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, Juan Mazar Barnett, Nelson Pérez and Arne Lesterhuis and is used with permission.
WHITE-EARED PUFFBIRD Nystalus chacuru
In many ways like a terrestrial kingfisher, the White-eared Puffbird is a distinctive and widespread member of this strange, Neotropical family. For most of the time they appear small and sleek, but annoy one sufficiently and it raises the feathers of its head in aggression, appearing much larger than it is in reality. The scientific name comes from the Guaraní name Chakuru, which in turm comes from the birds distinctive call.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE1636PH) Adult dorsal view, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE1637PH) Adult ventral view, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE1638PH) Adult ventral view, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE1639PH) Adult ventral view, Limoy Itaipú Reserve, Departamento Alto Paraná (Paul Smith September 2010)
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE1640PH) Adult with crossed mandibles ventral view, Estancia Itabó, Departamento Caaguazú (Jerry Cooper April 2009).
FIGURE 6 - (FPAVE1641PH) Adult ventral view, Departamento Alto Paraná (Nelson Pérez October 2009).
FIGURE 7 - (FPAVE1642PH) Adult with prey, Aguara Ñu, Mbaracayú Forest Reserve, Departamento Canindeyú (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 8 - (FPAVE1643PH) Adult threat display, Hotel Tirol, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith June).
FIGURE 9 - (FPAVE1644PH) Nest, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
VIDEO - (FPAVE1647VI) Adult ventral view, Limoy Itaipú Reserve, Departamento Alto Paraná (Paul Smith September 2010)
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Nystalus chacuru
1 (FPAVE1645RE) Chorus  recorded PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith March 2007).
2 (FPAVE1646RE) Song  recorded Aguara-Ñu, Mbaracayú Biosphere Reserve, Departamento Canindeyú (Juan Mazar Barnett November 1997).
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.