Bucconidae

Bucconidae, commonly known as puffbirds, is a family of tropical American birds in the order Piciformes. The family includes a number of species distributed from southern Mexico through Central America and across tropical South America to parts of the Caribbean. Puffbirds occupy a variety of wooded habitats, including primary forests, edge environments, and open woodlands, from lowlands to mid-elevations.

They are small to medium-sized, with stout bodies, broad heads, and fairly large bills. Plumage is typically cryptic—browns, grays, and greens—often with contrasting white throats or bibs in some species. Size ranges roughly from 14 to 25 centimeters in length, depending on species.

Ecology and behavior: Puffbirds are largely perching insectivores. They hunt by remaining motionless on a perch and sallying out to capture insects or small vertebrates in the foliage or in flight, returning to the same or a nearby perch. Some species also consume fruit. They are generally solitary or observed in pairs, and calls are usually soft whistles or chirps.

Reproduction: Nests are built in cavities, typically in tree hollows or abandoned termitaria. The clutch size is typically two to three eggs, and both parents participate in incubation and care of the young.

Taxonomy and systematics: Bucconidae is recognized as a distinct family within Piciformes. Molecular studies have clarified its relationship to the Galbulidae (jacamars), helping to delineate the puffbirds from other near-passerine groups. The number of recognized species and genera has varied with taxonomic revisions, but the family is widely regarded as a cohesive group of tropical American puffbirds.