to hear the calls. Longer versions of this call can be downloaded from the Paraguay page of our partner website Xeno-Canto - the largest collection of freely downloadable Neotropical bird calls available online.